We'll be filling out our 8840's for the first time for 2014 as well. I found this blog with some good information. You can post questions there and a Canadian accountant will answer your questions. The whole comments section has become a long read but I think it's worth it.
http://www.mnp.ca/en/media-centre/blog/2011/2/1/canadians-wintering-in-the-usMy personal days are far less than the 183 stated but because he has to complete, is it worth me also doing so, as the intention is for us to spend more and more time together travelling now each year going forwards? As I said "the intention" is there! Also bearing in mind the fact we own property in the USA, should I just complete one anyway albeit I don't meet anywhere near the number of days stated
The way I understand it is that at this point, you don't have to fill one out. It's optional.
Line 14 is easy = principal residence Alberta Canada, but line 15 uses the words "permanent and available to you at all times throughout 2014" residence. We also own a home in Florida, we don't rent it out or generate any form of income from it, used for personal vacation use, so do we state that there or is that not classified as "permanent" in their eyes, and it most certainly is not available to us throughout the whole year, as we are limited to not being in the USA for more than 183 days in any one year. Not sure whether we need to disclose this property there or not as the wording kind of contradicts itself to me with regards to the fact that we are limited on how much time we can use it as per US immigration.
In answer to a question one reader had about owning property in Florida, the accountant at the link I provided says: "I would answer "Canada" to question 14 as Canada provided that Canada is your regular or principal permanent home. I would answer "Canada - principal permanent home" and "Florida - vacation property" to question 15."
Line 20a,b,c,d. Routine Personal Banking Activities Location. Whilst we do have a Bank of America Account, apart from an occasional use of a withdrawal of cash, paying Fla property taxes, or for paying one monthly utility bill that won't accept payment from our Canadian Bank account, all our banking business is done through our Canadian Bank Account and Visa (mainly visa to get travel points).
In answer to someone's question about that, the accountant from the link I posted said: "I would list both Canada and the U.S. as locations for the banks with which you conduct routine personal banking activities, as payment of vacation property and personal expenses in the U.S. likely would be considered routine banking activities. You only have to provide the country name for the location."
That's about as much as I zeroed in on when I read that website because they were questions I also had.
I'm wondering how exactly to answer lines 16 and 17. My "family"...our son resides in Canada, my spouse is with me in Canada and the U.S. Maybe if we write that...? Same with an automobile. It's in Canada or the U.S., wherever we happen to be. I guess some Canadians might leave a vehicle here, but we don't.
Line 19, we do have personal belongings and furniture both in Canada and in our "vacation" home in the U.S.
We do know other Canadians who have been filling out these forms for a long time now, so I think we'll be talking to them before we send ours in. If I find out any words of wisdom from these veteran snowbirds, I'll post it here.
