Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
If you live in Quebec you file two income tax returns, one with the CRA and one with Revenu Québec, so pick a Montreal tax accountant who handles both. Self-employed people have until June 15 to file, but tax owing for 2025 was due April 30, 2026. For the 2026 return the usual dates are June 15 and April 30, 2027.
What does a Montreal tax accountant do that software doesn’t?
For a plain salary and a few slips, tax software is usually enough. It asks the questions and fills in both returns. An accountant earns the fee when your year has moving parts: a business, a corporation, rental income, a partner’s share, or a move in or out of the province.
Quebec adds a layer that other provinces do not have. Your provincial return goes to Revenu Québec, it has its own forms, and it uses its own contribution system (QPP in place of CPP). A firm that sees these every February will spot a mismatch between the two returns faster than you will. Our guides on the Quebec tax return and on what is unique about Quebec tax show the differences.
We could not confirm typical fees, or rank any firm, from an official source. So this page does not quote prices or recommend a name. What follows is how to check someone and what to ask.
How do you check that an accountant is a real CPA?
Use the Ordre des CPA du Québec. Its website has a “Find a CPA” directory and a roll of members page, which you can use to confirm that someone is a member of the Order. It takes two minutes. Do it before you send any documents.
Not every person who prepares returns is a CPA, and that is fine for a simple return. But if someone calls themselves one, the Order’s records should agree. Ask, too, who exactly will prepare your file. The name on the door and the person doing the work can differ.
| Question to ask | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Do you file both the federal and Quebec returns? | Yes, and they explain how the two fit together |
| Who prepares my file? | A named person, with a reviewer |
| What is in the quote? | A written list: return, GST/QST, payroll, year end |
| How are deadlines tracked? | They tell you the dates and send reminders |
| What do you need from me? | A clear document list, not “everything” |
What should you bring to the first meeting?
Less than you think, if it is organized. Last year’s notices of assessment from both governments, your slips (the federal ones and the Quebec ones), and a list of what changed in your year: a new job, a baby, a move, a side gig. Sophie in Verdun, who started selling ceramics online last spring, brings her sales summary and a folder of receipts sorted by month. Her accountant can start work in the first ten minutes.
If you are self-employed, add your bank statements for the business account, your mileage notes and any GST/QST returns you filed. A clear folder can save an hour of paid time. Our GST and QST calculator helps check the sales tax lines.
What does self-employment cost you in Quebec?
More than most people expect, mainly because you pay both halves of the pension contribution. This is what our self-employed tax calculator gives for net business income in Quebec. Treat the Quebec column with some care. The federal Quebec abatement, the QPP rates and the parental insurance (QPIP) figures follow published rules, but the totals are estimates.
| Net business income | Income tax (federal and Quebec) | QPP and QPIP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $6,665.17 | $6,241.00 | $12,906.17 |
| $80,000 | $15,268.17 | $10,001.80 | $25,269.97 |
On $80,000 that is 31.6% of income, and $54,730.03 is left. The same $80,000 in Ontario comes to $22,126.47 in our calculator, so Quebec costs more here. Your own case will differ, since deductions and credits move the number. The calculator also leaves out EI and business expenses. For 2027 contribution rates see our page on QPP and QPIP 2027 rates and ceilings.
Because nobody withholds anything from business income, the tax instalments calculator is worth a look. It splits an expected balance into four equal payments. Quebec residents have a lower threshold for the provincial part ($1,800), which the calculator does not model. Confirm it with Revenu Québec.
What if you run a corporation in Montreal?
Then the accountant’s job grows. On $300,000 of active business income for a 2026 year that began before April 30, 2026, our corporate tax calculator shows $36,600 of combined tax in Quebec, which is 12.2%. Several secondary sources report that Quebec cut its small business rate from 3.2% to 2.2% for tax years that begin after April 29, 2026. At the combined 11.2% that would be $33,600 on the same income. We could not load Revenu Québec’s own rate page, so check it before you plan around the lower rate.
The calculator also ignores the paid-hours test, but it has boxes for associated companies and passive income. Those are the questions to put to a firm early.
Do you need an accountant at all?
Not always. If your only income is a salary and a couple of slips, software and an hour of your own time will do the job. A good rule is to ask once a year: did anything big change? If the answer is a business, a company, a rental property, a death in the family or a move across the provincial line, then it is worth a conversation with a professional before you file, not after.
What mistakes do people make when hiring?
Choosing on price alone is the usual one. Two quotes that look far apart often cover different work. Waiting until April is another, since the useful advice comes before year end. And handing everything over without keeping copies. The CRA says business records must be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
Also, do not treat a calculator as a filing. An income tax calculator gives an estimate for a standard case, which is where an accountant’s judgement starts.
Sources and what we checked
We checked the figures and rules on this page against the official pages below in November 2026. This is an independent information page with no connection to the CRA or any government.
- CRA: Important dates for individuals
- Ordre des CPA du Québec
- Revenu Québec (could not be loaded in November 2026, confirm Quebec dates and rates there)
Frequently asked questions
Do I file two tax returns in Quebec?
Yes. Quebec residents file a federal return with the CRA and a provincial return with Revenu Québec each year. The two returns have their own forms and are linked by many of the same slips, so a mismatch between them is a common reason for a notice or a delayed refund.
When is the return due for a self-employed person in Quebec?
For 2025, the filing deadline was June 15, 2026, but any balance owing was due April 30, 2026. For the 2026 tax year the usual dates are June 15, 2027 to file and April 30, 2027 to pay. The CRA had not printed 2027 dates when we checked in November 2026.
How do I check that my accountant is a CPA?
Use the Find a CPA directory or the roll of members on the Ordre des CPA du Québec website to confirm someone is a member. Also ask who will prepare your file, since the person who signs and the person who does the work can differ. Do the check before you send documents.
How much does a Montreal accountant charge?
We could not confirm typical fees from an official source, so we give no figure. Fees depend on the work: a basic return costs less than a corporation with payroll and GST/QST filings. Ask for a written quote that lists what is included, and compare what each list covers before you look at the totals.
Does a Montreal accountant have to be in the city?
No. Both returns can be filed remotely, and documents can be shared securely. A local firm can meet you in person and knows local practice. Whatever you choose, check the person's standing with the Order and confirm that they file both the federal and Quebec returns.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
Do you need a tax preparer in Canada? How to decide, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help
- Quebec income tax, QPP and QST in 2026
How Quebec income tax works in 2026: its own return and brackets, the federal abatement, QPP and QPIP contributions, QST, and calculators for Quebec