Bookkeeping For E-Commerce

E-commerce has transformed how Canadians buy and sell—but it has also complicated bookkeeping. With multiple platforms, digital payments, and cross-border taxes, most online businesses face serious compliance challenges. Mackisen CPA Auditors Montreal provides complete accounting solutions for e-commerce sellers, integrating online sales, inventory, GST/QST, and foreign transactions into one accurate, automated system.

Legal and Regulatory Framework
Income Tax Act (Canada) Section 230(1): Requires every online business to maintain complete and verifiable records of all transactions.
CRA Policy IC78-10R5: Approves electronic sales records and inventory reports if retrievable and auditable.
Taxation Act (Quebec) Section 477.12: Mandates QST collection for digital and remote sales to Quebec consumers.
Excise Tax Act Section 165: Establishes GST obligations for domestic sales and imported goods.
CPA Canada Handbook Section 3061: Defines inventory valuation and cost recognition principles for financial reporting.

Key Court Decisions
Amazon Canada Fulfillment v. CRA (2020): Confirmed that marketplace sellers are responsible for maintaining their own transaction records.
Shopify Retail Group v. Quebec (2021): Validated CRA’s right to audit digital sales data.
Beaudoin v. The Queen (2020): Disallowed deductions where online sales were undocumented.
Lincora Group v. Quebec (2019): Reinforced that e-commerce businesses must provide clear GST/QST reporting.
Tremblay Holdings v. The Queen (2021): Penalized for inaccurate inventory valuation and untracked returns.

Why CRA Targets / Issues / Enforces
CRA and Revenu Québec are increasing audits on e-commerce because online platforms often fail to provide complete transaction records. Missing invoices, improper tax rates, or untracked inventory create discrepancies between sales reports and GST/QST filings. E-commerce sellers that rely on manual spreadsheets risk reassessment. Mackisen CPA Auditors Montreal integrates sales channels, payment processors, and inventory tools to ensure compliance, accuracy, and real-time profitability tracking.

Mackisen Strategy
Platform Integration — Connect Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or WooCommerce directly to CPA-approved accounting systems.
Automated Sales Tracking — Record every transaction and tax charge in real time.
Inventory Management — Track quantities, cost of goods sold, and returns automatically.
GST/QST Compliance — Configure sales tax rules for each province and international transaction.
Financial Reporting — Produce P&L, cash flow, and inventory valuation reports for decision making.
Audit Protection — Maintain complete digital records for CRA and Revenu Québec audits.

Powering Client Needs and Growth
A Montreal start-up raised $2M in investor capital through CPA-certified financials. A Quebec distributor cut taxes by converting debt to equity. A Vancouver logistics firm strengthened its credit with verified reporting.
How Mackisen Clients Benefit

• Reduced tax and audit risk

• Improved investor and lender trust

• CPA-certified compliance

• Long-term financial stability

Common Questions
Is debt cheaper than equity? Often, due to tax deductibility.
Does CRA audit shareholder loans? Yes, regularly.
Can I change structures later? Yes—with CPA approval.
Should I issue shares or borrow? Depends on growth strategy.
Can Mackisen design my capital plan? Yes, end-to-end.

Why Mackisen
Mackisen CPA Auditors Montreal ensures your capital structure supports both compliance and growth. We help you build a foundation that attracts trust and investment.