Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
We can’t tell you which accounting firm is closest, and we won’t pretend a page can. What we can do is show you how to check any firm you find on a map before you hand over your books: confirm its standing with the provincial accounting body, ask five plain questions, and give it access to your CRA account the official way.
How do I check an accounting firm is real?
In Canada the accounting profession is regulated province by province. The Chartered Professional Accountant designation is granted by the provincial bodies, and they run public directories. CPA Ontario, for example, lists members, firms and public accounting licences, and CPA Alberta has a “verify a member or firm” page. Other provinces have their own.
One warning from CPA Ontario’s own directory page is worth repeating. Being listed doesn’t guarantee that someone holds a current licence or is a current member, so read the status shown and its date.
Plenty of good tax preparers and bookkeepers aren’t CPAs. That isn’t a red flag. It does mean you should ask what they are, and not assume.
What should I ask before hiring an accounting firm?
You’re buying judgement more than data entry, so ask questions that reveal it.
- Who will actually do my work, and who reviews it?
- What do you need from me each month, and by when?
- How do you bill: fixed fee, hourly or a mix? Ask for the fee in writing, with tax shown. We haven’t confirmed typical fees, so don’t trust any figure you see quoted without a source.
- What happens if the CRA writes to me? Do you handle it, and is that included?
- Which clients are you a poor fit for?
The last one is the most telling. A firm that says it takes everybody is either very large or not thinking about it.
How does the firm get into my CRA account?
Not by asking for your password. The CRA has an authorization process. You can approve a representative in My Account, or the firm can send a request through Represent a Client and you accept it. The CRA says a request for a personal account is generally processed instantly, while a business account request generally takes five business days. You can also use Form AUT-01 by mail, fax or in person.
If a firm wants your sign-in details instead, walk away.
Is an accounting firm worth it for my situation?
That comes down to what you would have to do yourself. A salaried employee with a T4 and a few receipts may only need the tax refund calculator and free filing software. Once you’re self-employed or own a corporation, the arithmetic changes.
Take a sole proprietor with $80,000 of net business income in Ontario. Our self-employed tax calculator shows $13,233.57 of income tax and $8,892.90 of CPP for both halves, so $22,126.47 in all, about 27.7% of the income. That leaves $57,873.53. The calculator leaves out GST/HST, EI and business expenses, so your real figure will differ. Still, when the tax bill is that size, a small mistake costs more than a good hour of advice.
A corporation is a bigger step. On $200,000 of taxable business income in Ontario, the corporate tax calculator gives $23,392 for a calendar 2026 year (11.7%). The Ontario part is a blend across the 1 July 2026 rate cut, so it’s an estimate. It also leaves out what you’d pay yourself out of the company, which is often where the planning happens. If you’re weighing that, look at the dividend tax calculator as well.
What goes wrong with local firms?
Mostly mismatch. A firm built for large companies may hand a one-person business to its newest staff. A one-office practice may be brilliant at personal returns and thin on payroll.
The other common trouble is timing. If you first call in late March, expect a queue and fewer choices. And keep copies of everything you send, because the CRA can ask for supporting documents for six years after the tax year.
Get a signed engagement letter that says what’s covered: which returns, which months, and what counts as extra.
Where the numbers come from
Authorization steps and processing times come from CRA representative pages, and the directory notes from CPA Ontario and CPA Alberta, all read in September 2026. Tax examples come from our own calculators using 2026 federal and Ontario data. We didn’t verify any firm’s prices or services.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that an accounting firm is licensed?
Use the public directory of your provincial CPA body, such as CPA Ontario or CPA Alberta. Read the status and date shown, since a listing alone does not guarantee a current licence.
Does my accountant need my CRA password?
No. You can authorize a representative in My Account or accept a request they send through Represent a Client.
How long does CRA authorization take?
The CRA says a request for a personal account is generally processed instantly and a business account request generally takes five business days.
Do I need a CPA to file my taxes?
No. Many good preparers and bookkeepers are not CPAs. Ask what qualifications they hold and what they are allowed to do.
What does an accounting firm charge?
We could not confirm typical fees. Ask for a written quote that shows what is covered and what is extra.
All family and benefits calculators
- Self-employed taxes in Canada: income, CPP and GST
How tax works when you are self-employed in Canada: reporting income and expenses, paying both halves of CPP, instalments and when to register for GST
Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.