As a Canadian citizen living abroad, can I receive benefits or tax refunds from Canada?

Question

I am a Canadian citizen living in East Asia for a few years, I recently lost a job and was not able to make ends meet, I am just wondering if I can file a tax return to the Canada Revenue Agency to receive some refunds, or apply for some benefits available to non-resident of Canada? If yes, what kinds of refund or benefits am I eligible to receive?

More info: When I was working overseas, I never filed a tax return to the CRA because all my income were coming from sources outside Canada. Also, I had severed residential ties to Canada when I left Canada by selling my house. I don't have family members in Canada except a few friends. I still have a valid Canadian driver's license which is about to expire, an active Canadian bank account with $1.00 and a health card which is about to expire.

Answer 1

The only way you'd qualify for Canadian benefits while living abroad would be if you are considered a deemed or factual resident of Canada. This would normally be the case if you were away from Canada due to military service, or if you were otherwise employed by a Canadian Government while working abroad (embassy officials, etc.)

Based on what you've said, you are not a deemed or factual resident of Canada. The Canadian taxation/benefits system is not based on citizenship. It's based on residency. the only benefits that I'm sure are available to Canadian citizens while living abroad would be the Old Age Security or Canada Pension benefits.

Answer 2

Lets see know, you left Canada stop filing tax returns, stopped paying taxes to Canada,   severed residential ties to Canada, yet now you want Canada to pay you ?

Step one is to file Canadian Tax returns for the missing years (BTW Canada will tax you on WORLD income ) so you may have some taxes owing, or get a refund (depends on the foreign tax credits)

There are no benefits available to non-residents.  Also if you return to Canada since you keep the Drivers license and Health Cards you are considered a Canadian living abroad, if you were to come back all attempt to apply for social benefits, you would need to file all your missing tax returns first.

Answer 3

So, did you update your address with the ministries of health and transportation when you became a non-resident?  You'll likely find that they're no longer valid.

Having not paid anything to CRA for these year's, there's nothing for them to return to you.