Weird tax tip since I do this for a living... If you have RRSPs tell your US tax return preparer. California doesn't consider an RRSP to be a tax free account

Weird tax tip since I do this for a living... If you have RRSPs tell your US tax return preparer. California doesn't consider an RRSP to be a tax free account. You will be taxable (Calif state income tax) on the income generated inside of it. Federal income tax is trivially easy to eliminate on an RRSP. Just say "Form 8891" to the person doing your US and California tax returns. If the RRSP is small you might as well just kill it because it will cause you endless tax hassles in the US. Oh and one more thing. If you have more than US$10,000 in accounts in Canada once you're a citizen, file Form TD F 90-22.1. See my blog or ask me for horror stories. I had two IRS Criminal Investigation agents in my office today interrogating a retired schoolteacher. Email me for a few tax pointers for this transition year. Welcome to California. I'm in Pasadena. P