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You don’t need income tax accountants for every return. If you have one employer, a few slips and standard claims, software will do it for less. You do want one when income comes from several places, when you run a business, or when a mistake would cost real money.
When is an accountant worth paying for?
Ask what a wrong answer would cost you. A missed credit on a simple return might be a few hundred dollars. A wrong call on business expenses, a rental property or a sale of shares can be far more, and the CRA can look back at it.
Some situations where people commonly bring in help:
- Self-employment or a corporation, where every expense is a judgement call.
- Rental income, especially with capital cost allowance.
- Selling a property, shares or crypto.
- A year in which you moved provinces or came to Canada.
- A letter from the CRA that you don’t understand.
For everything else, a decent return takes an evening. We couldn’t confirm typical fees from an official source, so we don’t quote any. Get the price in writing before you commit.
How do you find one you can trust?
Start with the licence. Provincial CPA bodies keep public directories. CPA Ontario lets you look up members, firms and public accounting licence holders. The Ordre des CPA du Québec has a membership roll that shows whether someone is authorized to practise. If a person says they’re a CPA and can’t be found, walk away.
Then look at fit. Someone who mostly does payroll for restaurants may not be the person for your rental portfolio. Ask how many clients like you they have this year. Who will really prepare your return? Who reviews it? Ask.
| What to check | How |
|---|---|
| Licence | Provincial CPA directory, before you share documents |
| Experience like yours | Ask about clients with your income type |
| Scope and price | Written quote listing what’s covered |
| Who signs off | A named person, and who reviews |
| Audit help | Ask if a CRA review is included or billed extra |
What can good advice change in dollars?
Take $80,000 of net business income in Ontario. The self-employed tax calculator shows $13,233.57 of income tax and $8,892.90 of CPP, so $22,126.47 in all. Add a $6,000 deduction, such as an RRSP contribution, and the income tax falls to $11,304.57. That saves $1,929.00. The RRSP calculator shows what the contribution grows to.
Now the point. You can find that yourself in five minutes. What you’re paying an accountant for is the harder part: whether the deduction is allowed, in which year it’s best used and what it does to your other income. The marginal tax rate calculator is a useful check on that last piece. It shows the rate you’d pay on the next dollar earned, and that rate decides how much a deduction is really worth.
What should you bring to the first meeting?
Last year’s return and notice of assessment, all your slips, receipts for anything you plan to claim, and the business number if you have one. A list of questions helps more than you’d think.
If you’re self-employed, add a monthly list of income and expenses. A file that arrives in order gets a better answer. It may get a lower quote too. The CRA says business records should be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
What mistakes do people make with income tax accountants?
The classic: handing over a shoebox and expecting advice. Hiring in April is another, because planning moves are mostly gone by then. People also sign returns they haven’t read. It’s your name on the return, so check every figure you don’t recognize. Ask.
And don’t take a promised refund as a sign of skill. A firm that guarantees a result before seeing your papers is guessing. Use the tax refund calculator for a rough view first, then compare it to what you’re told.
Where the numbers come from
Record-keeping and business-expense rules come from the Canada Revenue Agency. Directory details come from CPA Ontario and the Ordre des CPA du Québec. Examples use this site’s calculators with 2026 data checked on September 29, 2026, and they are estimates for a standard case. This site has no link with any government body or accounting firm.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an accountant to file my income tax?
Not for a simple return. It makes sense with a business, rental income, a property or share sale, or a move between provinces.
How do I check an accountant's licence?
Use the directory of the provincial CPA body, such as CPA Ontario or the Ordre des CPA du Québec.
How much do income tax accountants charge?
We couldn't confirm typical fees from an official source. Ask for a written quote that lists what's included.
What records should I keep?
The CRA says business records should be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Last year's return and assessment, your slips, receipts for claims and your business number if you have one.
- 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.