Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, roofers, painters, framers, drywallers and other tradespeople are busy on the job site, and the paperwork piles up. Garg Accounting is a CPA-led firm in Calgary that keeps trades businesses on top of GST, WCB, CRA filings and tax, whether you work as a sole proprietor, a sub-contractor or through your own corporation.
Larger builders and general contractors: see our construction accounting page for job costing, holdbacks and progress billing.
Related services: construction accounting · GST/HST · WCB filing · payroll · bookkeeping · small business accounting
Not every tradesperson runs a business. If you work for an employer as an electrician, plumber, carpenter or mechanic, two deductions are often missed:
If you also do side jobs, we report that business income separately on Form T2125 and claim the related expenses.
You must register once your taxable revenue passes the small supplier threshold of $30,000 in four consecutive calendar quarters. Many general contractors also prefer to work with GST-registered sub-trades. Registering lets you claim GST back on your materials, tools and fuel.
If your business is mainly in construction and you pay sub-contractors for construction services, you generally need to report those payments to the CRA on T5018 slips. We can track your sub-contractor payments and file them for you.
You can claim the business-use portion of your vehicle costs, such as fuel, insurance, repairs, interest or lease payments, and capital cost allowance. Keeping a simple logbook of business kilometres is the best way to support the claim.
Most employers in the construction trades must have WCB Alberta coverage for their workers, and general contractors often ask sub-contractors for a WCB clearance letter. We can help you open an account and keep it in good standing.
Incorporating can save tax when you earn more than you need to live on, and it separates business and personal liability, but it adds costs and filings. We run the numbers for your income first, then help with the registration if it makes sense.
Yes, if you had to buy eligible tools for your job and your employer certifies it on Form T2200. The tradesperson's tools deduction is up to $1,000 a year, and apprentice mechanics may claim an additional deduction.
It lets eligible tradespeople and apprentices deduct travel, meals and temporary lodging when they temporarily relocate at least 150 km closer to a work site, up to $4,000 a year.
Tax season: see our Calgary tax deadlines for 2026–2027.
Garg Accounting · 4310 104 Avenue NE, Unit 3230, Calgary, AB T3J 1W5 · +1 368-995-6000 · info@gargaccounting.ca · Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
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Related: Personal tax filing · GST/HST filing · Bookkeeping · Incorporation · Contact
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