Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
The best small business accountant is licensed, used to businesses like yours and close enough to phone. In Ontario you can check a licence in CPA Ontario’s public directory in a few minutes, before the first meeting.
Does your accountant need to be nearby?
Not really.
Federal income tax rules are the same wherever the firm sits, so an accountant in another city can file your return just as well, while what a local firm adds is an in-person meeting, a feel for your provincial rules and the option of visiting your premises when the books are a mess. Pick on skill and fit first, and distance second. Video calls and secure file sharing have made distance a small factor for routine work.
We couldn’t confirm typical fees or rank any firm from an official source, so we don’t do either here. The rest is about how to search, what to ask and how to check what you hear.
How do you check an accountant?
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Licence and standing | Search the directory of your provincial accounting body. CPA Ontario lists members, firms and public accounting licence holders |
| Experience with your type of business | Ask for examples with a similar size, sector and structure |
| Services in the quote | Bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST filing, year end and tax planning are often priced apart |
| Deadlines | Ask who tracks filing dates and how you will be reminded |
| Access | Ask how fast questions are answered outside tax season |
| Data handling | Ask how documents are sent and stored |
Get two written quotes at least. Read what each one covers, because the cheaper quote may leave out work you’ll need.
What should you bring to the first meeting?
Your business number if you have one, last year’s return, your bank statements and a list of questions. Then ask the accountant to explain the structure options in dollars, not in general terms. Here’s the kind of comparison to ask for.
A sole proprietor in Ontario with $60,000 of net income pays $7,879.42 in income tax and $6,723.50 in CPP, $14,602.92 in all, according to the self-employed tax calculator. A corporation with $300,000 of active business income in Ontario owes $35,088, or 11.7%, in the corporate tax calculator. Both are estimates for a standard case. A good accountant will tell you how salary, dividends and timing change the result for you.
How do you handle the first month?
Start with a small, defined job and a clear date for the first report. Tomasz, who owns a two truck moving company in Edmonton, gave his new accountant just the quarterly GST/HST return at first. When it arrived early and correct, he handed over the rest. You’re allowed to test the relationship before committing to all of it.
What should a written quote spell out?
A fee figure alone tells you little. Ask whether it’s fixed or hourly, and what happens when you go past the scope. Ask who files the GST/HST returns and who answers if the CRA sends a letter, because some firms bill that separately. Ask, too, how either side ends the arrangement and how you get your records back. Five minutes on these questions beats a surprise invoice in April.
Which dates should your accountant be watching?
If you’re self-employed, you file by June 15, 2026, but any balance is still due April 30, 2026. Instalments fall on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, and T4 slips are due by the last day of February. A corporation files within six months of year end. It pays most of its balance two months after year end, or three for many small Canadian-controlled private corporations.
GST/HST registration becomes mandatory once taxable revenues pass $30,000 in a quarter or over four quarters. The tax instalments calculator works out those payments in advance.
What if you already have an accountant and aren’t sure?
Ask for a short review. Does your accountant tell you about deadlines before you miss them? Do they explain choices, not just file forms? Do they return calls within a couple of days outside tax season? If the answer to two of those is no, a second opinion costs little compared with a missed instalment.
What mistakes do owners make?
- They choose on price alone. Compare the scope of work instead.
- They skip the licence check, which is quick and free.
- They hire only at tax time. Advice on structure is worth most before the year starts.
- They leave all record keeping to the accountant. Keep your own receipts, and hold records for six years.
- They lean on a calculator for a complex case. Associated companies, passive income and unusual claims sit outside these tools.
Got employees? The payroll remittance calculator shows what each pay period adds up to, which helps when you compare payroll quotes.
What this page is based on
Deadlines and the GST/HST limit come from Canada Revenue Agency pages for 2026. Licence directory details come from CPA Ontario. Tax examples come from the calculators on this site, using 2026 data checked on September 29, 2026. This website has no link to any government body or accounting firm.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that an accountant is licensed?
Search the directory of your provincial accounting body. In Ontario, CPA Ontario lists members, firms and public accounting licence holders.
Does my accountant have to be nearby?
No. Federal filings work the same anywhere, though a local firm can meet you in person and knows local practice.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Your business number, last year's return, bank statements and a list of questions about structure and deadlines.
When is a self-employed person's return due in 2026?
June 15, 2026, although any tax owing is due April 30, 2026.
When must I register for GST/HST?
Once your taxable revenues pass $30,000 in a single quarter or over four consecutive quarters.
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