Think of a bookkeeper as your financial fitness trainer and an accountant as your specialist doctor. A bookkeeper, like our team at Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services, handles the day-to-day financial recording, bank reconciliation, and payroll. We build the strong, accurate financial data that an accountant then uses for high-level tax strategy and official year-end statements.

You should hire a bookkeeper the moment you start feeling overwhelmed by your finances. If you're spending evenings and weekends "doing the books" instead of growing your business, it's time. We help businesses in Calgary, Lethbridge, and across Southern Alberta get their time back.

Absolutely. "Cleanup" projects are one of our specialties. We've helped many business owners untangle months or even years of messy records. The team at Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services will organize your past transactions, reconcile old accounts, and get you to a clean, stress-free starting point.

We are highly proficient in all major accounting platforms, including QuickBooks Online and Xero. Our team at Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services will work with the software you're already using or help you migrate to the platform that best suits your business needs.

When you work with Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services, you get more than just data entry. You get a dedicated team with over 15 years of experience, led by Brenda and Nadia, who genuinely care about your success. We provide proactive, accurate, and affordable bookkeeping that frees up your time and gives you clear financial reports.

Yes, Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services handles both. We are your one-stop shop for T1 personal tax returns and T2 corporate tax returns. We ensure your business and personal finances are perfectly aligned, maximizing your deductions and making tax season seamless.

A GST/HST return is a report you must file with the CRA to declare the sales tax you've collected and paid. Filing deadlines can be monthly, quarterly, or annually. The team at Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services manages this entire process for you, ensuring your GST remittances are calculated accurately and filed on time.

Your corporate tax (T2) return is due six months after your fiscal year-end. However, your payment is typically due two months after your fiscal year-end. Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services helps clients across Alberta and BC manage these separate deadlines so they never miss a payment or filing.

First, don't panic. Second, call us. As your official representative, Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services can communicate with the CRA on your behalf. We understand their language and will work to resolve the inquiry, audit, or request for information efficiently.

This is one of the most common questions! For businesses in Southern Alberta, common deductions include vehicle expenses (mileage logs are key!), home office expenses, tools, materials, subcontractor fees, and professional fees—like your services from Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services. We ensure you claim every eligible deduction.

Our payroll service is a comprehensive solution. Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services handles calculating gross pay, statutory deductions (CPP & EI), vacation pay, and taxable benefits. We also manage the CRA remittances and issue all T4 slips at year-end.

After you pay your employees, you must remit the payroll deductions (employee's CPP/EI plus the employer's portion) to the CRA. Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services handles these "source deductions" accurately, protecting you from the steep penalties and interest the CRA charges for late remittances.

WCB (Workers' Compensation Board) provides wage-loss benefits and medical coverage for employees injured on the job. In Alberta, most businesses with employees are required to have WCB coverage. Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services can manage your WCB account, ensuring you report your payroll accurately and pay the correct premiums.

This is a critical distinction, especially in trades. An employee is on your payroll (you deduct CPP, EI, and tax), while a subcontractor is an independent business you pay via invoice (with no deductions). Misclassifying an employee can lead to severe CRA penalties. We can help you determine the correct classification.

Yes. At the end of the year, we prepare all necessary slips for your business. We issue T4s for your employees and T5s for any dividends paid out to shareholders.

Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services has extensive experience with the trades and construction industry. We understand your specific challenges, such as job costing, managing subcontractor payments (and T5018s), and handling GST on large projects. We ensure your project financials are clear so you know which jobs are actually profitable.

Yes. We love working with sole proprietors. We help electricians, plumbers, and carpenters in Southern Alberta move from a "shoebox of receipts" to a clean digital system. We'll track your vehicle mileage, separate business from personal expenses, and handle your GST and income tax filings.

Yes. Our team at Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services understands the unique financial needs of the agricultural sector in Southern Alberta. We can help you manage inventory (like feed, seed, and livestock), track equipment depreciation, and navigate farm-specific programs and tax filings.

A T5018 slip is a form that businesses in the construction industry must file to report payments made to subcontractors for construction services. If you've paid a subcontractor $500 or more in a year, you must issue them one. Balancing the Books Taxes & Accounting Services manages this compliance requirement for all our construction clients.

Getting started is easy! Simply call us or fill out the contact form on our website. We'll set up a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your business, understand your financial challenges, and provide a clear, flat-fee quote for our services.