--- title: "Accountant for Small Business in British Columbia | Online CPA" url: https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-british-columbia description: "Remote CPA for BC small businesses — corporate tax (T2), bookkeeping, GST/PST and advisory at fixed fees, online across British Columbia. Ask a CPA." type: location updated: 2026-10-08 summary: "British Columbia corporations file a T2 return six months after fiscal year-end and may also need to collect both 5% GST and 7% PST, which are registered and filed separately. EverStone is a CPA practice preparing T2 returns, GST/PST filings and year-end statements online for a fixed, pre-agreed fee. Published fees start at $125 for a personal return and $325 a month for bookkeeping." faq_count: 9 publisher: EverStone CPA Inc., a Chartered Professional Accountant firm registered with CPA British Columbia and CPA Alberta service_area: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba language: en-CA contact: info@everstonecpa.com · https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online --- [Home](https://www.everstonecpa.com/) British Columbia Serving all of British Columbia # Accountant for Small Business in British Columbia We look after incorporated businesses across BC — corporate tax, the province’s GST-plus-[PST](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/pst) system, bookkeeping and planning — entirely online, wherever you are. That includes [counselling and therapy practices](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-for-counsellors-bc) across the province. Related: [Accounting for BC businesses by industry](https://www.everstonecpa.com/industries-bc). [Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online)[Ask a Free Question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) ★★★★★ Rated 5.0 on Google from 21 reviews · [Read them](https://www.everstonecpa.com/reviews) Updated September 2026 . **Quick answer:** British Columbia corporations file a [T2 return](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/corporations/corporation-income-tax-return.html) six months after fiscal year-end and may also need to collect both 5% GST and 7% PST, which are registered and filed separately. EverStone is a CPA practice preparing T2 returns, GST/PST filings and year-end statements online for a fixed, pre-agreed fee. Published fees start at $125 for a personal return and $325 a month for bookkeeping. Every engagement runs online, by email, video call and e-signature. [See how working with a virtual CPA works](https://www.everstonecpa.com/virtual-cpa-canada). The year-end covers the T2 with Schedule 1 and Schedule 50, the CCA schedule, the small business deduction, T4 or T5 slips for the owner’s pay, and the instalments for the year ahead. Five registrations, three separate authorities, one corporation. British Columbia tax at a glance ## BC’s GST-plus-PST split, and where contractors get it wrong British Columbia pairs the 5% federal GST with a separate **7% [provincial sales tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/glossary#pst) (PST)** — unlike HST provinces, the PST is filed separately to the province, and it applies differently (many services are exempt). Getting the PST treatment right is one of the most common things BC owners get wrong. On the corporate side, BC has one of the country’s more competitive small-business rates. Active business income eligible for the [small-business deduction](https://www.everstonecpa.com/glossary#sbd) is taxed at a combined **11%** (9% federal + 2% BC), up to the $500,000 limit. PST is where most BC corporations trip up, because the exemption list is not intuitive. Most services are exempt from PST, but a defined list is not: telecommunication services, and a growing category of software and SaaS subscriptions, are taxable. Getting the taxable-versus-exempt call wrong on an invoice means either undercharging a customer or over-remitting tax you never should have collected. Contractors selling installed goods face a related wrinkle: labour to install materials into real property is generally treated differently for PST purposes than a straight retail sale, which changes how PST should be applied on a renovation or build contract. On the employer side, once a BC business’s annual payroll passes the province’s [employer health tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/glossary#eht) exemption threshold, [Employer Health Tax](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/employer-health-tax) applies alongside CPP and EI. It catches growing BC firms much the way EHT catches growing Ontario ones, just calculated against a different threshold and rate. British Columbia sales tax and corporate tax rates at a glance | Sales tax | 5% GST + 7% PST (PST filed separately) | | Small-business corporate rate | 11% combined (9% federal + 2% BC) | | General corporate rate | 27% combined | | Small-business limit | $500,000 | Rates current as of 2026 (source: Canada Revenue Agency). General information, not advice specific to your situation. Need the full set rather than the summary? The [British Columbia tax facts tables](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bc-tax-facts) set out the corporate rates, the sales tax position, the provincial payroll levies, the workers’ compensation authority and the registry filing, each with its government source and the date it was checked. Who we help in British Columbia ## Who we serve across BC’s building & resource economy The province’s economy skews toward two very different PST realities. The Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland’s building trades sell installed materials and labour, largely PST-exempt on the service side but taxable on many materials. BC’s software, e-commerce and professional-services sector increasingly sells taxable digital products and subscriptions. We work with both, and it’s exactly this contrast that makes correct PST coding matter so much for a BC file: ### Construction & trades Holdbacks, work-in-progress, subcontractor [T5018](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t5018-subcontractor-reporting-construction) reporting and equipment, plus PST correctly split between exempt labour and taxable materials on the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland building projects that are our backyard. ### Professional corporations Consultants, medical and legal professionals incorporating to access BC’s 11% small-business rate, then structuring owner pay around a salary-and-dividend mix that keeps the rate working for them. ### Tech & online business SR&ED-adjacent startups, SaaS platforms and e-commerce sellers who need PST correctly applied to software and digital subscriptions, and GST tracked cleanly across the provinces they ship into. ### Agriculture & food Fraser Valley farms, greenhouses and food producers managing seasonal cash flow, equipment [capital cost allowance](https://www.everstonecpa.com/glossary), and the PST exemptions that apply to specific farm inputs. The full scope ## Everything a BC corporation needs under one file One CPA handles it all, coordinated instead of scattered across a bookkeeper, a tax preparer and a payroll service: - **T2 corporate tax** returns & BC year-end statements - **BC GST + PST** filed and reconciled correctly - **Bookkeeping & payroll** on the cloud, PST-coded from day one - **Personal T1 returns** coordinated with your BC corporation - **[Salary-vs-dividend](https://www.everstonecpa.com/salary-vs-dividends-calculator) planning** built around BC’s small-business rate - **CRA & BC PST correspondence** handled year-round The issue we see most often ## The PST question that costs BC service businesses the most BC owners who’ve operated in an HST province before consistently underestimate how differently PST treats a service business. Because most services are exempt from PST by default, it’s tempting to assume software, consulting deliverables and digital tools carry no PST exposure at all, and for a genuine consulting fee, that’s usually correct. The exposure shows up at the edges: a subscription to project-management or accounting software, a bundled software-plus-installation contract, or a purchase of taxable equipment for the business. All carry PST that many BC corporations either forget to self-assess on out-of-province purchases or apply inconsistently on their own invoices. For a contractor, the PST question is different again. Labour to install materials into real property is generally not taxed the way a retail sale of goods is, but the materials themselves usually are. A single renovation contract can therefore carry two different PST treatments depending on how the invoice is structured. Getting this wrong in either direction is expensive — undercharge, and you’re personally on the hook for the PST you should have collected; overcharge, and you’ve made your quote less competitive for no reason. We code PST correctly into your bookkeeping from the first invoice, flag whether your specific deliverables are taxable or exempt before a quoting mistake becomes a filing problem. The BC employer health tax threshold is tracked as your payroll grows, so it’s never a year-end surprise. ## Keep exploring British Columbia tax topics Keep exploring, or run your own numbers first. [our Abbotsford page](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-abbotsford)[Vancouver accountant](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-vancouver)[Victoria accountant](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-victoria) Common questions ## British Columbia accounting FAQ **Does BC’s PST apply to the software and subscriptions my business uses?** Most services are exempt from BC PST, but a defined list is taxable, including telecommunication services and many software and SaaS subscriptions. We review what you’re buying and selling against that list so you’re not over- or under-charging PST on your invoices. [Ask about your case →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) **How does PST work on a construction contract where I supply both materials and labour?** Differently for each part of the job. Labour to install materials into real property is generally treated differently than a straight retail sale, while the materials themselves are usually taxable, so a single renovation or build contract can carry two different PST treatments. We code this correctly from the first invoice. **What is BC’s small-business tax rate, and does all my income qualify for it?** Active business income eligible for the small-business deduction is taxed at roughly 11% combined (9% federal + 2% BC) up to the $500,000 limit; income above that, or income that doesn’t qualify as active business income, is taxed at the 27% general rate. We confirm which of your income qualifies before you plan around the lower rate. **When does BC’s Employer Health Tax start applying to a growing business?** Once a BC employer’s annual payroll passes the province’s employer health tax exemption threshold, EHT applies on top of CPP and EI. We track your payroll as it grows so the threshold is never a year-end surprise. **Do you work with BC businesses outside the Lower Mainland?** Yes — we work with BC businesses from Vancouver Island to the Interior and the North entirely online, by video call and CRA e-filing, with the same dedicated CPA on the file all year. **Do I need a BC PST number if I sell online to customers in BC?** Often yes. PST follows where the goods or taxable software are delivered, so a business selling into BC can be required to register even without a storefront here, and a BC-based online seller usually registers from the start. GST registration does not cover you for PST. They are separate registrations, separate returns and separate due dates. **What provincial filings does a BC corporation have on top of its T2?** Beyond the federal T2 and GST returns, a BC corporation may have a PST return, Employer Health Tax if payroll is large enough, WorkSafeBC premium reporting if it has workers, and an annual report with BC Registries to stay in good standing. Each runs on its own cycle. Missing the registry filing is the one that quietly puts a company offside. **What does an accountant cost for a British Columbia business?