What we transfer for you
- Prior-year financial statements and tax returns: T2, T1, HST and payroll filings
- Year-end working papers and the trial balance your last return was built from
- Your QuickBooks file or other accounting records
- Carry-forward balances: capital cost allowance schedules, losses, shareholder loan and capital dividend account
- Year-to-date payroll figures for every employee, so T4s are right at year-end
- Open CRA letters, reviews and payment arrangements
- Your CRA program accounts and filing frequencies for HST, payroll and corporate tax
How the transfer works
Free consultation
We look at where things stand and give you a written quote.
You sign one authorization
A short letter to your previous accountant, plus CRA authorization through Represent a Client.
We collect your files
We contact your previous accountant directly and follow up until everything is received.
We review and set your calendar
We check what has been filed, flag anything outstanding and list every upcoming deadline.
We take it from here
Bookkeeping, HST, payroll, year-end and tax continue without a gap.
What we need from you
Your signature on the authorization, your previous accountant’s name and email, and access to your bank statements and accounting software. That’s it. Accountants transfer files to a new firm routinely once the client authorizes it.
Any time of year
You don’t have to wait for year-end. Most of the work is the same whether you switch in March or September, and switching before a deadline is often the best time.
Common questions
Do I need to tell my old accountant myself?
No. You sign one authorization and we contact your previous accountant directly and professionally. Most owners never have to make that call.
Is there a charge for the transfer?
The transfer is included with every package. If your books or filings turn out to be behind, any catch-up work is quoted in writing before we start.
Can I switch in the middle of the year?
Yes. We pick up from the last completed period, bring over year-to-date payroll figures and set your calendar for the deadlines still ahead.
What if my old accountant hasn’t finished last year’s return?
Tell us at the consultation. We agree with you who completes it, check what has and hasn’t been filed with CRA, and make sure nothing is missed.
Will I lose anything with CRA?
No. Your filing history stays with CRA. We are added as your authorized representative, and you decide whether your previous accountant’s authorization is removed.