Episode 6
Leaving Canada? Here’s What the CRA Wants You to Know
What tax residency, departure tax, and cutting ties really mean when you move abroad.
Newsletter Sign Up
Exclusive insights on tax, succession, and wealth planning, straight from the Advisors Table.
Listen & Subscribe on:
EPISODE OVERVIEW
Leaving Canada isn’t just a lifestyle decision — it’s a tax event.
And in the CRA’s eyes, you don’t become a non-resident just because you moved your belongings and bought a one-way ticket.
In this episode, we break down what it actually means to sever Canadian tax residency, how the CRA evaluates your ties, and why the timing and structure of your move can result in — or save you from — a massive tax bill.
Through real client scenarios, we explain:
- Why you can live abroad and still be considered a Canadian resident
- How primary and secondary residential ties determine your status
- What departure tax is — and which assets are caught
- Why selling a business before vs. after emigrating can change your outcome by millions
- What steps to take before leaving if you want CRA to accept non-residency
- The forms and filings most people overlook
- How to avoid double-taxation, compliance issues, and residency disputes
KEY TOPICS COVERED
- Residency rules: primary vs. secondary ties
- When CRA still considers you factually resident
- NR73 Form — when this form should be filed
- What is departure tax (deemed disposition)
- Asset-by-asset planning before leaving
- Non-resident withholding on rent, dividends, RRSP/RRIF
- Why timing your departure matters
- Business owners: LCGE, business sale timing, AMT, and double taxation
- Common mistakes that lead to audits, reassessments, or residency disputes
RELATED EPISODES
- Tax Traps Canadians Don’t See Coming
- Cross-Border Moves & Corporate Structures
- Estate Planning for Globally Mobile Families
- How to Make Your Company Sale-Ready
Meet Your Host
Sankalp (Sunny) Jaggi, CPA, CA, MTax, CFF
Sunny Jaggi is a strategic tax and exit advisor to business owners, specializing in sale-readiness, corporate structuring, and succession planning. He helps founders turn complex tax planning into clear, actionable strategy—long before a buyer shows up or a transition becomes urgent.
With more than 15 years advising owner-managed and private companies in Canada and abroad, Sunny works at the intersection of corporate reorganizations, domestic and international tax planning, and high-stakes succession and estate strategy. He is known for bringing clarity, discipline, and long-term vision to complex transactions.
A frequent writer and presenter for organizations including the Canadian Tax Foundation and CPA Canada, Sunny now leads the tax practice at Cedar Consulting Group—a boutique, high-trust advisory firm focused on thoughtful, high-impact structures that help clients protect and grow what they’ve built. He partners closely with accountants, lawyers, and advisory teams to deliver cohesive, enduring strategies that hold up under scrutiny and shape generational outcomes.
Co-Host
Parveen Sidhu, CPA, CA
Parveen has over 7 years of experience advising owner-managed and private companies on corporate reorganizations, estate and post-mortem planning, and long-term wealth strategies. A graduate of CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Program, she pairs strong technical expertise with a genuine dedication to making tax understandable. Parveen has a passion to translate complex rules into simple, practical guidance that helps clients feel informed, supported, and confident in their decisions.
At Cedar Consulting Group, Parveen works closely with entrepreneurs and families to design thoughtful, purposeful structures that build clarity and long-term value. She also teaches PD-accredited courses, driven by her belief that education is one of the most powerful tools in tax planning. Her mission is to empower people with knowledge – so they can protect what they’ve built, understand their path forward, and make choices with confidence.