The Accountant for Real Estate Investors
Rental properties come with their own tax rulebook — rental income, the capital-versus-income question, depreciation choices, and whether to hold in a corporation. We help Canadian investors keep more of what their portfolio earns.
Real estate is one of the most tax-nuanced things a Canadian can own. Whether you hold one rental condo or a growing portfolio, the decisions — how to report rental income, whether to claim depreciation, how a sale is taxed, and whether to incorporate — have big and lasting tax consequences. We work with real estate investors across Canada on the accounting and tax that turns a portfolio into a genuinely tax-efficient one, all handled remotely.
What we handle for property investors
- Rental income and expense reporting, done correctly
- The capital-vs-income question on property sales
- Capital cost allowance (CCA) decisions on rental buildings
- Whether to hold properties personally or in a corporation
- GST/HST on new, commercial and short-term rental property
- Personal and corporate returns coordinated across your portfolio
The choices that shape your property tax bill
Most of the tax outcome on real estate is set by a handful of decisions — often years before a sale. These are the ones we focus on.
Capital gain or business income?
How a property sale is taxed depends on whether CRA sees it as a capital gain (only part of the gain is taxable) or business income (fully taxable) — which turns on your intention, how long you held, and how often you buy and sell. Flippers and buy-and-hold investors are treated very differently, and getting this wrong is expensive.
Depreciation (CCA) — a double-edged tool
You can claim capital cost allowance to reduce rental income, but it can be recaptured and taxed when you sell, and claiming it can affect the principal residence exemption on some properties. It’s a timing tool, not free money — we help you decide when it actually helps.
Personal name or a corporation?
Holding rentals in a corporation can offer liability separation and, in some cases, tax planning — but it adds cost and doesn’t get the small-business rate on most passive rental income. Whether it makes sense depends on your portfolio, income and goals. We run the real comparison.
GST/HST on property
Most residential rents are exempt, but new housing, commercial property and short-term rentals (think furnished monthly or nightly rentals) can bring GST/HST into play — including on the purchase. We flag it before it becomes a surprise assessment.
Tracking that survives a review
Real estate is a CRA focus area. Clean records of income, expenses, capital improvements versus repairs, and your intention at purchase are what make your position defensible. We set up tracking that holds up.
Working with EverStone, start to finish
We map your portfolio
A free consult to understand what you own, how you hold it, and where you’re headed — so the advice fits your actual situation.
We optimize the structure
We advise on reporting, CCA, and whether to incorporate, and prepare your returns — with a fixed quote before any work begins.
We keep it clean each year
Rental reporting, capital tracking and coordinated personal and corporate returns, handled through the year so nothing is reconstructed under pressure.
Real estate work connects to our corporate tax and advisory services. See our guides on incorporating vs staying personal and the lifetime capital gains exemption.
Real estate investor questions
Is my property sale a capital gain or business income?+
Should I claim depreciation (CCA) on my rental?+
Should I hold my rentals in a corporation?+
Do I charge GST/HST on rent?+
Do you work with investors outside BC?+
Why clients stay with EverStone
Verified 5-star Google reviews from EverStone CPA clients.
“I would recommend Sunny Dhillon for doing your taxes. He did mine and was very helpful, thorough, quick and professional — and he got me a big tax return!”
“Personal. Professional. Responsive. Plus he saved me a bundle!”
“Highly recommend working with Sunny. We switched to him last year for both our personal and small-business taxes — responsive, knowledgeable and quick.”
Own rental property?
We’ll get your rental reporting, CCA and structure right, and coordinate the tax across your whole portfolio. Book a free consultation.