One thing i failed to mention ... I filed my Canadian tax return as a Canadian in receipt of Canadian income (CPP, OAS, RRIF income, interest, dividends and capital gains from Canadian brokerage/financial institutes). However my income from outside of Canada and outside of Thailand greatly exceeded that Canadian income. Hence for me, and my financial situation, given the size of my total global income, it made legal financial sense for me NOT to file under Section-217 (of Canadian income tax act). Which is why I wrote a covering letter with my tax return, advising CRA that I was not filing under Section-217. Note, it may make sense, for someone for a smaller or no global income (outside of Canada), if you (like me) you assess you are obliged to file a Canadian income tax return, to instead file the Canadian tax return under Section-217 of the Canadian income tax act. Frankly, before my running the numbers, I found it confusing whether to file, or not to file, under Section-217. Further, for many Canadians, if not a Canadian tax resident, you may not be obliged to file a Canadian tax return, even if in receipt of some Canadian income (if withholding tax was held at source in Canada). Everyone has to look at their own tax situation and (painfully) crank through the numbers to assess the best approach.
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