NSERC 2012-2013

[kurtz105]

And Simhod, there is no statistical information in the letter.

[mtlgrad]

This is a bit off topic, but for holders of PGS/CGS M or D in Canada, do you pay income taxes on it? Provincial? Federal? I find that the regulations are very ambiguous about the precise treatment and that even professional accountants are unsure of the exact treatment for these awards. To make matters more confusing, I have found that many university graduate office websites offer different advice. I have found sites saying it is taxable and sites saying that none of it is. I know that it is tax-free wrt provincial (QC in particular) taxes. I am not sure about federal though. I received the CGS-D and while I am still debating on whether to accept it, I am curious on the tax treatment in Ontario?

[yellowtulip]

I didn't pay any social security or medicare in my first year as postdoc in US, but when I entered in my second calendar year in US, I paid all the US-resident taxes. So you are exempt to pay medicare and security taxes only in your first year, but not second.

So I think one small advantage of being on J-1 vs TN as postdoc is that in your first year you don't pay these taxes if you are on J-1.

Hmmm... another reason I wish I were on J1! Thanks so much Simhod and dhanson for sharing your tax/visa experiences!

[yellowtulip]

Hi again every one,

Well I have two friends with NSERC PDF, one recently finished his Post Doc at Stanford and is having issues in getting a J1 residency waiver. He has an offer from PennState and he cant start his job because his waiver is taking too long (its been 5 months now). This is what scares me cause who ever I know with NSERC PDF received this requirement and the UCBerkeley international office also stated this rules applies to me if I accept the award since NSERC is a governmental agency. I am so confused and dont know what to do

I am right now in Berkeley as a visiting student and but my letter was sent to my address in Toronto.

I dont intend to not return to Canada but the job market in Canada is never good specially for a postdoc so if I cant find a job in Canada I have no choice but to seek employment in the US.

Wow... I'm only now just reading this post, and I don't get it - the residency waiver needs to go through before you start your job? Maybe I should be happy I'm on a TN. BTW.... where the heck do you guys learn about all this visa/insurance/waiver/tax info other than word of mouth? The university down here seems to be totally clueless, and sure, I can search the many online forms, but most of 'em seem rather frightening and in technical lingo that isn't necessarily all that straightforward (although I'll admit, the Canadian stuff doesn't seem nearly as complicated as the US paperwork).

[yellowtulip]

This is a bit off topic, but for holders of PGS/CGS M or D in Canada, do you pay income taxes on it? Provincial? Federal? I find that the regulations are very ambiguous about the precise treatment and that even professional accountants are unsure of the exact treatment for these awards. To make matters more confusing, I have found that many university graduate office websites offer different advice. I have found sites saying it is taxable and sites saying that none of it is. I know that it is tax-free wrt provincial (QC in particular) taxes. I am not sure about federal though. I received the CGS-D and while I am still debating on whether to accept it, I am curious on the tax treatment in Ontario?

Hi Mtlgrad,

Unless the rules have changed in the last couple of months, the PGS D is tax free in Canada - both provincially and federally (I recently held one) http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/rprtng-ncm/lns101-170/130/schlrshp-eng.html. If you are looking online most of the issues with regards to taxes you might see being discussed are for postdoc fellowships. A few years back (maybe 2006 or so?), the government said scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, etc. would be tax free, so there were many postdocs who won awards (e.g. NSERC PDFs or other), that didn't pay taxes for the entire two year duration. What wasn't all that clear however at the time was that this this was only tax free if you were in a program that was leading to some sort of degree or diploma. As such, post-docs don't qualify, and many of the post-docs were forced to pay back taxes (http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/informationfor/postdoctoral/taxupdate.htm). This caused a rather large commotion. The following website (http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/informationfor/postdoctoral/taxupdate.htm) notes a response from Jim Flaherty stating:

"Unlike post-secondary students enrolled in courses and pursuing a degree or diploma, post-doctoral fellows can be compared to a number of other professionals such as lawyers, medical residents, and accountants, where there is a period of paid training at the beginning of their careers. Similar to these other professionals, the compensation received by post-doctoral fellows is taxable."

Sure.... but lawyers, residents, and accountants all probably get paid much more than a post-doc salary (their net is probably greater than our gross)... chances are that many of them have gone to school for less than a post-doc has too. Generally speaking they have an end-goal job in mind (whereas a post-doc is essentially just striving to get more training so that they can get a job if they're lucky), and unlike (generally speaking - there are many medical residents who do research as well), but many of the post-docs out there are doing a lot of fundamental/basic sciences and are much more intricately involved with academic institutions than the other positions. Plus, at least in the case of NSERC, the PDFs are federally funded! Why give you money just to take it away? Anyway... that's my rant. Nothing I can do about it (except know that I have to pay taxes next year!).

