An accountant's year: what to do, month by month
An accounting firm does not live by the civil calendar but by the governments'. Here is the typical year of a Quebec accountant, month by month, with what Leo can prepare and follow up. The dates are benchmarks drawn from official sources: validate them every year with the CRA, Revenu Québec and your professional order.
January and February: slips and file opening
Employers must file T4s (CRA) and Relevés 1 (Revenu Québec) no later than the last day of February; if that date falls on a weekend, it moves to the next business day (for example March 2, 2026). Individuals start receiving their slips.
Action: a campaign to employer clients to confirm payrolls and T4/Relevés 1, and the document list sent to individuals as soon as files open.
February and March: RRSP and the first instalment
The RRSP contribution deadline for the 2025 tax year was March 2, 2026; the year's first tax instalment is due March 15 (then June 15, September 15 and December 15).
Action: remind instalment clients of the March 15 payment and plan next year's RRSP reminder ahead of time, which covers the first 60 days of the year.
March and April: individuals' filing
The filing and payment deadline for individuals is April 30 (April 30, 2026 for the 2025 year). Any balance unpaid after that date bears interest, even for self-employed workers who have until June 15 to file.
Action: automatic follow-up of missing documents, an internal document drop-off date set at March 31 and validation meetings scheduled in April. A good general tip: the clearer the internal date, the clearer the room to maneuver.
May and June: self-employed workers
Self-employed workers (and their spouses) have until June 15 to file their return (June 15, 2026 for the 2025 year), but the balance owing remains payable on April 30. Individuals running a business with a December 31 year-end also have until June 15 to file their GST/QST returns.
Action: a campaign to self-employed clients on their income, expenses, and GST/QST collected and paid, with a reminder that payment is not deferred.
All year long: instalments and GST/QST
Individuals' tax instalments (CRA and Revenu Québec) are due March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, and move to the next business day in case of a weekend or holiday. Action: a payment reminder the week before, with the amount suggested by the governments' notices.
Monthly and quarterly GST/QST returns are due one month after the end of the period, and annual ones three months after (except special cases such as individuals in business, June 15). Reminders in January, April, July and October are created for each registered client, according to their frequency.
August to November: corporations
For corporations, the income tax return (T2 and CO-17) is due six months after the fiscal year-end; in Quebec, any tax balance is payable within two months after the end of the fiscal year, and the return must be filed online.
Action: for each corporation, calculate the filing date and the payment date from the year-end, then offer a planning meeting before the year-end.
November and December: year-end planning
This is the last chance to take action before December 31 (donations, contributions, expenses, December instalments). The agent gives no personalized advice on this: it sends a general newsletter and an invitation to book a meeting with the firm's professional.
Generic tip: use year-end to archive filed files, update each client's type and note what was missing this year, so you do not have to ask for everything again next season.
Knowing the rhythm of the year lets you follow up at the right moment instead of in a panic. Leo prepares the reminders; your firm keeps the judgment and the decision.
General information, not legal advice. Check with your professional order or the official source.
Questions
Why set an internal date before April 30?
Because a file completed early leaves room for preparation and validation. The example used is a document drop-off date of March 31, with validation meetings in April.
Are last year's dates still valid?
Not necessarily: a date that falls on a weekend or holiday moves. Check the dates every year on the CRA and Revenu Québec websites.
Can Leo tell me what to do before December 31?
No. It sends general reminders and offers a meeting with the professional, who alone can give advice suited to the client's situation.
Official sources
- https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/important-dates-individuals.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/payments/payments-cra/individual-payments/income-tax-instalments/due-dates.html
- https://www.revenuquebec.ca/fr/entreprises/taxes/tpstvh-et-tvq/declaration-de-la-tps-et-de-la-tvq/periodes-de-declaration/
- https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/definitions/co-17-g/date-limite-de-production-de-la-declaration-de-revenus-des-societes
- https://cpaquebec.ca/-/media/docs/developpement-professionnel/avis-experts/fiscalite-taxes-planification-financiere/guide_delais_fiscalite.pdf
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