Contribution limit showing as $0 | Page 3 | Tax Free Savings Accounts | Discussion forum

He says he came here in 2016 and is now a Cdn citizen. That means he had to have lived in Canada for at least 3 of the past five years, and likely more by the time he got the paper work filed and approved and was sworn in. If I were applying for citizenship, I wouldn't leave the country until I got it.

If he did accidentally contribute to a TFSA and/or forgot about it, surely he would be wondering what had happened to the money by now. Most FIs continue to send at least an annual statement and often a reminder that they would like you to contribute more. In order to be at zero now, he would have to have contributed at least 6500 before 2020 and he will soon be getting a bill for an overcontribution.
I wonder if he might be on some payroll deduction plan that he has forgotten about which just keeps rolling along, but I don't know if these exist for TFSAs.

I don't understand why he hasn't phoned them already for clarification.

Lol, there is no need for anymore speculation as it’s been over 24 hours since OP chimed in.

Very strange for someone that has a situation that may be costing them a penalty. Most people would be freaking out and responding every hour trying to resolve the situation so they can sleep at night.

Loonie said
I don't think it's suspicious that OP hasn't responded for 24 hours at all. We aren't all nerdy - just you and me and a few others!

People do have other things they have to do with their lives, especially right now.

For all we know, he could be an ICU physician who is run off his feet. Lots of doctors are immigrants, trained abroad. Nobody wants to pay fines, but he may have more money than time and be convinced he owes nothing - and he might be right.  

Yes, totally possible. It’s just more speculation though.

It’s a waste of time if OP isn’t here to respond. But ultimately it’s his time and we can only help at his pace.