Guides to Canadian bookkeeping, sales tax and AI accounting
Practical, plain-language guides from our bookkeepers in Vancouver for BC and Canadian businesses: BC PST and GST, what bookkeeping costs, catching up, year-end, QuickBooks Online and AI.
BC PST on professional services is paused: what BC businesses should do now
BC's planned 7% PST on accounting, bookkeeping and other professional services was paused on Sept 18, 2026. What changed, what didn't, and what to do now.
How much does bookkeeping cost in BC? 2026 prices for small businesses
What a bookkeeper really costs in BC in 2026: in-house wages and payroll costs, hourly help, monthly bookkeeping services and software, with a calculator.
Behind on your books? A catch-up bookkeeping plan for BC businesses
Months or years behind? What catch-up bookkeeping involves, what late GST/HST and T2 filing really costs, the order to do it in, and how to stay current after.
Year-end checklist for BC small businesses: 2026 to 2027 deadlines
Year-end checklist for BC small businesses with a December 31, 2026 year-end: closing the books, T4s, WorkSafeBC, Employer Health Tax, GST, PST and T2.
AI bookkeeping in Canada: a buyer's guide for BC small businesses
What AI bookkeeping can and cannot do for a Canadian small business, the sales tax risks, and 10 questions to ask before you choose software or a service.
GST and PST in British Columbia: a plain guide for small businesses
When BC businesses must register for GST and PST, how often to file, what you can claim back, and the mistakes that cost money. Updated for 2026.
QuickBooks Online clean-up: 7 problems a books health check finds
The seven problems we find most often in QuickBooks Online files, why they matter at year-end, and how to fix each one.
What is AI accounting? What it does well, and where people still matter
A plain explanation of AI accounting for small business owners: what AI can safely automate in your books today, and what still needs a person.
Odoo AI for accounting: what the new AI features actually do
A practical look at the AI features in recent Odoo Enterprise versions for accounting teams: digitization, AI agents, AI fields, report review and MCP.
Bookkeeper or accountant? Who does what for a Canadian small business
What a bookkeeper does, what an accountant does, when a small business in Canada needs each, and how to avoid paying for the same work twice.
Sales tax rates by province
A quick reference for 2026. Rates change; check the CRA's GST/HST rates page and BC's PST page before you file.
| Province or territory | Sales tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | GST | 5% |
| British Columbia | GST + PST | 5% + 7% |
| Manitoba | GST + RST | 5% + 7% |
| New Brunswick | HST | 15% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | HST | 15% |
| Northwest Territories | GST | 5% |
| Nova Scotia | HST | 14% |
| Nunavut | GST | 5% |
| Ontario | HST | 13% |
| Prince Edward Island | HST | 15% |
| Quebec | GST + QST | 5% + 9.975% |
| Saskatchewan | GST + PST | 5% + 6% |
| Yukon | GST | 5% |
Prefer to have it done for you?
Monthly bookkeeping on AxLedger, checked by people, at a fixed price.