RESP advice for Canadian citizens living in the U.S.

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Q. I opened a RESP account while I was living in Canada, as a Canadian citizen. A few years back, we moved to the U.S., where my kids are going to college and university. I still have an active RESP account and make regular monthly contributions. We file our tax returns in the U.S. only, since we declared ourselves as non-resident Canadian citizens in 2014. Please let me know if we are still entitled to receive the Canadian government’s grant on RESP contributions, and what is the procedure to withdraw the funds. –Sohail A. When you become a non-resident of Canada, you can generally continue to maintain Canadian registered investment accounts like a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). You may not be able to buy new mutual funds as a non-resident, but can continue to hold existing mutual funds, sell those mutual funds, or buy other investments, like stocks, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). There are a couple issues to be aware of in your case, Sohail. A U.S. taxpayer, whether a U.S. citizen in Canada, or a U.S. resident like you, may have U.S. tax implications from a Canadian RESP. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not recognize the tax-deferred status of a RESP, so the income will be taxable on your U.S. tax return. If you own Canadian mutual funds or ETFs in your RESP, these may be considered Passive Foreign Investment Corporations (PFICs). PFICs have additional tax reporting requirements for a U.S. taxpayer as well. U.S. citizens residing in Canada will have to report any Canada Education Savings Grants (CESGs) or similar government grants as income on their U.S. tax return. However, non-residents like you, Sohail, are not eligible to receive grants for their ongoing contributions. The residency requirement is based on the residency of the beneficiaries of the RESP, not the subscriber, and since your children live with you in the U.S., the RESP should not be eligible for government grants. In my experience, it is not uncommon for non-residents to fail to update their residency status with their Canadian financial institution. This could lead to CESG grants continuing to be paid on contributions, or improper tax withholding for other non-RESP accounts. Given that your RESP is not benefitting from Canadian government grants, is taxable in the U.S., and has restrictions on the investments you can purchase, you probably should not be contributing to it, Sohail. There are U.S. education saving options like 529 Plans or Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), for example, that may be more appropriate for a U.S. resident. That said, you can still use your RESP account to fund your children’s post-secondary education costs in the U.S. When any RESP withdrawal is made, the withdrawal can be made up of principal (original contributions), government grants (CESGs, Canada Learning Bonds, etc.), or accumulated income (investment income earned on contributions and grants). Principal withdrawals are always tax-free. However, if a beneficiary is a non-resident at the time of a withdrawal, the government grants previously received will have to be repaid by the financial institution holding the account. An RESP withdrawal of accumulated income for a non-resident will be subject to withholding tax. Withholding tax for a non-resident is generally 25% of the accumulated income on the withdrawal. Maintaining a Canadian RESP account for a non-resident of Canada may have some benefits, but also drawbacks. Contributions should not be made to a RESP for a non-resident. In your case, Sohail, you cannot change the past contributions, but I would make sure your residency status is properly documented with the financial institution where the RESP is located and seek tax advice from a U.S. accountant to ensure you are properly reporting the RESP account and past contributions. You may need to amend previous tax filings with the IRS if you were not compliant previously. As a result of grants to be repaid and withholding tax, some, but not all of the money in your RESP account can be used to fund your children’s U.S. post-secondary costs. Jason Heath is a fee-only, advice-only Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Objective Financial Partners Inc. in Toronto. He does not sell any financial products whatsoever.

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About Jason Heath, CFP

Jason Heath is a fee-only, advice-only Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Objective Financial Partners Inc. in Toronto. He does not sell any financial products whatsoever.

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Comments Cancel reply

Elizabeth Sutherland says:

February 10, 2022 at 2:41 pm

I just got off of the phone with Fidelity Investments. I moved to the USA 13 years ago. I am attempting to close the RESP and the company is telling me that interest earned can’t be withdrawn unless in Canada. We have not contributed to it since we moved. I understood the government contributions would be paid back, but I am shocked that they are telling me they are keeping the investment interest earned. I am devastated. I thought it was just subject to withholding taxes. I am not sure what to do.

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Ellen Xiao says:

March 5, 2022 at 4:54 pm

I have question for EAP (RESP withdrawal of accumulated income), my son cashed EAP for university education, get NR4 with 15% tax withholding.
Need he report EAP in his annual tax return as income?

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1. MoneySense Editors says:
  
  March 15, 2022 at 2:47 pm
  
  Due to the large volume of comments we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond directly to each one. We invite you to email your question to [email protected], where it will be considered for a future response by one of our expert columnists. For personal advice, we suggest consulting with your financial institution or a qualified advisor.
  
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Mike Anderson says:

October 29, 2022 at 5:19 pm

Hello Elizabeth,
I am in the same boat, and wondering what is outcome for you?
It is ridiculous to get penalized on both sides.

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hiren joshi says:

January 9, 2024 at 6:13 pm

I have the same situation Elizabeth. surprise with not getting profit on the money we invested.
grants is ok to take it back.

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Kien Wen Chang says:

February 23, 2024 at 8:18 am

Mutual Funds guaranteed the investors will have to work for his/her entire working life.

Bonds are lousy as long-term strategy.

Simple Bonds with no special-feature is worst long-term investment.

Canada has many libraries.
Canada also has many universities.

Library information resource is only suitable for making longer-term investment decisions.

Canada libraries have very little information on Canada’s penny stocks.

For most ordinary commoners, US Stocks Self-Direct Investing is brilliant. Must determine what US Stocks to buy for the purpose of holding!
Use Buy-and-Hold Strategy intelligently.

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