Tohme Accounting, led by Samer Tohme, CPA, has helped Ottawa and Toronto residents navigate cross-border tax obligations since 2011. Two countries. One point of contact. You can relax knowing both filings are handled correctly.
Ottawa’s workforce is uniquely exposed to cross-border tax obligations. US citizens working in the federal public service, defense and technology professionals earning income under US government contracts, and Gatineau residents crossing into Ottawa’s federal job market all face dual-filing requirements. If you hold a prior US employment history, a TSP or FERS account, or any source of US-sourced income while living in Canada, a Canada-US cross-border tax accountant is not optional. Samer Tohme, CPA, has been serving these clients in Ottawa and Toronto since 2011.
Filing in two countries means meeting two separate sets of requirements every year. As a Canadian resident, you file a T1 General return with CRA. As a US citizen, you file Form 1040 with the IRS, reporting worldwide income regardless of where you live. If your Canadian financial accounts exceeded $10,000 USD at any point during the year, you are required to file an FBAR. FATCA obligations apply above $50,000 USD.
The Canada-US Tax Treaty reduces double taxation, but its protections are not automatic. RRSP growth is generally deferred for US tax purposes under Article XVIII of the treaty, but only if a proper election is filed with the IRS. Without it, your RRSP contributions and growth may be taxable to the IRS annually. TFSA accounts are not recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt at all. Income earned inside a TFSA is fully reportable to the US.
Ottawa’s concentration of federal government employees creates a cross-border tax profile found nowhere else in Canada. Many public servants arrived with prior US employment and carry FERS pension entitlements or TSP accounts that require annual treaty elections and US reporting. Defense and technology contractors on US government contracts often receive both a W-2 and a T4 in the same tax year, creating overlapping withholding obligations, foreign tax credit calculations, and pension reporting requirements across two systems.
FBAR is required from any US person whose foreign financial accounts total more than $10,000 USD in aggregate at any point during the year. FATCA (Form 8938) applies to accounts above $50,000 USD. Both are annual obligations filed separately from your income tax return, and both carry substantial penalties even when no tax is owed. Voluntary disclosure programs exist for those who have fallen behind. Samer Tohme, CPA, has guided Ottawa and Toronto clients through FBAR compliance since 2011.
Filing on time is the minimum. The real value of a cross-border tax accountant near me lies in year-round planning: structuring Canadian and US income to minimize combined tax, making treaty elections for RRSPs and pension accounts before they create US obligations, planning for moves between countries, and addressing estate considerations for those with assets on both sides of the border. Proactive planning with Samer Tohme, CPA, means fewer surprises when filing deadlines arrive.
As a cross-border tax accountant in Ottawa, Tohme Accounting often reminds self-employed US citizens that the annual Form 1040 is not their only obligation. When income is earned without US tax withheld at source, such as self-employment, rental, or business income, the IRS generally expects quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year. Missing or underpaying these instalments creates a separate underpayment penalty exposure, distinct from any penalty tied to the annual return itself. The firm helps Ottawa clients understand when this applies and how to plan for it, often alongside small business tax planning for owners with a Canadian business and personal tax services for the Canadian side of the return. Schedule a Free Consultation to find out whether quarterly payments apply to your income.
Samer Tohme, CPA, has served Ottawa and Toronto clients since 2011. Tohme Accounting handles both the Canadian T1 return and the US Form 1040 in a single engagement, so your CRA and IRS filings are coordinated by one person rather than two accountants who may never speak to each other. Ottawa and Toronto clients are served in person or remotely. For a full overview of personal tax services for Ottawa and Toronto residents, see personal tax services at Tohme Accounting. Schedule a Free Consultation — Samer Tohme reviews your situation and confirms scope before any engagement starts.
Yes. The United States taxes based on citizenship, not residence. Every US citizen living in Ottawa must file a federal income tax return with the IRS annually, reporting worldwide income, including Canadian employment and investment income. The Canada-US Tax Treaty and the Foreign Tax Credit often reduce or eliminate the actual amount owed, but the filing obligation exists regardless. Non-filing penalties apply even when no tax is due. A cross-border tax accountant in Ottawa ensures you meet both your CRA and IRS obligations each year without gaps or oversights.
FBAR stands for Foreign Bank Account Report, filed as FinCEN Form 114 with the US Treasury. It applies to any US person whose Canadian or other foreign financial accounts totalled more than $10,000 USD at any point during the calendar year. Your Ottawa chequing account, RRSP, and investment accounts all count toward this threshold. FBAR is due October 15 each year, separate from your income tax return. Penalties for missing it are substantial, even when the accounts hold fully legitimate funds. Tohme Accounting prepares FBAR filings for Ottawa clients alongside their annual returns.
RRSP growth is generally deferred for US tax purposes under Article XVIII of the Canada-US Tax Treaty. Since 2014, the requirement to file a separate annual election has been eliminated — the deferral position is taken directly on your Form 1040. Many Ottawa residents are unaware the rules changed and may have been filing incorrectly or over-reporting. A TFSA carries no similar treaty protection — income earned inside a TFSA is fully taxable to the IRS. Samer Tohme, CPA, ensures treaty positions are properly documented and reflected on both returns.
Yes. Tohme Accounting prepares both the Canadian T1 General return for CRA and the US Form 1040 for the IRS within a single engagement. Coordinating both filings through one accountant reduces the risk of inconsistencies between what is reported to CRA and what is reported to the IRS, which is a common source of audit exposure when two separate advisors handle each return independently. Ottawa and Toronto clients are served in person or remotely. The process begins with a free consultation with Samer Tohme, CPA, who reviews your full situation before any work begins.
Fees for cross-border tax services vary based on the complexity of your situation: how many forms are required, whether FBAR and FATCA reporting applies, and whether corporate filings are needed alongside personal returns. At Tohme Accounting, the process begins with a free consultation where Samer Tohme, CPA reviews your circumstances before any fee is discussed. No engagement begins without a clear understanding of what is required and what it will cost. Every cross-border situation is different, and the scope of your filing determines the engagement, not a fixed rate applied regardless of circumstances.
Whether you need to pay quarterly taxes to the IRS generally depends on how much US tax is withheld or already paid during the year relative to what you will ultimately owe. Self-employment and business income rarely have tax withheld at source, which is where the obligation typically arises. Tohme Accounting reviews your complete picture, including both Canadian and US-sourced income, to determine whether installments apply to your specific situation before deadlines pass.
Yes. Coordinating US and Canadian tax payments means reviewing both countries’ installment schedules together, not in isolation. This helps avoid cash-flow surprises when obligations fall due in different months, and it keeps foreign tax credit timing in view so amounts paid on one side are properly recognized on the other. That coordinated approach is part of the cross-border planning the firm provides for self-employed Ottawa clients managing dual filing responsibilities.
