--- title: "Realtor Accountant in Surrey BC | PREC and Commission Income" url: https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-surrey description: "CPA for Surrey realtors & PRECs — commission income, incorporation, expense tracking, GST and tax planning at fixed fees. Fully online. See fixed fees." type: service-in-a-city updated: 2026-10-08 summary: "Surrey realtors face self-employed commission income with no tax withheld, a growing case for incorporating through a personal real estate corporation (PREC) as earnings rise, and expense rules — vehicle, home office, marketing — that reward good records. EverStone handles commission planning, PREC assessment and setup, expenses, GST and tax at a fixed fee, fully online." faq_count: 7 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/) [Surrey accountant](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-surrey) Realtor accounting Real estate · Surrey # Realtor accountant in *Surrey* Surrey’s real estate market is one of the busiest in the province, and its agents face tax questions — incorporation through a PREC, commission planning, expenses — that a generalist rarely handles. EverStone is an [accountant for realtors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-for-realtors) and a Surrey [small-business CPA](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-surrey) for realtors and PRECs, at fixed fees, fully online. [Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online)[Ask a Free Question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) **Quick answer:** Surrey realtors face self-employed commission income with no tax withheld, a growing case for incorporating through a personal real estate corporation (PREC) as earnings rise, and expense rules — vehicle, home office, marketing — that reward good records. EverStone handles commission planning, PREC assessment and setup, expenses, GST and tax at a fixed fee, fully online. Published fees start at $325 a month for bookkeeping and $125 for a personal return. For a one-owner Surrey realtor’s PREC, monthly bookkeeping, payroll and the year-end T2 with statements usually cost from $500 to $700 a month all-in. The gap between what you earn and what you draw, not a headline income. The [hub for realtors, PRECs and brokers](https://www.everstonecpa.com/real-estate-professionals-accounting) gathers the incorporation, GST and [instalment](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/corporations/corporation-payments/paying-instalments.html) material into one annotated index. ## Commission income and cash planning Commissions have **no tax withheld**, so it is easy to set aside too little and owe instalments. We start with a plan for what to hold back and when, so a strong Surrey year does not become a cash crunch next spring. ## PRECs and incorporation British Columbia lets licensed realtors form a **personal real estate corporation (PREC)** to earn commission through a corporation, for tax deferral and planning. It suits some, not all: it depends on what you earn and draw, and has setup and licensing requirements. We assess the fit and handle the corporate side if it suits. ## Expenses, GST and records Realtors can deduct the genuine costs of earning commissions — vehicle, marketing, brokerage and board fees, licensing, and home office where it qualifies — and, once registered, charge **GST** on commissions and recover it on expenses. Vehicle and home-office rules are specific, so clean records keep claims defensible. The [vehicle and mileage guide](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/vehicle-mileage-deductions-canada-business) covers the log the CRA expects. ## When a PREC starts to make sense Almost every successful Surrey agent eventually asks whether to incorporate through a PREC. No single income figure decides it — it depends on the gap between what you earn and what you need to live on. Earn more than you spend and a PREC lets the surplus stay in the corporation at lower corporate rates, deferring personal tax until you take it out. Against that, a PREC adds a corporate return, more formal bookkeeping, setup and licensing steps, and anti-avoidance rules on paying family members. It is a real trade-off, not a default. We model it on your numbers, including years when staying unincorporated is still right. Once a PREC exists, you need a business CPA Surrey realtors can work with on the corporate return and bookkeeping, not only the personal T1. ## What EverStone handles for you One CPA, one fixed fee quoted up front, everything below covered: - T1 or corporate (PREC) tax return prepared and filed - Assessment of whether a PREC makes sense for you - Commission cash-flow and instalment planning - Vehicle, marketing, home-office and fee deductions set up - GST registration and filing - CRA correspondence handled for you ## Fixed fees, fully online EverStone is a CPA firm working fully online — video calls, e-signature and secure document exchange, with no office visits. You are not billed by the hour or the call: the fee is fixed before work starts, so a June question carries no meter. The same CPA handles your file all year. See [what it costs](https://www.everstonecpa.com/pricing) or send an enquiry for a written quote by email. About this article **EverStone CPA** Prepared and reviewed by a CPA at EverStone CPA, serving businesses in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba. Updated September 2026 . [About the firm](https://www.everstonecpa.com/about) · [Send an enquiry](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online) ## What a realtor has to get right What a realtor has to get right The items that decide a realtor’s year-end — for a business operating in Surrey, British Columbia | Item | Why it matters | | Commission income | Recognised on its own timing, which rarely matches when the cheque clears | | Personal real estate corporation | A PREC changes which return the income lands on | | Vehicle and promotion costs | Among the most commonly reviewed deductions in this industry | | GST/HST on commissions | Commission income is generally taxable, so registration thresholds arrive quickly | | Sales tax where you operate | 5% GST plus 7% BC PST: two registrations, two returns | Source: [Real estate professional accounting](https://www.everstonecpa.com/real-estate-professionals-accounting). General information, not advice. Other services for Surrey businesses: [personal tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/personal-tax-accountant-surrey). ## Remote accounting for realtors The firm serves Surrey remotely. **There is no Surrey office and no staff based there.