the worst thing is that probably not one in a thousand Canadian snowbirds even know what is going o

[riverbendviewgal]

http://dollarvigilante.com/blog/2014/4/02/an-open-letter-to-canadians-from-jim-karger.html

There are more than a few Canucks who wander across their southern border on a seal blubber high and stay too long snorting blow in Palm Beach or visiting family in Des Moines. For now, they can stay 6 months without violating US immigration laws and being summarily deported and prevented entry for the rest of this lifetime. There is an effort to have this extended for Canadians over 50 years old, but it is a trick that will capture more of them than ever in the US tax lair.

Here's how:

Under US law, one is considered a US resident for tax purposes if they meet the 'substantial presence' test for "any calendar year which means they are physically present in the United States on at least 31 days during the current year, and 183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting: All the days you were present in the current year, and 1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and 1/6 of the days they were present in the second year before the current year."
nd what that means is the US will lure Canadians across the border to spend their money on good bourbon whiskey and hookers who don't wear parkas just long enough to send them a letter, "Welcome, US resident! Please file your income tax return on your worldwide income and, by the way, let us know where you have every dime hidden. Or else."

Bottom line? Threats, fines, imprisonment, and serious bodily harm.