How much does an accountant cost in Canada?
Accounting fees in Canada vary widely by the service, the complexity of your situation and where you are. Below are typical ranges so you know what to expect before you request quotes.
Personal tax return (T1)
A simple T1 personal return with a single T4 is often a flat fee in the range of $80–$200. Add rental income, investments, self-employment or foreign income and it typically rises to $250–$600+.
If you are self-employed or have a small business, expect the return to be priced with your bookkeeping rather than as a standalone T1.
Bookkeeping
Ongoing bookkeeping is usually billed monthly and scales with transaction volume — commonly $150–$600/month for a small business, more for higher volume or multiple accounts.
Some firms bill hourly ($40–$90/hour) for catch-up or clean-up work.
Payroll
Payroll is often priced per pay run plus a per-employee fee — commonly $20–$60 per run plus a few dollars per employee, with year-end T4s sometimes billed separately.
Corporate tax return (T2) and year-end
A corporate T2 return with year-end financial statements for a small, active company typically runs $1,000–$3,000+, depending on the state of your books, the number of transactions and whether tax planning is involved.
What drives the price
The biggest factors are the tidiness of your records, the number of transactions, the complexity of your income (investments, multiple provinces, GST/HST, foreign reporting) and whether you need proactive tax planning versus simple compliance filing.
Getting two or three quotes is the best way to gauge a fair local price — most firms will scope your work and quote for free.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to use a bookkeeper or an accountant?
A bookkeeper is generally cheaper for day-to-day records and reconciliations. A CPA costs more but adds corporate tax, financial statements and planning. Many businesses use a bookkeeper for the month-to-month work and an accountant at year-end.
Do accountants charge a flat fee or hourly?
Personal tax returns are usually a flat fee. Ongoing bookkeeping and payroll are usually monthly, and catch-up work is often hourly. Corporate year-ends are typically quoted as a fixed fee once the firm sees your books.
Compare accounting and bookkeeping firms near you by service and location.
Find an accountant near you →