Trades & Contractors — CPA Services

Accounting & tax planning built for incorporated trades businesses.

Running an incorporated trades business means managing job costs, subcontractor payments, equipment purchases, and seasonal cash flow — all while staying on top of CRA obligations. We bring accounting expertise built specifically for the trades.

The Challenges

What makes Trades accounting different.

Your industry has specific CRA rules, deduction strategies, and compliance obligations that general accountants often miss. Here is where we focus.

Job Costing & Project Accounting

Accurately tracking labour, materials, and overhead per project is critical for profitability analysis and CRA substantiation of deductions.

T5018 Subcontractor Slips

Payments to subcontractors in construction require T5018 slips — a compliance step many accountants overlook.

Vehicle & Equipment CCA

Trucks, tools, and heavy equipment are major capital expenditures. Getting the CCA class and timing right reduces taxable income.

GST on Construction Services

Construction has specific GST/HST rules around holdbacks, substantial completion, and residential vs. commercial work.

Seasonal Cash Flow

Trades businesses face significant seasonal revenue swings. Tax installment planning and real-time bookkeeping prevent cash crunches.

Home Office & Vehicle Deductions

Owner-operators have legitimate deductions for home office and business vehicle use. These need to be tracked and claimed correctly.

How We Help

A CPA who speaks your language.

We bring industry-specific knowledge to every engagement — no learning curve, no missed deductions.

1

Industry-Specific Bookkeeping

We capture job costs, subcontractor payments, and equipment purchases correctly — the foundation of accurate tax filing and profitability tracking.

2

CCA Strategy for Equipment

We advise on optimal timing and class for CCA on vehicles, tools, and equipment, reducing taxable income in the years that matter most.

3

Subcontractor Compliance

We ensure T5018 slips are filed for all subcontractor payments over $500, protecting you from CRA penalties.

4

Owner Compensation Planning

We determine the optimal salary vs. dividend split annually, factoring in retained earnings and your personal financial goals.

What Is Included

Your annual corporate package.

Fixed fee, agreed upfront. No billable hours, no surprises.

Annual Package — Trades

Corporate Tax, Compliance & Tax Planning

T2 Corporate Tax ReturnFederal & provincial
Year-End Financial StatementsCompilation-level
GST / HST FilingConstruction-specific rules
T4 & T5 SlipsOwner & employees
T5018 Subcontractor SlipsRequired for construction
CCA OptimizationVehicles, tools & equipment
Tax PlanningCompensation & retained earnings
Year-Round CPA AccessAlways included
FAQs

Questions from trades clients.

Get accounting built around your industry.

Book a free 15-minute call. No obligations, no jargon.