Incorporation is the legal process of forming a corporation, a separate legal entity from its owners, giving limited liability and access to corporate tax rates.
Incorporating creates a distinct legal person that can own assets, sign contracts and be taxed in its own right, separate from you. The two headline benefits are limited liability, shielding your personal assets from most business debts, and access to corporate tax rates and deferral through the small business deduction.
You can incorporate federally or provincially. The trade-off is added compliance: a separate T2 return, financial statements, corporate records and payroll if you take a salary. Incorporation usually pays off once profit consistently exceeds what you draw personally, or when liability protection or a future sale matters.
A consultant earning far more than she spends incorporates. Surplus profit is now taxed at roughly 12% inside the company instead of up to 53% personally, and it can be retained and invested until she draws it in a lower-income year.
Our certified accounting firm handles this for businesses and individuals across Canada, at fixed fees with no surprises.
Book a Free 15-Minute CallCompany Incorporation Cost: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions regarding our compliance workflows and service guarantees.
Commonly Searched Incorporation Questions
The questions Canadians actually search on this topic, answered plainly. Browse every question in the Canadian tax answers directory.
HST combines the 5% federal GST with a provincial component in five participating provinces. For 2026 the combined rates are 13% in Ontario, 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, and 14% in Nova Scotia since 1 April 2025. Elsewhere you charge the 5% GST alone, or GST plus a separate provincial tax. The rate follows the province of supply, not where your business sits.
A tax return is the annual filing that reports your income, deductions and credits to the CRA so the final tax for the year can be settled. Payers withhold tax during the year and the return reconciles that against what you actually owe, producing either a refund or a balance to pay. For 2025 returns filed in 2026, refunds usually arrive in about two weeks for an online return, while a paper return runs on a considerably longer standard because it is handled manually.
Canada runs three systems. The federal GST is 5% for 2026 and applies nationally. Five participating provinces fold a provincial share into one harmonised rate: 13% in Ontario, 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, and 14% in Nova Scotia since 1 April 2025. Others add their own tax to the 5% GST, giving 12% in British Columbia and Manitoba, 11% in Saskatchewan and 14.975% in Quebec. Alberta and the territories charge 5% only.
Most municipalities do not take credit cards for property tax directly. They accept pre-authorised debit, online or telephone banking, cheque, and in-person payment. Third-party payment processors will charge a property tax bill to a card for a service fee, which normally costs more than the rewards earned. The CRA works the same way for income tax and GST/HST: no direct card payment, but authorised third-party providers accept cards for a fee.
Key Business Incorporation Cost Terms Explained
Related Services
Reviewed and fact-checked by Udit Gupta
Ex Big 4 — Ernst & Young, Deloitte · International & cross-border tax specialist · CPA Canada (In-Depth Tax Program) · Chartered accountant, ICAI & MIA
Udit Gupta has over 15 years of experience helping corporations and business owners with corporate structuring, corporate tax filing, bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST, cross-border tax and CRA representation. Big 4 trained at Ernst & Young and Deloitte, and qualified as a chartered accountant in India and again in Malaysia, he founded his accounting practice in 2014 to serve entrepreneurs, startups and non-resident business owners across Canada. View full member bio.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India — member 521458 · Malaysian Institute of Accountants — member CA 44667 · Ex Big 4: Ernst & Young, Deloitte · CPA Canada (In-Depth Tax Program), completed 19 Dec 2023 · In-Depth GST/HST Part I, 12 Jul 2022 · Part II, 5 Jul 2023
Editorial policy. Every page is researched against primary sources — the Income Tax Act, CRA publications and CPA Canada guidance — and every rate or threshold is stated with the tax year it applies to.
Fixed-fee quote
Get your fixed quote before any work starts
Tell us what needs filing or keeping in order. We reply with one fixed fee, you approve it, and you pay only after the service is delivered.
- Fixed fee agreed before work starts
- Pay after the service
- Free 15-minute consultation
24/7 Helpline: +1 (416) 619-0068
Secure Fixed Quote
Fill details below to lock in pricing and get started today.
Our Partners Are Alumni of the World's Top Accounting and Tax Institutions
