Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
No official body publishes a list of the accounting software Canadian bookkeepers use, and we couldn’t find a reliable survey, so we won’t give you a ranking. What we can give you is the test that matters when you choose accounting software for bookkeepers’ work in Canada: does it get GST/HST, QST and payroll right, and can it hand your records over in a form the CRA can read?
This page is short on purpose. Anything we said about prices, discounts or which product leads the market would be a guess, so we left it out.
What the CRA requires of your records
The software is your choice. The rules aren’t. The CRA says business records must be kept for at least six years from the end of the latest year they relate to. If you keep them electronically, you have to keep them in a readable electronic format for that period, even when you also have paper copies.
Backups matter too. The CRA encourages copies stored at another location in Canada, and an encrypted or proprietary backup has to be restorable to a usable state later. A copy is usable when the CRA can process it with its own software, which means a common data format rather than a locked one.
One line surprises people. Handing the books to a bookkeeper, an accountant or a cloud provider doesn’t remove your duty to keep, read and produce the records. So ask before you sign up: how do I export everything if I leave?
What to ask before you pick accounting software
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does it export every transaction in a common format? | You must be able to produce readable records for six years |
| Can you set provincial tax codes and rates? | HST, GST plus PST and GST plus QST all work differently |
| Does it handle payroll and remittances? | CPP and EI amounts must match official tables |
| Where is the data stored, and can you back it up? | The CRA encourages backups kept in Canada |
| Can a bookkeeper and an owner both log in? | Clients often need read access while you post entries |
| What happens to your file if you cancel? | Records must stay readable for six years |
Test the tax handling with real numbers
Before you commit, run a few known figures through whatever trial or demo you can get. Three are quick to check.
First, sales tax on a $565 Ontario receipt with tax included. It should split into $500 and $65 of HST. The reverse HST calculator gives the same split, so you can compare. Second, a $500 Quebec sale. GST is $25.00 and QST is $49.88, for a total of $574.88, because QST is worked out on the price before GST. Our GST and QST calculator shows this. If the software gets QST wrong, don’t use it for Quebec clients.
Third, payroll. For a $75,000 salary in Ontario, the take-home pay calculator shows CPP of $4,246.45 and EI of $1,123.07. Small differences can come from how a package rounds per pay period, but a gap of hundreds of dollars means something is set up wrong. For remittance timing, see the payroll remittance calculator.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on a screenshot. Try a real month of your client’s bank data first.
- Trusting that a “Canadian edition” has the right rates. Check them against the CRA table yourself.
- Letting each client pick a different tool without a filing plan. Six years of records in six formats is a headache.
- Skipping the export test. Do it in week one, not when you leave.
Sole proprietors can also use the self-employed tax calculator to see what their own books should roughly produce at year end.
Where the numbers come from
Record-keeping rules are from Canada Revenue Agency pages on keeping records and electronic records, read in September 2026. Test figures are from this site’s calculators using 2026 rates. We didn’t verify any software vendor’s features, ratings or prices, and this site has no link with the CRA or any government.
Frequently asked questions
Which accounting software do Canadian bookkeepers use most?
We could not find a reliable official or survey source, so we do not name one. Test each package against your clients' needs instead.
How long must business records be kept?
The CRA says at least six years from the end of the latest year they relate to.
Can records be stored only in the cloud?
Electronic records must stay readable for six years. The CRA encourages backup copies at another location in Canada, and using a cloud provider does not remove your duty.
What should the software calculate correctly?
Provincial sales tax, including QST on the price before GST, and payroll CPP and EI.
How can I test the sales tax settings?
Run a $565 Ontario receipt with tax included. It should split into $500 and $65 of HST.
- 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.