Accountant for tradespeople and artisans

Whether you’re an electrician, plumber, cabinetmaker, welder, mechanic, or landscaper, when you’re a tradesperson in Quebec, you spend your days on job sites and in the workshop, not dealing with paperwork. Between bids, client deposits, materials to bill, vehicle depreciation, and tools that need to be replaced every season, the accounting for a hands-on trade is more demanding than it seems: GST/QST on income over $30,000, tax instalments, and the choice between remaining self-employed or incorporating.

Find the ideal accountant for your industry, one who understands tradespeople and artisans: small, often solo operations, irregular contract income, tool expenses, and tax matters that need to be kept simple. We’ll connect you with the right accountant for this sector, as often as needed, at no cost, and we’ll stay by your side. No obligation. And when it comes to fees, there’s only one standard: the Bankeo Fee Barometer, based on 1,248 real-world cases.

• Choosing the Right Structure: Self-Employed or Corporation, Incorporation Often Becomes a Viable Option When Annual Profits Reach Around $50,000.
• In Quebec, the small business deduction requires 5,500 paid hours per year: a sole proprietor often loses this deduction at the provincial level, so the calculation must be done before changing business structure.
• Depreciate tools at the right rate: tools costing less than $500 are 100% deductible (Class 12), equipment is 20% deductible (Class 8), and vehicles are 30% deductible (Class 10).
• Smoothing out income from irregular and seasonal contracts: a cash flow buffer and planned, rather than unexpected, tax instalments.
• Cross the $30,000 threshold without any surprises: GST/QST registration, compliant invoicing, and claiming ITC/ITR credits on materials and tools.
• Distinguishing between re-billed materials and labour in bids: the actual margin per contract depends directly on this.
• Manage customer deposits and year-end inventory of materials, two areas that the CRA and Revenu Québec monitor closely.

• Registration for GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) is required as soon as revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
• Business Tax Returns: Form T2125 at the federal level and Form TP-80 in Quebec for self-employed individuals; Form T2 and Form CO-17 for incorporated companies.
• You must file Form T5018 if you pay subcontractors and construction is your primary business activity.
• Capitalization Deduction (CCA): tools costing less than $500 (Class 12), equipment (Class 8), vehicles (Class 10), with supporting mileage logs.
• Tax instalments are due as soon as the net tax payable exceeds $1,800, to both the CRA and Revenu Québec (threshold applicable to Quebec residents).
• Federal and Quebec source deductions (DAS) (QPP, QPIP, HSF, CNESST) starting with your company’s first employee or the first salary paid.
• Invoices, receipts, and contracts must be retained for six years; an RBQ license and a Revenu Québec certificate are required depending on the type of contract.

Should I incorporate as a tradesperson? Often, once your annual profit reaches around $50,000, that’s when you start leaving money in the business. Be aware of the Quebec requirement: without 5,500 paid hours, your business often loses the provincial small business deduction. An accountant who specializes in tradespeople will walk you through the full calculation, for free, before you change your business structure.

Do I need to charge GST and QST on my contracts? Yes, as soon as your revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, you must register, charge 5% GST and 9.975% QST, and then file your returns. In return, you’ll recover the taxes paid on tools and materials (ITC and ITR). Your accountant will ensure you’re in compliance and choose the appropriate filing frequency.

How much does an accountant cost in this sector? According to the Bankeo Fee BarometerBased on 1,248 real-world cases (2024-2026), the median fee for an accountant in Quebec is around $3,000 per year, ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the industry and complexity of the work. The Bankeo matching service is free: you pay your accountant directly at standard market rates.

How Can You Switch Accountants as a Tradesperson Without Any Stress? You don’t have to handle any of this yourself: your new accountant will request the transfer of your files (tax returns, CCA reports for tools and vehicles, GST/QST balances) directly from your previous accountant, a standard practice among professionals. The best time to do this is after the peak season or after tax returns have been filed. We’ll introduce you to an accountant who specializes in tradespeople, for free, within 48 hours, and we’ll stay by your side until you find the right fit.

Local or Remote Accountant for a Tradesperson? Both work very well: photos of invoices, cloud-based bookkeeping, and video calls cover most of your day-to-day needs. The key is that the accountant understands the realities of the trades in Quebec: RBQ, CCQ, T5018, and re-billed materials. We’ll match you based on your preference, whether you’d like someone near your workshop or remotely, for free and with no obligation.

I pay subcontractors on my job sites: What are my obligations? If construction is your primary business, you must file Form T5018 for each subcontractor you pay and require them to provide their RBQ license as well as their Revenu Québec certification, depending on the type of contract. Clearly distinguishing between subcontractors and employees also helps avoid costly reclassifications regarding source deductions. Your accountant will establish these procedures from the very first contract.