Accountant for e-commerce

Selling online in Quebec means processing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of micro-transactions per month on Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or your own store, with net payments that never match gross sales once platform fees, refunds, and withholdings are deducted. Add in sales tax based on the buyer’s province, inventory spread across your warehouse, a 3PL, and FBA fulfillment centres, and sales in foreign currencies: e-commerce accounting is a specialty in its own right, not just a variation of traditional bookkeeping.

At Bankeo, we’ll match you, for free, with the ideal accountant for your online store: a verified professional who’s an expert in your platforms, your tools (QuickBooks, Xero, A2X, Dext), and the GST, HST, and QST rules across provinces. We’ll usually match you with one within 48 hours, introduce you to as many as you need, and stay by your side throughout the process. No obligation.

• Hundreds, even thousands, of micro-transactions per month: without automated reconciliation (A2X, Dext, QuickBooks, Xero), bookkeeping quickly becomes unmanageable.
• Sales tax follows the buyer: 9.975% QST in Quebec, 13-15% HST in harmonized provinces, and a separate PST in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
• Margins eroded by fees: platform commissions (often 8% to 15% on Amazon) and payment gateway fees charged on each sale.
• Exceeding the $30,000 small supplier threshold in just a few months: Registering for GST/QST early allows you to claim ITCs and ITRs on advertising and expenses.
• Inventory and cost of goods sold: valuation, markdowns, returns, and inventory distributed among your warehouse, a 3PL, and FBA fulfillment centres.
• Sales in foreign currencies (USD, EUR): conversion, foreign exchange gains and losses, and payment gateway exchange fees.
• Extreme seasonality: Black Friday and the holiday season account for a large portion of annual sales, requiring tight planning for cash flow and restocking.

• Register for GST and QST as soon as your global taxable sales exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (end of small supplier status).
• Tax collection based on the province of delivery: HST in harmonized provinces, 5% GST elsewhere, and separate PST registration required by British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba for sales exceeding their distance sales thresholds.
• Monthly, quarterly, or annual GST/QST returns (Form FPZ-500 in Quebec), depending on volume, with ITC and ITR credits available for platform fees and advertising expenses.
• Exports are generally zero-rated, but there may be obligations abroad: U.S. sales tax based on “economic nexus” (often US$100,000 in sales per state), and European VAT via the IOSS portal.
• Reconciliation of net payments from payment gateways (Shopify Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Amazon): gross sales, fees, refunds, and deductions recorded separately.
• Mandatory year-end inventory to determine the cost of goods sold (Form T2125 for self-employed individuals, Forms T2 and CO-17 for incorporated companies).
• Since 2024, digital platforms have been reporting their sellers' revenue to the CRA: your tax returns must match these reports, and you must keep your digital supporting documents for six years.

How do I handle GST/QST on my sales outside Quebec? The place-of-supply rule applies: you collect the tax of the province of delivery, either the HST of 13% to 15% in harmonized provinces, the 5% GST elsewhere, and sometimes a separate PST in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. Exports are generally zero-rated. An accountant experienced in e-commerce will set up your taxes directly in Shopify or Amazon.

Can my accountant log in to Shopify or Amazon? Yes. Many vetted accountants in our verified network work daily with Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, and payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal. They connect integration tools (A2X, Dext) to QuickBooks or Xero to automatically reconcile net payments, platform fees, refunds, and collected taxes. The result: reliable bookkeeping and GST/QST returns with no surprises.

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 cost for this sector is around $1,990 per year. The cost varies depending on whether you’re a corporation or a self-employed individual, as well as the volume and complexity of your work. The Bankeo matching service is free: you pay your accountant directly.

How can I switch accountants for my online store without any stress? It’s simpler than you might think: your new accountant will take over your QuickBooks or Xero access, your platform reports, and your most recent tax returns, then request a handover from your previous accountant, a standard practice among professionals. The best time to do this is after a filing period, but there’s no need to wait. Bankeo will connect you, for free, with an accountant who’s already familiar with your tools, and we’ll support you throughout the transition for as long as it takes.

Local or Remote E-commerce Accountant? E-commerce is the sector best suited for remote work: your data is already stored in the cloud (Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero, A2X), so an accountant located elsewhere in Quebec can work just as effectively as one right next door. What really matters is their expertise with your platforms and multi-province sales tax. Bankeo matches you based on specialty first, then proximity, it’s up to you to choose what gives you peace of mind.

Platforms Now Report My Sales to the CRA: What Does This Mean? Since 2024, Amazon, Etsy, and other digital platforms have been reporting their sellers’ revenue to the Canada Revenue Agency. Your tax returns must therefore match the platforms’ reports to the exact dollar; otherwise, you risk being questioned by the tax authorities. An e-commerce accountant reconciles your platform reports with your tax returns and retains your digital supporting documents for six years, as required by law.