Accounting software Canada: GST/HST, payroll and T4 slips
Accounting software in Canada charges and tracks GST or HST at the rate for each province, plus Quebec's QST, and payroll software deducts CPP or QPP, EI and income tax and files the year-end T4 slips with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which must be filed electronically when there are more than 5 slips.
Also calledCanadian accounting softwareaccounting software for Canada
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- GST rate
- 5%
- HST rates
- 13% to 15%
- T4 e-filing
- More than 5 slips
What accounting software in Canada has to handle
Sales tax: GST is 5% in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the territories. HST is 13% in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia from 1 April 2025, and 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Quebec adds QST at 9.975%, and British Columbia and Manitoba add 7% PST and Saskatchewan 6%. Payroll: employers remit source deductions on a schedule set by their remitter type, which the CRA bases on average monthly withholding. Employers with staff in Quebec deduct QPP instead of CPP. The T4 slip reports a year's pay, taxable benefits and deductions; employees get their slips by the last day of February, and for 2025 the T4 return was due on 2 March 2026. Prices: QuickBooks Canada EasyStart is C$30 a month and Plus C$110, taxes not included; Xero Starter is C$25 and Standard C$60, excluding taxes; FreshBooks Lite is C$26; Wave Pro is C$25 a month; Zoho Books Standard is C$20 a month, excluding taxes. Wagepoint payroll starts at C$20 a month plus C$4 per employee, with T4 and T4A forms included.
Common questions
What accounting software is used in Canada?+
QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave and Zoho Books all sell Canadian plans in Canadian dollars. Wave Pro is C$25 a month and has a free Starter plan.
Does accounting software handle GST, HST and QST?+
It needs to apply the rate for each province: 5% GST, 13% to 15% HST, and in Quebec 5% GST plus 9.975% QST.
When must T4 slips be filed electronically?+
From 1 January 2024 an employer with more than 5 slips of the same type for a calendar year must file them electronically. Before 2024 the threshold was 50.
How much is QuickBooks in Canada?+
EasyStart is C$30 a month, Plus C$110 and Advanced C$220, with taxes not included. Payroll is an add-on, from C$3 a month plus C$5 per employee during the current offer.
Accounting and payroll software in Canada
Intuit QuickBooksSmall business accounting covering books, invoicing and payroll.Profile →
XeroCloud accounting for small businesses with a large app ecosystem.Profile →More software for Canada
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