** Personal tax returns start from $125 and monthly bookkeeping from $325 a month, with GST/HST filing included; a corporate return is quoted after we review your enquiry, once the books have been seen. Every fee is fixed in writing before work starts. [See the published fees](https://www.everstonecpa.com/pricing). **Which parts of British Columbia do you serve?** All of it. The work is done remotely, so a business in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, the Fraser Valley and the rest of the province gets the same service, the same fixed fees and the same CPA. **Fixed fees**Clear, fixed pricing. You approve the fee before any work begins. No surprise bills. **One day**We reply to every enquiry within one business day, usually the same day. **CPA-led**Every file is handled personally by a CPA, never passed to junior staff. **No obligation**Sending an enquiry is free, with zero pressure and no obligation. What clients say ## Why clients stay with EverStone Rated 5.0 on Google across 21 client reviews. ★★★★★ “…have been completing my bookkeeping, taxes and financials for the last 2 years and they have been amazing. Thank you!” R. H. Verified Google Review ★★★★★ “…He is very knowledgeable and has saved me tons in taxes by restructuring my group of companies — the best accountant I’ve worked with in the last 10 years, after switching from three different firms.” Matt Hildebrandt Verified Google Review ★★★★★ “…We switched to him last year for both our personal and small-business taxes — responsive, knowledgeable and quick.” Heather Powers Verified Google Review [Read our Google reviews](https://www.everstonecpa.com/reviews) City pages ## Working with us in Vancouver If your business is in or around Vancouver, the [virtual accountant in Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-vancouver) page covers how a remote engagement works there, the local industries we see most, and the British Columbia specifics that come up. You can also read about working with an [accountant in Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-vancouver) if you have not worked with a CPA at a distance before. Two Vancouver sectors have their own pages because the tax questions differ so much from a general small business: [realtors and commission income in Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-vancouver), and [e-commerce sellers handling PST and multi-province sales tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/ecommerce-accountant-vancouver). ## Related reading [A PREC Accountant for British Columbia Realtors A BC CPA for personal real estate corporations: the year-one decisions, salary against dividends, and what a PREC changes about your filings.](https://www.everstonecpa.com/prec-accountant-bc) [Choosing a small business accountant in the Fraser Valley: 10 questions to ask before you sign Hiring a small business accountant in the Fraser Valley? Ten questions to ask before you sign — designation, fixed fees, availability and red flags.](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-accountant-fraser-valley) [Home business accountant in Mission CPA for Mission home-based and owner-operator businesses — home office, GST/PST on mixed supplies, incorporation timing.](https://www.everstonecpa.com/home-business-accountant-mission) [Moving a corporation to BC: what changes](https://www.everstonecpa.com/moving-corporation-to-bc) ## Cities we serve in British Columbia The work is remote, and the same everywhere in the province; what changes from city to city is the kind of business. Each city page below is written for the industries that city runs on. - [Accountant in Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-vancouver) — with pages for [e-commerce sellers](https://www.everstonecpa.com/ecommerce-accountant-vancouver), [realtors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-vancouver), [trades](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trades-accountant-vancouver), [tech startups](https://www.everstonecpa.com/tech-startup-accountant-vancouver) and [restaurants and hospitality](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-vancouver). - [Accountant in Victoria](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-victoria) — with pages for [construction contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-victoria), [restaurants and hospitality](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-victoria), [tech startups](https://www.everstonecpa.com/tech-startup-accountant-victoria), [realtors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-victoria) and [consultants](https://www.everstonecpa.com/consultant-accountant-victoria). - [Accountant in Kelowna](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-kelowna) — with pages for [wineries](https://www.everstonecpa.com/winery-accountant-kelowna), [restaurants and hospitality](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-kelowna), [construction contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-kelowna), [realtors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-kelowna) and [tech startups](https://www.everstonecpa.com/tech-startup-accountant-kelowna). - The Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland: [Abbotsford](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-abbotsford), [Chilliwack](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-chilliwack), [Mission](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-mission), [Langley](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-langley), [Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-surrey), [Maple Ridge](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-maple-ridge), [Aldergrove](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-aldergrove), and [the valley as a whole](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-fraser-valley). - The rest of Metro Vancouver: [Burnaby](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-burnaby), [Richmond](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-richmond), [Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-coquitlam), [Delta](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-delta), [North Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-north-vancouver), [New Westminster](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-new-westminster) and [White Rock](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-white-rock). - Vancouver Island beyond Victoria: [Saanich](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-saanich), [Langford and the Westshore](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-langford) and [Nanaimo](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-nanaimo). - The Interior and the North: [Kamloops](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-kamloops), [Prince George](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-prince-george), [Vernon](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-vernon) and [Penticton](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-penticton). - [Accountant in Fort St. John](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-fort-st-john) — with pages for [bookkeeping](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bookkeeping-fort-st-john), [contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-fort-st-john), [corporate tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/corporate-tax-accountant-fort-st-john), [farms](https://www.everstonecpa.com/farm-accountant-fort-st-john), [mining services](https://www.everstonecpa.com/mining-services-accountant-fort-st-john), [payroll](https://www.everstonecpa.com/payroll-services-fort-st-john), [personal tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/personal-tax-accountant-fort-st-john), [restaurants](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-fort-st-john) and [trucking](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trucking-accountant-fort-st-john) - [Accountant in Cranbrook](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-cranbrook) — with pages for [bookkeeping](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bookkeeping-cranbrook), [contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-cranbrook), [corporate tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/corporate-tax-accountant-cranbrook), [farms](https://www.everstonecpa.com/farm-accountant-cranbrook), [mining services](https://www.everstonecpa.com/mining-services-accountant-cranbrook), [payroll](https://www.everstonecpa.com/payroll-services-cranbrook), [personal tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/personal-tax-accountant-cranbrook), [restaurants](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-cranbrook) and [trucking](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trucking-accountant-cranbrook) - [Accountant in Courtenay](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-courtenay) — with pages for [bookkeeping](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bookkeeping-courtenay), [contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-courtenay), [corporate tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/corporate-tax-accountant-courtenay), [farms](https://www.everstonecpa.com/farm-accountant-courtenay), [payroll](https://www.everstonecpa.com/payroll-services-courtenay), [personal tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/personal-tax-accountant-courtenay), [realtors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-courtenay), [restaurants](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-courtenay) and [trades](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trades-accountant-courtenay) - [Accountant in Campbell River](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-campbell-river) — with pages for [bookkeeping](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bookkeeping-campbell-river), [contractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/contractor-accountant-campbell-river), [corporate tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/corporate-tax-accountant-campbell-river), [fishing](https://www.everstonecpa.com/fishing-accountant-campbell-river), [payroll](https://www.everstonecpa.com/payroll-services-campbell-river), [personal tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/personal-tax-accountant-campbell-river), [restaurants](https://www.everstonecpa.com/restaurant-accountant-campbell-river), [trades](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trades-accountant-campbell-river) and [trucking](https://www.everstonecpa.com/trucking-accountant-campbell-river) ### Starting fees Every fee is fixed in writing before any work begins. - **Monthly bookkeeping, GST/PST filing included** from $325 a month - **Payroll, remittances, T4s and ROEs** included in monthly bookkeeping - **Books, payroll and the year-end T2 together** $500–$700 a month - **Corporate year-end and T2 return** fixed fee, quoted in writing - **Personal tax return (T1)** from $125; self-employed or rental $275–$500 - **Catch-up bookkeeping** from $2,200 per year of records - **Controller or CFO support** controller from $1,650, CFO from $2,750 a month - **One-off advice call with a CPA** $225 plus GST [Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online) ## Ready for a BC CPA who knows the province? Send an enquiry — corporate tax, GST/PST, bookkeeping and advice at a fixed fee, anywhere in British Columbia. [Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online)[Ask a Free Question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) ★★★★★ “…He is very knowledgeable and has saved me tons in taxes by restructuring my group of companies — the best accountant I've worked with in the last 10 years, after switching from three different firms.” Matt Hildebrandt · Google review Most of our work in this province is with owners in its larger centres. See a remote CPA for Vancouver companies. --- Source: https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-british-columbia Prices: https://www.everstonecpa.com/pricing · Contact: info@everstonecpa.com · https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online