** Everything runs by video, phone and secure document exchange. Commission income, the PREC question and expense tracking are handled together, because they are one decision. If you have incorporated, or are about to, the first year has a handful of decisions that are cheaper to make deliberately. See [the PREC year-one decisions](https://www.everstonecpa.com/prec-accountant-bc). Common questions ## Surrey realtor accounting FAQ **Should a Surrey realtor incorporate with a PREC?** British Columbia lets licensed realtors earn commission through a personal real estate corporation (PREC), opening tax deferral and planning a sole proprietor lacks. Whether it pays depends on what you earn versus draw, and setup has specific licensing and structuring rules. We assess it on your numbers first. [Ask about your case →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) **How is realtor commission income taxed?** As a self-employed realtor, your commissions are business income, less legitimate expenses — vehicle, marketing, licensing, board and brokerage fees, and home office where it qualifies. Through a PREC, income flows through the corporation under its own rules. Either way, plan cash quarterly, because no tax is withheld from commissions. **What can realtors write off?** Realtors can generally deduct the costs of earning commissions: business vehicle use, advertising and marketing, brokerage and board fees, licensing, professional development, and a home office that meets the CRA’s conditions. Vehicle and home-office rules are specific, and good records make claims hold up. **Do you work with realtors across Surrey?** Yes — Surrey realtors and PRECs, and throughout the Fraser Valley, fully online. Video calls, e-signature and secure document exchange keep things moving between showings. **How does GST work on a Surrey realtor’s commissions?** Commissions in BC are a taxable supply: GST is charged to the brokerage and remitted by you, and registration is mandatory once taxable income passes $30,000 over four rolling quarters. Registering also recovers GST on advertising, vehicle costs and desk fees. The home sale itself is taxed differently. **How much should a Surrey agent set aside for tax?** Set a fixed percentage aside from every commission deposit, the same day. Nothing is withheld, so the full amount looks available though income tax, CPP and GST are embedded in it. Once instalments begin, that set-aside pays them. **Do I need to file instalments as a Surrey realtor?** Once your tax owing at filing exceeds CRA’s threshold in the current and one of the two prior years, instalments become required and interest runs on anything paid late. Agents commonly hit this in their second strong year, having never made an instalment before. Check the reminder CRA sends, but calculate against your actual year rather than assuming last year’s figure still fits. ## Selling in Surrey? One CPA, start to finish. Fixed fees in writing before work begins, and no obligation. [Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online) [Ask a Free Question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question) Email info@everstonecpa.com ★★★★★ “…have been completing my bookkeeping, taxes and financials for the last 2 years and they have been amazing. Thank you!” R. H. · Google review ## Related services and local guides Nearby cities, the rest of what we do for Surrey businesses, and the reference pages behind this one. [Fractional CFO support for Surrey construction and logistics companies](https://www.everstonecpa.com/cfo-services-surrey) [Real estate professional accounting](https://www.everstonecpa.com/real-estate-professionals-accounting) [Accounting & CPA services in Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-surrey) [Bookkeeping in Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bookkeeping-surrey) [Corporate tax (T2) in Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/corporate-tax-accountant-surrey) [GST/HST filing in Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/gst-hst-filing-surrey) [Payroll in Surrey](https://www.everstonecpa.com/payroll-services-surrey) [Accountants across British Columbia](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-british-columbia) [British Columbia tax facts](https://www.everstonecpa.com/bc-tax-facts) [Accountants in the Fraser Valley](https://www.everstonecpa.com/accountant-fraser-valley) [Realtor accounting in Vancouver](https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-vancouver) [CSRS 4200 compilations for Surrey corporations](https://www.everstonecpa.com/financial-statements-surrey) ### 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?service=monthly#enquiry-form) See also: [BC PST guide](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bc-pst-small-business-guide). --- Source: https://www.everstonecpa.com/realtor-accountant-surrey Prices: https://www.everstonecpa.com/pricing · Contact: info@everstonecpa.com · https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online