For owner-operators & carriers

Accounting Built for Owner-Operators

Fuel, meals, maintenance, financing, GST across provinces — trucking has more moving parts than most businesses. We keep your books tight and your tax bill honest.

Book a Free Consult Call (604) 832-1743

From a single owner-operator to a small fleet, EverStone helps trucking businesses across Canada stay compliant and profitable. We know the deductions that matter — the meal per-diem, fuel, repairs, insurance and financing — and we keep your GST/HST straight across provinces, all remotely at a fixed monthly fee.

What we handle for you

Incorporation and whether it saves you tax as an owner-operator
T2 corporate returns and financial statements
GST/HST registration and multi-province filing
Maximizing the meal/per-diem, fuel, maintenance and financing deductions
Monthly bookkeeping that keeps up with the road
Salary vs. dividend planning and personal T1 returns

Owner-operator tax, in plain English

The deductions and filings that make or break a trucking year

Trucking has more moving parts than almost any small business — and the CRA has specific rules for most of them. Get these five right and your tax bill reflects what you actually cleared after the road took its cut.

Meals & per-diem: the biggest missed claim

You do not need a shoebox of receipts. With a proper trip log (Form TL2 signed by your carrier) we claim your meals the simplest defensible way and capture the higher long-haul rate you are entitled to.

Long-haul drivers can use the simplified method — a flat rate per meal, up to 3 meals a day — and eligible long-haul meals are 80% deductible instead of the usual 50%.

The truck itself is a capital asset

You do not write off the whole truck in year one — it is depreciated through Capital Cost Allowance, and the financing interest, licensing, and insurance are deducted separately. Buy vs. lease changes the math. We structure it so you get the deduction without overstating it.

Fuel, maintenance & the ITC refund most drivers miss

Fuel, repairs, tires, ELD subscriptions, and cell/data are deductible — and because fuel carries GST/HST, owner-operators are often in a net GST refund position. We make sure every input tax credit is claimed, not left with the CRA.

GST/HST across provinces

When you haul between provinces, the place-of-supply rules decide which rate applies. Register once past $30k, and we handle multi-province filing so a load into Ontario or back through Alberta never creates a compliance mess.

Incorporation for owner-operators

If a carrier is pushing you to incorporate, or your net is climbing, we tell you whether it saves tax or just adds cost — and set it up properly if it does.

Some carriers require you to be incorporated to be put on as an owner-operator — and above a certain income it also defers tax at ~11%.

How it works

Working with EverStone, start to finish

Free 30-minute consultWe learn your routes, whether you are leased to a carrier, and how you are set up today — then quote a fixed fee up front.
We get your books rollingIncorporation if it helps, GST/HST registration, and simple bookkeeping that keeps up with fuel, maintenance and settlements.
We file everythingT2 corporate return and statements, GST/HST with every input tax credit, your TL2 meal claim, and your personal T1.
Year-round supportFrom the cab, by phone or email — instalments, new-truck decisions, and questions answered without waiting for tax season.

Questions

Accounting Built for Owner-Operators — FAQ

Can I claim meals if I did not keep every receipt?+

Yes. Long-haul drivers can use the CRA simplified method — a flat rate per meal, up to three meals a day — supported by a trip log and a signed Form TL2 from your carrier, not a pile of receipts. Eligible long-haul meals are 80% deductible rather than the usual 50%. We set the logging up so the claim holds up if the CRA ever asks.

I am leased to one carrier — should I incorporate?+

It depends on two things: whether the carrier requires it to put you on as an owner-operator, and whether your net income is high enough that deferring tax at the ~11% small-business rate outweighs the cost of a corporate return. We run your numbers in the free consult and give you a straight answer — then handle the set-up if it makes sense.

Should an owner-operator incorporate?+

Often yes, once you are netting more than you need to live on. Incorporating lets you defer tax at the low small-business rate and plan how you pay yourself. But it adds admin, so it is not right for everyone. We will tell you straight in a free consult.

What can truckers deduct?+

Fuel, repairs and maintenance, insurance, licensing, financing or lease costs, cell phone, and the meal per-diem for nights away from home. We make sure every legitimate expense is captured and documented for CRA.

How does GST/HST work when I drive across provinces?+

It depends on where your services are performed and your customers are located. We handle registration and filing so your inter-provincial GST/HST is done right, with no guessing.

Can you do this if I am always on the road?+

That is exactly who we are built for. Everything is 100% remote: send documents from your phone, meet by phone or video, and we handle the rest.

Related services & tools

Keep reading, or run your own numbers before we talk.

Corporate tax (T2) →Bookkeeping & payroll →Should I incorporate? calculator →See fixed pricing →

Fixed feesClear, fixed pricing — you approve the fee before any work begins. No surprise bills.

One dayWe reply to every enquiry within one business day — usually the same day.

CPA-ledEvery file is handled personally by a CPA — never passed to junior staff.

No obligationYour first consultation is free, with zero pressure and no obligation.

What clients say

Trusted by Canadian business owners

Verified 5-star Google reviews from EverStone CPA clients.

★★★★★

“Very knowledgeable — saved me tons in taxes by restructuring my group of companies. The best accountant I have worked with in the last 10 years, after switching from 3 different accounting firms.”

Matt Hildebrandt

Verified Google Review

★★★★★

“Highly recommend. We switched last year for both our personal and small business taxes — easy and seamless. Responsive, knowledgeable, and quick.”

Heather Powers

Verified Google Review

★★★★★

“Personal. Professional. Responsive. Plus he saved me a bundle!”

Corrin Skalbeck

Verified Google Review

Read our Google reviews →

Ready for a CPA who makes it simple?

Book a free, no-obligation consultation — by phone or video, anywhere in Canada. You’ll leave with a clear, fixed quote.

Book a Free Consult Call (604) 832-1743