Getting U.S. pensions home

There are many Canadians who at some point, choose to work in the U.S. But their return to Canada brings with it some financial challenges.

While working south of the border, some Canadians participate in a U.S. retirement plan such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

When they return home, the Canadian plan holder may be wondering what to do with the funds in these plans.

Unfortunately, there is no ability to transfer these funds to Canada directly, and the questions that often arise include:

• Is it better to leave the money where it is?
• Can I withdraw the funds and transfer them to an RRSP?
• If so, what are the tax implications?

While the funds can be left in the U.S. and grow on a tax deferred basis, sometimes it makes sense to transfer the funds into a Canadian RRSP.

The benefit of moving the funds to Canada may help simplify the management of the plan holder’s retirement portfolio, may increase access to investment options in Canada and may help avoid U.S. estate tax (up to 40%) which could be applicable when the plan holder passes away.

Moving these funds to Canada is possible, but a detailed analysis needs to be done to ensure that the plan holder doesn’t pay double tax or face an unexpected tax bill as a result of the transfer.

Whether the transfer makes sense will depend on:

• Whether the plan holder is a U.S. citizen or U.S. green card holder
• What type of U.S. retirement plan the plan holder has
• The value of the retirement plan
• The age of the plan holder
• What sources of other income the plan holder has in the year of transfer
• Whether the plan holder was a non-resident of Canada when he or she contributed to the retirement plan

So what happens if you elect to leave the funds in the U.S. plan instead?

U.S. tax consequences

When a non-resident of the U.S. makes a withdrawal from a U.S. retirement plan, the withdrawal is subject to tax in the U.S. (15% if the withdrawal is periodic or 30% for a lump sum withdrawal).

If the plan holder is still a U.S. taxpayer, the withdrawal will be taxed at their marginal U.S. tax rate in the year of the transfer. A 10% early withdrawal penalty can also be applied if the plan holder (U.S. taxpayer or not) is less than 59 ½ years of age.

Canadian tax consequences

The withdrawal from the U.S. retirement plan is also subject to tax in Canada at the plan holder’s marginal Canadian tax rate.

The income is subject to tax first in the U.S. as it is sourced there, and a foreign tax credit is generally available to offset the Canadian tax payable such that the higher tax rate between the two countries prevails.

Can you recover the U.S. tax payable through a foreign tax credit?

While there may be an opportunity to transfer the funds to an RRSP – such a transfer is not deductible for U.S. tax purposes –the transfer would only make sense if the U.S. tax that is payable can be fully recovered by claiming a foreign tax credit to offset Canadian tax payable.

It wouldn’t make sense to pay U.S. tax on the withdrawal now and Canadian tax when the money is withdrawn from the RRSP down the road as that would result in double tax.

Sometimes the transfer is only possible when the early withdrawal penalty is no longer applicable, or when the funds can be transferred over two tax years (but not three).

When does it make sense to leave the funds in the U.S. plan?

Plan holders who are U.S. taxpayers or who have significant funds in their U.S. retirement plans may find it more difficult to recover the U.S. tax paid.

If the transfer to the RRSP is not possible then generally a lump sum withdrawal from the U.S. retirement plan is not recommended as the full amount in the plan would be taxed as pension income on both sides of the border.

In that case, the money would be left in the U.S. plan.

As you can see, there are several important tax implications, and a detailed analysis needs to be done to determine if all the U.S. tax payable can be recovered and how much should be transferred to a Canadian RRSP.

An experienced cross-border tax specialist and financial advisor can help you navigate whether it makes sense to move the funds from a U.S. retirement plan to Canada.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.