Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
A tax return accountant can’t change what you owe, but they can make sure you claim everything you’re entitled to and file on time. If your return is simple, one T4 and no business income, you may not need one at all. Missing the deadline is the expensive mistake: the CRA’s late-filing penalty is 5% of your balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months.
When does a tax return accountant pay for itself?
When your situation has moving parts. Self-employment, rental income, a corporation, a move between provinces, or a year with big capital gains are the usual cases. The more forms involved, the more a mistake costs.
Take an Ontario employee earning $60,000 with $8,000 of income tax withheld. The tax refund calculator shows tax for the year of $8,320.50, so this person owes $320.50. Add a $5,000 deduction, an RRSP contribution for instance, and tax drops to $7,103.72. That turns the $320.50 balance into a $896.28 refund. A deduction you forgot is worth $1,216.78 here.
Spotting those is what you pay for. It isn’t magic. An accountant can only claim what you can document.
Is a simple return worth paying for?
Usually not. If you have one job, a few slips and nothing odd, certified software or a free clinic will do the same arithmetic for far less. Where an accountant earns their keep is judgment: whether a home office qualifies, how to split a rental loss, what to do after moving mid-year. If your honest answer to “do I have a question I can’t answer myself?” is no, save the fee and keep a few bucks in your pocket. If the answer is yes, ask about a short consult first. You don’t have to hand over the whole return to get one question answered. Ask whether the accountant offers that, since we couldn’t confirm what any firm does.
What should you ask before you hire one?
| Question | Why ask it |
|---|---|
| What’s the fee, in writing, for my situation? | Fees vary and we couldn’t confirm typical levels |
| Can I check your credentials in a public directory? | Provincial accounting bodies list their members |
| Will you file it electronically? | It affects when the CRA processes your return |
| What do you need from me, and by when? | Gaps in slips cause delays |
| Will you handle a CRA letter later? | Some fees cover only the filing |
We’re not naming firms or quoting prices. Anyone who promises a bigger refund before seeing your papers is guessing.
How do you give an accountant access to your CRA account?
Through the CRA’s representative authorization. You can approve a request in your CRA account under your profile, and the CRA says your representative can be an accountant, a lawyer, a bookkeeper or anyone you choose. The access lasts until you cancel it or it expires. When the request comes from a representative, you may have to confirm it within 10 business days.
Giving access doesn’t hand over responsibility. The return still carries your name. Read it before it goes.
What does a tax return accountant need from you?
Every slip you got (T4, T5, T3 and the rest), receipts for deductions, last year’s notice of assessment, and your RRSP and childcare receipts. If you’re self-employed, add a summary of income and expenses.
The income tax calculator gives you a quick baseline before the meeting. For $85,000 of employment income in Ontario it shows $15,551.05 of income tax, and $5,769.52 more in CPP and EI, leaving $63,679.43. Bring your own estimate and ask why the accountant’s number differs. Good answers are easy to spot.
Federal credits like the disability amount or the tuition credit are worth a look through the tax credits calculator. It covers federal amounts only, so provincial claims come on top.
What about deadlines and self-employed returns?
For 2026 the CRA lists June 15 as the filing date for self-employed people, while tax owing was due April 30. Most other individuals owed their balance by April 30 too. Instalments fall on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 for people who pay that way.
A self-employed person can see how the bill comes together with the self-employed tax calculator. At $80,000 of net income in Ontario it gives $13,233.57 of income tax and $8,892.90 of CPP, $22,126.47 in total. It leaves out EI and GST/HST.
Don’t confuse the two dates. Filing by June 15 doesn’t move the April 30 payment date.
Which mistakes and limits should you know about?
Waiting until the last week is the classic. Accountants get busy, papers go missing, and a late return costs you the penalty above. File even if you can’t pay in full, because the CRA says filing on time avoids the late-filing penalty.
Another is hiring on price alone. A cheap return that misses a deduction can cost more than the fee saved.
Hiring someone to file doesn’t remove your duty to keep records. Six years from the end of the last tax year is the CRA’s rule, and the CRA’s record-keeping page explains where to keep them. And no accountant can promise a refund. A refund comes from tax you already paid.
The sources behind this page
Penalty wording, deadlines and representative rules come from Canada Revenue Agency pages we read on 30 September 2026. The penalty page we read applied to 2025 returns. Dollar examples come from our calculators, using 2026 federal and provincial data. No level of government runs or endorses this site.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tax return accountant?
Not for a simple return. Self-employment, rental income, a corporation or large gains are where one usually helps.
What is the penalty for filing late?
The CRA charges 5% of your balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months. It is higher for repeat late filers.
How do I let an accountant deal with the CRA for me?
Authorize them as a representative through your CRA account. You may have to confirm their request within 10 business days.
Can an accountant guarantee a refund?
No. A refund depends on how much tax you already paid compared with what you owe.
When is a self-employed return due?
For 2026 the CRA lists June 15, with any tax owing due April 30.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
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