United States

Form 1040

U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Who Must File

All US citizens, green card holders, and individuals who meet the Substantial Presence Test must file Form 1040.

April 15 (auto-extended to June 15 for taxpayers abroad)

Failure-to-file penalty of 5% per month on unpaid tax, up to 25%

Gather all income documents: W-2s, 1099s, T4s converted to USD.
Determine your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.).
Report worldwide income in US dollars using the IRS annual average exchange rate.
Claim the standard deduction or itemize on Schedule A.
Attach Form 1116 to claim the Foreign Tax Credit for Canadian taxes paid.
Calculate total tax liability and apply withholdings and estimated payments.
E-file or mail the return to the IRS service center for your state.

Use the IRS annual average exchange rate to convert Canadian-source income.
If you owe no tax, you can still get a 6-month automatic extension with Form 4868.
Attach all required international information returns (FBAR, 8938, 3520) to avoid penalties.
Married Canadians in the US can file jointly even if their spouse has no SSN by applying for an ITIN.

Do I report my Canadian income on Form 1040?

Yes. US tax residents must report worldwide income, including all Canadian employment, rental, investment, and pension income, converted to USD.

Can I file Form 1040 if I only have an ITIN?

Yes. An ITIN works in place of an SSN for federal tax filing purposes. Apply with Form W-7 if you do not yet have one.

What if I missed the April 15 deadline?

Taxpayers living abroad receive an automatic extension to June 15. Beyond that, file as soon as possible to minimize failure-to-file penalties.

Answer a few questions and get a personalized checklist of every US and Canadian form required for your cross-border situation.