Breakwaters insights · Updated October 4, 2026

Year-end preparation becomes easier when financial records, sales-tax questions, and filing responsibilities are organized throughout the year. For Canadian business owners, the useful first step is gathering information that a bookkeeper or tax professional can review.

Collect the supporting documents

Bring together sales invoices, expense receipts, bank and credit-card statements, prior returns, and relevant CRA correspondence. Record your business year-end and the reporting periods shown in your accounts. Identify missing documents and any periods whose bookkeeping remains incomplete.

Keep copies of what was filed and the records supporting it. A folder of receipts is more useful when each document can be connected to a transaction.

Make a list of GST/HST questions

Flag sales or purchases where the tax treatment is unclear. Include unusual transactions, changes in business activities, and any prior filing errors or notices. Ask your adviser to review your registration position, reporting periods, and supporting records before deciding what to file or correct.

The CRA’s GST/HST information for businesses provides current guidance on registration, returns, and recordkeeping. Eligibility and obligations depend on your circumstances; this guide does not determine a refund or tax treatment.

Plan the year-end handover

Ask which deliverables your filing professional needs, such as a trial balance, financial statements, and working papers. Agree who resolves bookkeeping questions, who reviews the tax package, and who prepares and files each return. Bookkeeping support and direct tax filing are distinct responsibilities.

If records are behind, identify the catch-up work early. An agreed scope helps everyone understand what must be completed before the handover.

Start with a focused conversation

Breakwaters supports bookkeeping, year-end preparation, and Canadian tax work according to the engagement. Request a free consultation with your province, business type, and the periods needing attention. Keep tax returns and account details out of the public enquiry form; arrange secure document sharing first.

Browse Resources for more preparation guides. This article provides general information, not individual tax or legal advice.

General preparation guidance, not individual accounting or tax advice. Your circumstances and agreed engagement scope matter.