Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
To verify an accountant’s credentials in Canada, find out which designation they claim, then look them up in that body’s public directory. For a CPA, that means the provincial CPA body. The word “accountant” alone isn’t a check, because it tells you little about training or oversight. The letters CPA are a different matter, since provincial law reserves them for members.
How do you verify an accountant’s credentials?
Ask three plain questions. What designation do you hold? Which provincial body registered you? Can I look you up in the directory? A real professional answers without fuss.
CPA Ontario runs a public member directory you can search by name, employer or city. It shows members in good standing, and suspended or revoked members don’t appear. But it also says a listing doesn’t guarantee good standing, and that you should contact the body to confirm a person’s status or ask about someone not listed. It doesn’t show discipline history either, which sits on a separate discipline page. Other provinces run their own directories, so use the one for the province where the accountant is registered.
In Quebec and the other provinces, go to the provincial CPA body’s own site. Each directory covers different things, so read what the page itself says it includes.
Say Sam in Calgary is choosing between two preparers who both put “CPA” on their cards. Sam searches each name in the Alberta body’s directory, sees one listed and the other not, and phones the body about the second. Ten minutes, and the question is settled.
What the titles mean
| What you hear | What to do |
|---|---|
| CPA or Chartered Professional Accountant | Look up the name in the provincial CPA directory |
| Accountant or bookkeeper | Not proof of anything. Ask about training and experience |
| Older letters such as CA, CGA or CMA | Ask whether they’re now a CPA member, and check the directory |
| A firm name | Check whether the firm itself is registered, where the province requires it |
CPA Ontario and BC’s CPA body both publish rules on who may use the designation. Read the rule for your province if a title looks odd.
What should you check on the CRA side?
A credential tells you who trained the person and that a professional body stands behind them, but it says very little about how they’ll deal with the Canada Revenue Agency on your file. Your preparer will need your permission to see your account. The CRA says you can give your tax preparer access through your own CRA account, either by adding them as your representative or by confirming an authorization request they send through Represent a Client. You give that access yourself. Be wary of anyone who asks for your password instead.
For a return filed electronically, the preparer has you sign form T183 to authorize them to send it. The CRA’s page on Form T183 says Part F is signed by the taxpayer before the return is electronically transmitted, and that both you and the preparer keep a copy. Read the return before you sign, because your name is on it.
EFILE is a separate thing from a professional designation. The CRA’s EFILE eligibility page says any firm, organization or individual providing tax preparation services can apply if they meet the requirements and pass a suitability screening. So a CPA may or may not file electronically, and an EFILE preparer may or may not be a CPA. Ask your preparer which applies.
Does a CPA designation guarantee good advice?
No. It tells you the person met an education and exam standard and answers to a professional body, which is a solid start. It doesn’t tell you whether they know your situation. A CPA who mostly handles corporate audits may not be the best fit for a rental property and a side business. So check the credential, then ask about experience with people in your position.
Questions to ask before you hire
Work out what you need first. A basic T1 return is a different job from a corporate year end. If you’re self-employed, test your own figures with the self-employed tax calculator, so you can judge whether the advice you get looks sensible. Note that its deductions lower income tax but not CPP, and it leaves out EI.
Ask how fees are set. Fees vary widely from one preparer to the next, so get the fee in writing and ask what’s included. Ask who does the work, and whether the person you meet is the person preparing the return.
Ask what happens if the CRA reviews the return. A good preparer will help you answer. They’ll also keep copies of what they filed. Remember you must keep your own records too, generally for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
Red flags
Walk away from anyone who won’t give a name or a directory entry. Walk away if they promise a refund before seeing your documents. And be careful if they ask you to sign a blank form or want the refund paid into their own bank account.
A quick self check helps after the return is filed. Run your income through the income tax calculator and the tax refund calculator. If the filed numbers are far from your ballpark, ask why.
Our sources
The directory details come from CPA Ontario’s public pages and the CPA title rules from CPA Ontario and BC CPA. The CRA points come from its pages on giving a preparer access, Form T183 and EFILE eligibility, read on 11 October 2026. This site hasn’t checked any named firm or fee level, and it isn’t linked to the CRA or any professional body.
Frequently asked questions
Is the word accountant a protected title?
We couldn't confirm that it is. Provincial law does reserve the CPA designation for members, so check your province's rules.
Where do I look up a CPA?
In the public directory of the provincial CPA body where they are registered. CPA Ontario's directory lists members in good standing.
Does a directory listing guarantee good standing?
CPA Ontario says it does not. Contact the body to confirm a person's status.
How does a preparer access my CRA account?
You authorize them yourself through your CRA account, and they use the Represent a Client service. Never hand over your password.
How much should an accountant charge?
We couldn't confirm fee levels. Ask for the fee and what it covers in writing.
- 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