[Tasneem]

Wow... I'm only now just reading this post, and I don't get it - the residency waiver needs to go through before you start your job? Maybe I should be happy I'm on a TN. BTW.... where the heck do you guys learn about all this visa/insurance/waiver/tax info other than word of mouth? The university down here seems to be totally clueless, and sure, I can search the many online forms, but most of 'em seem rather frightening and in technical lingo that isn't necessarily all that straightforward (although I'll admit, the Canadian stuff doesn't seem nearly as complicated as the US paperwork).

I know this cause I am on J1 now and have been on J twice before (luckily I was not getting governmental funding). The international offices of big schools know all these rules its called the "J1 2 year home residency rule" with "212e" code.

[marmoor]

Oops! Guess I was wrong about the visa residency requirement, sorry about that.

I got PDF news today in California (wait listed), so I'm sure tomorrow is the day for the rest of you in Canada! Good luck

Welcome to the club , can you let us know of ur record? BTW do you have any idea on what is our chance in getting the award in June?

[jimntonik]

Failed PDF application notice today in teh mail.

[Hany]

Failed PDF application notice today in teh mail.

Where? In Ottawa?

[snowshoes]

So... any PGS-D news?

I'm in Gatineau and hope I'll see a letter in a few hours.

[jimntonik]

Waterloo. IRDF Pre-approved.

[Hany]

Waterloo. IRDF Pre-approved.

That's not too bad...congratulations

[jimntonik]

Would like to know from somebody on the PDF waiting list - was your position in the letter? I've emailed NSERC to ask where mine is, but I'm guessing if it wasn't in there I'm not high on the list?

[seebee]

Ahh! I can't believe this! Nothing today from NSERC about my PDF app in my mailbox, not on campus or at home, in Guelph. NSERC's online submission system says they *did* receive my app. I think someone at Canada post has it in for me!

[winter2012]

Waterloo. IRDF Pre-approved.

What would be your next step, as now u have IRDF is pre-approved? Can you share some info? Thanks.

[UBC2012]

Got my PDF results in Vancouver. Shortlisted.

[silicon]

Waterloo. IRDF Pre-approved.

Congratulations!!!! Can you please give some idea about the next steps? I mean, if you accept the IRDF how to find out a company? Is it very easy?

[simhod]

^{no letter from NSERC here in Minnesota....}

[winter2012]

I got a letter in BC today; I was hoping for the PDF but just IRDF pre-approved. It took so long to get this letter. Best of luck to those applicants who are still waiting for their results.

[silicon]

Got my PDF results in Vancouver. Shortlisted.

Got my PDF results in Vancouver. Shortlisted.

Does it mean that you are in the waiting list? Did they offer you IRDF?

[silicon]

I got a letter in BC today; I was hoping for the PDF but just IRDF pre-approved. It took so long to get this letter. Best of luck to those applicants who are still waiting for their results.

I got a letter in BC today; I was hoping for the PDF but just IRDF pre-approved. It took so long to get this letter. Best of luck to those applicants who are still waiting for their results.

Congratulations!! An IRDF is also good. Can you please tell us your stats?

[UBC2012]

Does it mean that you are in the waiting list? Did they offer you IRDF?

Yes, I am in the waiting list and yes they offred me the IRDF. But the truth of the matter is that IRDF is absolutely pointless. I would rather find a job in the industry instead of working for two years for a company that might result in hiring me and nothing more.

[winter2012]

Congratulations!! An IRDF is also good. Can you please tell us your stats?

Thank you. I had 4 published and 2 submitted papers in my PhD. 4 published papers prior to PhD study. I had my PGS-D3 in my PhD. I thought that my proposal was very powerful. The letter indicates that "because you have also indicated for IRDF.......". Not sure if that played any role in my selection or not ...". IRDF pre-approved and it will remain active until March 2014.

[marmoor]

Okay more people added to the short list club of PDF, I did not find anything on the web regarding our chance in getting the award in June!!!!

[marmoor]

Thank you. I had 4 published and 2 submitted papers in my PhD. 4 published papers prior to PhD study. I had my PGS-D3 in my PhD. I thought that my proposal was very powerful. The letter indicates that "because you have also indicated for IRDF.......". Not sure if that played any role in my selection or not ...". IRDF pre-approved and it will remain active until March 2014.

Does this mean you had 8 first author published journals and you still did not get in the waitling list!!!!