Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Typing “cpa near me” into a search box feels like the obvious move, but you don’t need a CPA just because you have a T4. If your return is a few slips and the usual credits, certified tax software or a registered tax preparer does the job. A CPA earns the fee when you have a business, rental property, a share sale or a move across the border. Whoever you pick, there are ways to check them before you hand over your papers, and that’s what this page covers.
We can’t confirm what a CPA charges or who is good in your town, so we don’t name firms or prices. Ask for a quote first.
Do you need a CPA or a tax preparer?
A tax preparer is anyone who prepares your return and files it electronically for you. The CRA lists certified ones in its own directory, which you can search by postal code. Start there.
A CPA holds a professional designation and can advise on more than the form. Think of it this way. If the question is “what goes on line 10400”, a preparer will do. If it’s “should I incorporate” or “how do I sell this building”, you want the designation.
How do you check a CPA before you hire one?
Look them up. Provincial CPA bodies keep public directories. CPA Ontario’s, for example, covers members, firms and holders of a public accounting licence. Its own warning is worth repeating: being listed doesn’t guarantee a current licence, so confirm the status on the directory itself and ask for the licence number if the person says they can sign off on financial statements.
Then ask two things. Will they file by EFILE? And will they give you a copy of everything they file? Never sign a blank form, and read the return before you sign the electronic filing form (Form T183). Keep that form for six years.
| What to check | Where |
|---|---|
| Certified to file electronically | CRA tax preparer directory, by postal code |
| CPA membership and firm status | Your provincial CPA body’s public directory |
| What you sign | Form T183, after you have read the return |
| How long you keep the paperwork | Six years, including the T183 |
| Access to your CRA account | Through Represent a Client, with your approval |
What should you bring to the first meeting?
All your slips, receipts for deductions and credits, and proof of any income the slips don’t show. Update your address, direct deposit details and contact preferences with the CRA beforehand.
If you want the preparer to see your CRA account, you can approve them online. Since 15 July 2025 preparers can’t ask for individual authorization through EFILE, so it goes through the Represent a Client service. Your CRA account is the fast way to do it. Another route uses details from a notice of assessment that’s at least six months old.
What does a good preparer save you?
Sometimes nothing, and it’s fair to say so, because a return with two slips and no deductions leaves very little for anyone to find. Run your own numbers first. Say you earned $60,000 in Ontario and had $9,000 withheld. Our tax refund calculator shows $8,320.50 of tax and a refund of $679.50. If your return comes back very different, ask why. It might be a real credit or a mistake.
The income tax calculator gives the same kind of check on a salary. And if you work for yourself, the self-employed tax calculator shows roughly what the year costs, so you know whether the preparer’s number is in the right range. On $50,000 of net business income it gives $11,495 of income tax and CPP. It leaves out EI and GST/HST.
Be careful with anyone who charges by the size of your refund. The CRA runs a separate discounter program, with its own limits, for people who want the refund up front. Ask how the fee is set before you agree.
Where the numbers come from
Preparer and filing rules come from the Canada Revenue Agency’s pages on professional tax preparers and authorization. The CPA directory note comes from CPA Ontario. Calculator figures use 2026 rates. This website has no link with the CRA or any accounting body.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CPA to file my taxes?
No. Certified tax software or a registered tax preparer can file a simple return. A CPA helps most with business, rental, share sale or cross-border situations.
Where can I find a certified tax preparer?
The CRA keeps a directory of certified preparers that you can search by postal code.
How do I confirm someone is a CPA?
Search your provincial CPA body's public directory. CPA Ontario, for example, lists members, firms and public accounting licence holders.
What do I sign when a preparer files for me?
Form T183, the electronic filing form. Read the return first and never sign a blank form.
How much does a CPA cost?
We couldn't confirm typical fees. Ask for a written quote that says what it covers.
- 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
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.