Why Should I Hire an Accountant for GST/QST Compliance?

Many Quebec business owners start out thinking they can handle GST/QST themselves. After all, it seems simple at first: collect tax, file returns, pay the balance. But GST/QST rules are far more complex than most realize especially when your business starts growing, selling online, dealing with multiple provinces, or claiming input tax credits/refunds. A single mistake can trigger penalties, refund delays, or even a full audit.

Here are the key reasons hiring a CPA for GST/QST compliance protects your business and saves you money.

1. Avoiding Costly Mistakes

The most common issues that cause financial loss are:
• incorrect tax rates
• mixing GST and QST in accounting systems
• claiming ineligible ITCs/ITRs
• filing late or missing a period
• charging the wrong tax on interprovincial sales
• misclassifying exempt vs. taxable supplies
• applying QST to customers outside Quebec
• relying on incorrect platform tax settings

CPAs catch these mistakes before returns are filed.

2. Faster Refunds and Fewer Holds

Revenu Québec frequently holds GST/QST refunds to verify:
• ITCs/ITRs
• supplier invoices
• proof of payment
• sales vs. deposits
• bank reconciliation

A CPA prepares all documentation properly, reducing verification time and speeding up refund release.

3. Protection During CRA or RQ Audits

When an auditor requests:
• receipts
• contracts
• sales records
• reconciliations
• explanations

a CPA handles the communication professionally and prevents accidental admissions or errors that could increase reassessments.

Without a CPA, audits often escalate quickly.

4. Correct Setup of Your Accounting System

QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, FreshBooks, and Shopify often have:
• wrong default tax settings
• combined GST/QST codes
• incorrect reporting for interprovincial sales

A CPA configures:
• GST 5%
• QST 9.975%
• HST for other provinces
• PST where required
• zero-rated and exempt codes
• platform-based tax rules

Proper setup prevents fines and amendments later.

5. Claiming Every Eligible Credit

Many businesses lose thousands by missing ITCs/ITRs because:
• they don’t download digital invoices
• receipts are missing
• suppliers aren’t registered
• mixed-use expenses aren’t allocated
• certain expenses are misclassified

A CPA recovers these credits systematically.

6. Planning for Cash Flow

GST/QST can cause unexpected cash issues when:
• large bills arrive
• quarterly remittances stack up
• payments fall behind
• refunds are delayed

A CPA helps forecast upcoming payments, set aside tax reserves, and avoid interest charges.

7. Eliminating Stress and Saving Time

GST/QST rules are:
• technical
• constantly changing
• different for goods vs. services
• different for each province
• different for digital vs. physical products

A CPA saves hours of confusion every month.

8. Professional Representation Is Taken Seriously

Authorities treat CPA-prepared filings as:
• more accurate
• more credible
• lower risk

Your GST/QST account stays in good standing.

9. Support for Business Growth

As you grow, new tax rules apply:
• selling outside Quebec
• hiring contractors
• moving into e-commerce
• offering subscriptions
• dealing with U.S. clients
• crossing the $30,000 threshold

A CPA keeps your compliance strategy aligned with growth.

10. Peace of Mind

With a CPA:
• no guessing
• no last-minute panic
• no fear of errors
• no dealing with RQ or CRA alone
• no worrying about refund freezes

You get complete confidence that your filings are correct.

Mackisen Strategy

Mackisen CPA manages full GST/QST compliance for businesses of all sizes. We:
• register you on time
• configure your tax systems
• clean up your bookkeeping
• reconcile GST/QST monthly
• file accurate returns
• respond to CRA and RQ
• handle audits
• optimize credits and refunds

You focus on growing the business we handle the tax.

Real Client Experience

A contractor who filed alone was reassessed $9,000. Mackisen corrected the records, filed objections, and recovered the full amount.

A consultant missed $5,000 of ITCs because invoices weren’t downloaded. Mackisen rebuilt her documentation and secured a refund.

A Shopify seller had incorrect tax settings, causing under-collection. Mackisen fixed platform taxes and prevented penalties.

Common Questions

Do I need a CPA if I have accounting software?
Yes software does not interpret tax law.

Is GST/QST really that complicated?
Yes, especially with interprovincial and digital sales.

Can a CPA prevent audits?
We reduce the triggers dramatically.

Why Mackisen

With more than 35 years of combined CPA experience, Mackisen CPA Montreal ensures your GST/QST compliance is accurate, optimized, and fully protected saving your money, time, and stress.