As cross-border financial and tax advisors, we are constantly asked by clients where it is best to retire – Canada or the U.S. – and which provinces or states should be considered. These choices involve endless personal factors, such as where your family and friends are located, accessibility to viable healthcare and immigration options, housing availability and affordability, the climate, and more. However, one factor that should not drive the decision, but is always worthy of discussion, is taxes – which this blog provides insight into to help you with financial projections for retirement planning.
Consider, for example, a high-level comparison of 2024 taxes based on a hypothetical person, John. He is a 73-year-old divorced U.S. and Canadian citizen trying to determine where to settle in retirement. John has identified 4 options on the West Coast of North America that he believes will fit his lifestyle – California, Washington, British Columbia, or Alberta. John has the following expected 2024 income:
- U.S. Social Security = $30,000 USD based on 40 years of working in the U.S.
- Canada Pension Plan = $5,000 CAD based on a 10-year working assignment to Canada when John was younger
- Annual required minimum distribution from U.S. IRA = $100,000 USD
- Annual required minimum distribution from Canadian RRIF = $10,000 CAD
- Annual interest income from U.S.-based term deposits = $5,000 USD
We will assume that John is in good health, uses the single standard deduction on his U.S. tax return, and has no other deductions or tax credits (eg. medical or donations) available on his potential Canadian tax return. We will also assume a $1.36 foreign exchange rate from USD to CAD, and ignore the 3.8% U.S. Net Investment Income Surtax that could apply on specific sources of taxable income.
Based on these assumptions, John has the following income in USD & CAD:
Here is the high-level tax comparison between David’s 4 options on the West Coast of North America that he believes will fit his lifestyle – California, Washington, British Columbia, or Alberta:
| Province / State | Estimated Total Tax (USD) |
Estimated Total Tax (CAD) |
Estimated Income Available Net of Tax (USD) |
Estimated Income Available Net of Tax (CAD) |
| California | 29,137 | N/A | 116,892 | 158,974 |
| Washington | 22,905 | N/A | 123,124 | 167,449 |
| British Columbia | N/A | 58,126 | 103,290 | 140,474 |
| Alberta | N/A | 57,053 | 104,079 | 141,547 |
As you can see, there is a nearly $20,000 USD ($27,000 CAD) difference in estimated income available net of tax between Washington and British Columbia. This difference may be partially or fully offset by the increased cost of U.S. healthcare compared to Canadian healthcare. See our blog post on U.S. Retirement Healthcare Coverage Options. Again, tax savings should never drive the decision of where to settle, but it is certainly a factor worth planning for, and the compounding effects can be substantial.
If a scenario like the one we have presented is something that you might be considering, please contact Cardinal Point in order to review your necessary and unique planning requirements and the completion of cash flow and tax projections to better help your decision making.