Form 8833

[lb93]

Every year i have to file this form because my husband taught in Canada. And it means I have to print and mail tax forms. It does not change my taxes. Can't turbotax  let me append a pdf to my efile?  Or a statement explaining something (this year  we sold a house in state A while a resident of state B.  I can't append the explanation of how I came up with the amount that was already taxed to explain to state b ? This is really stupid. Especially when they try to convince me I could really efile. Make it true intuit!  

[AmyC]

While I can't answer the why of the pdf issues, I may have a solution. Your husband is a teacher. That could allow you the exemption of not having to file the 8833. From Claiming Tax Treaty Benefits:

The payee does not have to file Form 8833 for any of the following situations:

1. The payee can claim a reduced rate of withholding tax under a treaty on interest, dividends, rent, royalties, or other fixed or determinable annual or periodic income ordinarily subject to the 30% rate.
2. The payee can claim a treaty exemption that reduces or modifies the taxation of income from dependent personal services, pensions, annuities, social security and other public pensions, or income of artists, athletes, students, trainees, or teachers. This includes taxable scholarship and fellowship grants.
3. The payee can claim a reduction or modification of taxation of income under an International Social Security Agreement or a Diplomatic or Consular Agreement.
4. The payee is a partner in a partnership, or a beneficiary of an estate or trust and the partnership, estate, or trust reports the required information on its return.
5. The payments or items of income that are otherwise required to be disclosed total no more than $10,000.

For recent changes to the requirements for filing Form 8833, refer to the instructions attached to the Form 8833. About Form 8833, Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure.

[gateranger164]

Great suggestion. TurboTax, please let us add a PDF as an attachment mentioned to e-file or work in form 8833 to Turbo Tax Deluxe.

[gailc0279]

Not having Form 8833 in the TT Deluxe product is a HUGE inconvenience for your clientele.  Since you include Form 8938 the assumption is - there are many taxpayers who have this reporting requirement due to  circumstances outside of the US.  If they have to file form 8938 it is likely that many, if not all, have the opportunity to take a "treaty Based" claim as well.  C'mon Turbo!  you claim to be a premiere product - PROVE it!  adding one more form for the do-it-yourselfers would really increase that claim to fame  

[GaryCanada]

There is a nice table on the IRS Website regarding if you really need the Form 8938 versus the FBAR.

A careful reading of the exceptions for my situation says I don't need 8938  but I still need the FBAR.

Hopefully that is your case also.  I am not a Turbotax "employee or contractor" Turbotax could really make it easy for Canada / USA filers but they choose not to take any suggestions or improvement to their products.  I wrote some last year which were ignored.

I also found out this year that I overpaid taxes last year, because of a lack of understanding of the details of the tax Treaty itself. It would be nice if this were spelled out more clearly regarding Social Security Income from USA and Canada. As well as the Retirement accounts in Canada and Pension income from Canada.

1. Turbo Tax USA should allow import of Canada Forms such as T4, NR4, etc. 

2. Allow a currency conversion table associated for each form and make it easy on the user. 

3. It could also reference the tax treaty which clearly specifies the some Canadian income is not reportable, or only partially reportable.  The biggest problem is how to get the Foreign taxes paid in Canada to be easily deducted or credited.   

4. They need a lot of work in this area on form 1116.

5. Employer Pensions from Canada should not be reported as Canada Retirement accounts those are RRIF and RRSP only.  Those abbreviations should be added to the Turbo tax guide prompts.