Prepare an inventory
First, although it sounds daunting, you should prepare and bring a complete inventory of your household goods accompanying you to Canada and be ready to present it at the border.
If you have single items worth more than $10,000 each, you may be required to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or provincial sales tax (PST - in Canadian provinces with a sales tax) on each of these items. There are specific limits and restrictions for alcohol, tobacco and firearms - you should avoid bringing these items with you across the border.
Banking and currency conversion
Unless you absolutely have to, don’t change US dollars to Canadian dollars before you get back to Canada: exchange rates for Canadian dollars are better in Canada.
You should keep a bank account in the US, whether you think you will need it or not. You may also want to keep a US credit card.
Bringing your car with you
Importing your vehicle into Canada from the US is surprisingly difficult. There is a US federal law that motor vehicles cannot be exported without prior presentation of the title at the border post you will use to exit the US. If there’s a loan on the vehicle, you need to get a copy of the title from the vendor in advance and present it along with your loan details at the border.
You will also need to check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles to get the car into Canada. You should come to the Canadian border post prepared to pay both GST and PST (where applicable) on your vehicle if requested by the customs agent.
Crossing the border with cash
You should avoid crossing the border with more than $10,000 in Canadian or US cash or bearer instruments, including certified checks and bank drafts.
If you need to move large sums of cash or near-cash across the border, a better way to do it is to set up a US-dollar bank account in Canada and write a check on the account you left in the US. If you want to ensure you have access to your money right away, you can have the US bank wire the funds to the Canadian bank.
Will and estate planning
If you wrote a will while you were living in the US, review and revise it and your powers of attorney once you are back in Canada. If you drafted a will in the US that uses trusts to avoid probate fees or estate taxes, you should consult with an estate or tax professional in Canada to ensure the tax consequences of your plans are minimized.
Further resources
You can find a comprehensive set of information for cross-border travelers at the website of the Canada Border Services Agency, a division of the Canadian federal government. The CBSA web site includes a section called “Moving Back to Canada” with details about what you need to declare, the forms you need to complete, and what you can expect during your move.
There are several books which can also provide you with information and perspectives about returning to Canada. Two of note are “The Border Guide: A Canadian’s guide to living, working and investing in the US” by Robert Keats (Self-Counsel Press, 2006) and “The Canadian in America: real-life tax and financial insights into moving and living in the US” by Brian Wruk (ECW Press, 2007).
