The ideal tax accountant for your tax needs

Taxation goes beyond the annual tax return: it’s the art of structuring your business to pay the right amount of tax, legally. Choosing between salary and dividends, setting up a management company, properly splitting income, and planning a business sale or transfer: it’s the strategic aspect that saves you money year after year.

With Bankeo, you can find the ideal accountant for this strategic role, for free: the right match who understands your goals, not just a number. We’ll introduce you to as many candidates as you need and support you every step of the way, even as your needs change. You never pay Bankeo; the fees are the accountant’s, and you pay them directly.

Some 2026 tax benchmarks to gauge the stakes: In Quebec, the maximum combined marginal tax rate is 53.31% for an individual, while a corporation eligible for the small business deduction (SBD) pays a 9% federal tax rate on the first $500,000 of active income. The GST is 5% and the QST is 9.975%, with mandatory registration required for taxable sales exceeding $30,000 over four quarters. The lifetime capital gains exemption exceeds $1.25 million on eligible small business shares, and tax returns are due no later than April 30 (individuals) or June 15 (self-employed individuals), with any tax due on April 30.

• Annual tax planning for executives and businesses, reviewed before the end of the fiscal year
• Choosing Between Salary and Dividends Based on Your RRSP Entitlements, QPP, and Cash Flow Needs
• Structuring: management company, estate freeze, income splitting in accordance with the rules
• Optimizing the Small Business Deduction (SBD) and Federal and Quebec Reduced Rates
• Planning for the Sale of a Business and Utilizing the Capital Gains Exemption
• Preparing for Succession and Intergenerational Transfer
• GST/QST Coordination, Tax Instalments, and Filing Schedule for T2 and CO-17 Returns
• Guidance on decisions with significant tax implications: real estate purchases, reorganizations, and expansion outside Quebec

In Quebec, tax optimization always takes place within the legal framework: making the best use of the rules set by Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency, without ever crossing the line. This requires a thorough understanding of tax rates, capital gains exemptions, the small business deduction, and your specific business situation. Timing is also important: T2 and CO-17 returns are due within six months of the end of the fiscal year, but the corporation’s tax balance is generally paid within two or three months.

The key is to plan ahead rather than react to problems: filing late results in a penalty from the CRA of 5% of the amount due, plus 1% for each full month of delay up to 12 months, in addition to interest. Preparing a transaction, choosing the right structure, and ensuring every decision is sound before it becomes costly, that’s exactly the role of the accountant you find through Bankeo: they build your strategy and stay by your side to adjust it as needed.

No: “Taxes” refer to filing your returns every year; “tax planning” involves planning ahead to legally reduce what you pay. The ideal accountant often handles both: they file your returns and develop the strategy behind them.

Yes. Optimization means using the rules of the CRA and Revenu Québec to your advantage, while strictly complying with the law: it has nothing to do with tax fraud or tax evasion. The accountant documents and secures every decision.

Ideally before the end of your fiscal year, not when you’re filing your tax returns: several decisions (salary or dividends, equipment purchases, estate freeze) must be made before December 31 or the end of the fiscal year to count toward that year. For a business sale, it’s better to plan 24 months in advance to give the company time to meet the requirements for a capital gains exemption. With Bankeo, you’re matched with the ideal accountant for free, often within 48 hours.

Paying yourself dividends without a plan (and losing RRSP rights and QPP coverage), forgetting to register for the GST/QST once the $30,000 threshold is exceeded, mixing personal and business expenses, and waiting until the business is sold to think about its structure. A vetted accountant from the Bankeo network identifies these blind spots before they become costly.

The Bankeo matching service is free for you, with no hidden fees: you pay only your accountant’s fees directly to them, and you can compare proposals before making a decision, with no obligation. Bankeo is funded by the accountants in its network through a fee per file, an amount known in advance. Price Guide: The Bankeo Fee Barometer.