Newcomer (Immigrant) - Spouse non-residentYou immigrated to Canada during the tax year, but your spouse remained in their country.
To file your tax return, please follow the steps below:
1. On the "Left-side menu on the Interview tab", select the "Interview setup" and on the right-hand side of the screen, check the box "Immigrant, emigrant, nonresident taxpayer, you are a Canadian resident and your spouse immigrated to Canada in the year" and click "Next"at the bottom of the page.
2. Go back to the "Left-side menu on the Interview tab", select "Spouse interview type" if, on December 31 of the tax year, your spouse did not live in Canada, and select "Net income only" in the drop-down menu to your right.
3. Fill the page entitled "Spouse - basic information" and make sure that you enter all the relevant information. However, on the line "Was this person a Canadian resident in 2019", you must answer "No" because your spouse had remained in their country. Naturally, your spouse must report their income, but cannot file any tax return in Canada. His or her income will simply help determine the credits for which you may be eligible. Once you have completed the page, click on "Next".
4. On the "Immigrant, emigrant or non-resident" screen, choose the option that applies to your situation.
5. The following page will display "Immigration to Canada" and you must provide an answer to all the questions marked with a red asterisk, as they are mandatory.
6. Complete the remainder of your tax return.
In the "Review" tab, go to the column on the left and click on "Messages". Various "Electronic Filing Errors" will be shown. You do not have to take these Errors into account.
At the bottom of the page, in the ''Maxback notes and analysis'' section, it will be indicated that you are eligible to file your federal return using NETFILE. However, keep in mind that Québec residents are NOT eligible to file their return using NetFile. You must print and mail it to Revenu Québec.
For more information, please visit the following links:
For the CRA:
Revenu Québec:
https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/your-situation/new-residents/
ID: 20200220092426DE.xml
Webpage: KPA360-20200220092426DE.htm