Susanne Hillebrand, CPA, CMA

Personal tax returns: $150-$400 depending on complexity. Small business bookkeeping: $300-$800/month. Corporate tax returns: $1,000-$3,000+. Many accountants offer free initial consultations to discuss your needs and pricing.

CPAs (Chartered Professional Accountants) have a university degree plus professional certification. They can audit, provide tax advice, and represent you with CRA. Bookkeepers handle day-to-day transaction recording and basic financial reports. For complex tax situations, you want a CPA.

Consider an accountant if you're self-employed, own rental property, have investment income, run a business, received a CRA notice, or your tax situation is more complex than a simple T4. The cost of an accountant often pays for itself in tax savings.

Yes. Accountants regularly help clients catch up on unfiled returns. They can also help with CRA voluntary disclosure programs, negotiate payment arrangements, and handle reassessments or audits.

If you have a straightforward T4 income and no deductions, free software works fine. But if you have self-employment income, rental properties, investments, or business expenses, a professional accountant typically finds deductions that more than cover their fee.