Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
A business tax accountant near you is only worth hiring if they can show they handle your kind of business, so start with what you need done, then check the person. We can’t rank or recommend any local firm, and we couldn’t confirm what accountants charge, so this page helps you pick and test one instead.
What should a business tax accountant actually do for you?
Most owners need one of three things. Some want a corporate T2 return filed, some want the books cleaned up first, and some want advice before a big decision such as incorporating or hiring. Say which one at the start. A firm that files returns all day may be a poor fit if you need someone to plan ahead with you.
The dates matter, so ask who owns each one. A corporation files its T2 within six months of year end, and the balance is generally due two months after year end (three for some Canadian-controlled private corporations). A sole proprietor files by June 15 but pays by April 30.
Which questions filter out the wrong firm?
| Ask | Why |
|---|---|
| Which professional body are you a member of? | You can check the body’s public register yourself |
| How many businesses like mine do you handle? | Trades, retail and online sellers have different problems |
| What is in the fee, and what costs extra? | Bookkeeping, payroll and CRA letters are often separate |
| Who prepares my return and who reviews it? | You want to know who to call |
| When do you need my records? | A late hand-over is the usual cause of late filing |
| Will you talk to the CRA for me? | They need your authorization first |
Get the fee in writing. A quote for one year’s return is not a quote for the year’s work.
When is the best time to hire?
Before you need them. Maria runs a small landscaping company outside Surrey, and she called an accountant in October, not in March. That gave them months to fix her bookkeeping and plan her pay, and the return itself became the easy part. Calling at tax time means you’re one of fifty rushed clients, and the firm has little room to think about your situation.
If you’re already late, call anyway. Say what’s missing and when the deadline is, and ask what they can realistically do.
Is a corporation’s tax bill the whole story?
No, and a decent accountant will say so early. Take an Ontario corporation with $300,000 of active business income. The corporate tax calculator shows $35,088 for a calendar 2026 year, an 11.7% rate. Ontario cut its small business rate on 1 July 2026, so that rate is a blend we estimated, and it should drop for 2027.
That is tax inside the company. You’re taxed again on what you pay yourself, and the dividend tax calculator shows that side. If your accountant only talks about the corporate figure, ask about the second layer.
Your books feed all of this. Sales tax is one example: on $8,000 of Ontario sales, 13% HST is $1,040, and the GST/HST calculator lets you check that kind of sum. With staff, the payroll remittance calculator shows what you owe each pay period.
How do you check someone before you hand over records?
Look them up on the register of the professional body they name. Read the engagement letter. Then give them a small job first, such as a year of bookkeeping or a sales tax return, and see how they communicate.
Also expect to authorize them with the CRA. An individual or business can do it online through the CRA’s representative authorization process, or on form AUT-01 for phone, mail and in-person contact. It gives them access to your account, so you can also take it away.
What will an accountant ask you for?
Expect a list. Last year’s return, a full year of bank and credit card statements, sales invoices, bills you paid, payroll records and any GST/HST returns already filed. If you own a corporation, they’ll also want the corporate minutes and shareholder loan details. The better organized you are, the fewer hours you pay for. The CRA page on keeping records explains how long to hold on to all of it.
What goes wrong when owners hire late?
- The shoebox of receipts arrives in March with no bank reconciliation.
- Price becomes the only test, so the return gets filed with no planning at all.
- Nobody asks who signs, and later it’s unclear who was responsible.
- Instalments get forgotten, and the interest comes as a surprise.
- GST/HST registration is assumed to be done when nobody did it.
Local doesn’t matter much. Many accountants work by video and secure upload, and what counts is whether they know your kind of business and answer your calls.
Our sources
Filing and payment dates are from Canada Revenue Agency pages on 2026 business deadlines and when to file a corporation return, read in September 2026. The authorization process is from the CRA’s representative authorization pages. Tax calculations use 2026 federal and Ontario rates. This site has no link with the CRA or any government, and names no firm.
Frequently asked questions
Does my business tax accountant have to be local?
No. Many work by video call and secure upload. What matters is experience with your type of business and how quickly they answer.
How much does a business tax accountant cost?
We couldn't confirm typical fees from an official source. Ask for a written quote that lists what is and isn't included.
Can my accountant deal with the CRA for me?
Yes, once you authorize them. You can do it online or on form AUT-01, and you can withdraw it later.
When is a corporation's tax return due?
The T2 is due six months after year end. The balance is generally due two months after year end, or three for some CCPCs.
What should I bring to a first meeting?
Bank statements, sales and expense records, last year's return and your GST/HST and payroll accounts if you have them.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
How to decide if you need a tax preparer, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help in Canada