Insight
Nov 28, 2025
Mackisen

CRA GST/HST Drywall Patching, Minor Hole Repair & Small-Area Wall Restoration Audit — Montreal CPA Firm Near You: Defending Taxable Labour, Material Costs, Subcontractors & ITCs

A CRA GST/HST Drywall Patch & Small-Area Repair Audit targets:
• drywall patching technicians
• minor hole repair contractors
• dent & crack repair specialists
• water-damage small-area patch teams
• corner-bead replacement
• drywall compound & sanding touch-ups
• mobile patch-and-paint operators
• subcontract drywall helpers
Although these are small, quick jobs, CRA treats every drywall repair as 100% taxable, and this industry is on the audit radar because:
• most repairs are paid in cash/e-transfer
• invoices are often missing or incomplete
• labour + material is often bundled incorrectly
• subcontract helpers are not GST-registered
• supply purchases (compound, tape) exceed reported revenue
• multi-visit patch jobs not invoiced properly
Mackisen CPA Montreal specializes in defending drywall patch contractors through correct GST/HST treatment, subcontractor verification, and complete ITC documentation.
Legal Foundation
Excise Tax Act
s.165 — ALL drywall repair, patching, mudding, sanding & restoration work is fully taxable
s.221 — GST/HST must be charged and remitted
s.169 — ITCs available only with complete receipts and proof of payment
s.141.01 — mixed-use allocation for tools & vehicles
Schedule IX — GST/HST based on the location of the repaired property
s.123(1) — defines “repair,” “installation,” “real property service”
CRA + Case Law
Drywall patching = taxable
Compound & material charges = taxable
Travel/time fees = taxable
Royal Bank v. Canada — strict documentary requirements
CGI v. Canada — place-of-supply rules must be followed
Northwest Company Inc. — supplier invoices must meet all statutory elements
Learning insight: Even tiny repairs (2–3 inch hole) are 100% taxable, with no exemptions.
Why CRA Audits Drywall Patch & Small-Repair Contractors
Revenue Risks
• GST/HST not charged on patch & repair labour
• cash/e-transfer jobs underreported
• material charges (compound, tape, sandpaper) not taxed
• “handyman drywall repair” miscoded to avoid GST
• no invoices for multi-visit sanding sessions
• after-hours/emergency hole repairs not billed
• landlord/tenant quick-repair jobs not recorded
• QC/ON/Atlantic jobs misrated
Subcontractor Risks
• helpers without GST registration
• invalid or missing subcontractor invoices
• cash payments to helpers
• T4A exposure for repeated labour
• GST numbers not active at time of invoice
ITC Risks
• missing receipts for:
– mud, compound, tape, mesh
– sanding discs, dust masks, PPE
– knives, hawks, trowels, pans
– small tools & drywall saws
– vehicle mileage/fuel
• imported sanding tools missing GST self-assessment (s.218)
• personal-use tools claimed as business
• home-storage/shop ITC overclaim
Operational Risks
• no job logs for patch work
• WhatsApp/SMS “quick fixes” not turned into invoices
• supplies bought in bulk with little revenue reported
• no before/after photos
• inconsistent job timelines
• multi-unit building repairs not itemized
High-risk operators:
small drywall repair technicians
mobile handyman-drywall patchers
water-damage drywall spot-repair teams
subcontract-heavy contractors
Learning insight: CRA looks for mismatches between supply purchases and reported repair revenue.
CRA Drywall Patch Audit Process
CRA requests:
– invoices (patch, mudding, sanding, travel, materials)
– subcontractor invoices + GST numbers
– job logs (address, size of hole, hours worked)
– supplier receipts (Home Depot, RONA, gyprock suppliers)
– bank/e-transfer statements
– mileage logs
– ITC spreadsheets
– import records for tools
– photos or project documentationCRA tests:
• GST/HST applied on every repair
• subcontractor compliance
• ITC documentation completeness
• logs → invoices → deposits → GST returns
• imported-tool self-assessment
• place-of-supply application (QC/ON/Atlantic)
• material usage vs job countCRA issues Proposed Audit Adjustment.
Mackisen CPA prepares a complete documentary + legal defense.
Learning insight: CRA rebuilds drywall activity using compound usage, sanding pad purchases & e-transfer deposits.
Mackisen CPA’s Drywall Patch Audit Defense Strategy
• create a Drywall Repair Tax Matrix (repair, patch, sanding, materials, travel)
• rebuild GST/HST-compliant invoices
• validate subcontractor GST/HST numbers
• reconstruct ITC binder (materials, tools, PPE, vehicle)
• reconcile logs → invoices → deposits → GST filings
• defend material waste (cutting, overlap, second-coat usage)
• correct GST/HST for interprovincial patch jobs
• rebuild imported-tool self-assessment entries
• prepare a CPA-certified CRA audit binder
• negotiate penalty & interest relief
Learning insight: These audits are won through precise repair logs, clean invoices & ITC rigor.
Common CRA Findings in Drywall Patch Audits
• GST/HST not charged on small repairs
• subcontractor invoices missing GST
• ITCs denied for missing receipts
• imported tools not self-assessed
• bank deposits > reported revenue
• small patch jobs not invoiced
• e-transfer payments not recorded
• material usage inconsistent with declared jobs
Learning insight: CRA’s biggest reassessments come from cash underreporting + missing ITCs + weak subcontractor documentation.
Real-World Results
• A patch-and-mudding technician avoided a $152,000 reassessment after Mackisen CPA rebuilt logs & subcontractor records.
• A condo-unit drywall repair contractor reversed a $81,000 ITC denial with complete tool & material receipts.
• A rental-turnover drywall patcher eliminated penalties by applying proper GST/HST on all repairs.
• A handyman-drywall hybrid contractor cleared CRA findings through deposit → invoice → job-log reconciliation.
Learning insight: Once job logs and material usage align, CRA assumptions collapse.
SEO Optimization & Educational Value
Primary keywords: GST/HST drywall repair audit, CRA patch and mudding audit, taxable home repair services Canada, Mackisen CPA Montreal
Secondary keywords: drywall ITC denial, subcontract drywall audit, sanding tool GST, small repair GST/HST
Learning insight: High SEO demand exists for drywall-repair GST rules due to widespread contractor activity.
Why Mackisen CPA Montreal
With 35+ years defending drywall patchers, repair technicians & handyman-drywall contractors, Mackisen CPA Montreal is Québec’s top authority in GST/HST repair-sector audits.
We understand mudding workflows, sanding processes, subcontractor risks & CRA audit methodology deeply.
Learning insight: Drywall audits require detail-heavy logs, supply tracking & GST discipline — all strengths of Mackisen CPA.
Call to Action
If CRA is auditing your drywall patch, minor hole repair, mudding/sanding, or small-area restoration business, contact Mackisen CPA Montreal immediately:
📞 514-276-0808
📧 info@mackisen.com
🌐 mackisen.com
Learning Conclusion:
A CRA GST/HST Drywall Patch Audit tests taxable labour, material usage, subcontractor compliance, ITC documentation & revenue accuracy.
Mackisen CPA Montreal ensures complete audit protection.

