Accountant in Surrey, British Columbia | Tax, Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

Surrey — BC's fastest-growing city

Surrey is the second-largest city in British Columbia by population, having recently surpassed many traditionally larger Canadian cities. The city has grown rapidly through immigration and has one of Canada's youngest and most ethnically diverse populations. Surrey's economy is anchored by construction and trades (Surrey has been one of the most active residential and commercial construction markets in Canada for a decade), agriculture and food processing (the Lower Fraser Valley adjacent to Surrey produces a significant share of BC's vegetables, dairy, and berries), transportation and logistics (Surrey hosts major distribution and warehousing for the Greater Vancouver region), retail, healthcare, and a growing technology and innovation centre at Simon Fraser University Surrey campus and Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Industries we serve heavily in Surrey

• Construction and trades. Surrey supports one of the largest concentrations of construction trades workers in BC. We handle T2 corporate tax, T5018 reporting, WorkSafeBC, and BC PST on construction materials.
• South Asian small business community. Surrey has one of North America's largest South Asian populations and a very active community of small business owners across retail, professional services, food service, and import/export. Multi-generational family businesses and family-owned operating corporations are common.
• Truck drivers and owner-operators. Surrey is a major hub for cross-border trucking through the Pacific Highway port of entry into Washington State. TL2, IFTA, and US economic nexus considerations apply.
• Real estate investors. Surrey real estate has produced significant investor returns over the last 15 years and continues to support an active investor community. BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax, BC Property Transfer Tax, and federal UHT all apply.
• Restaurants and food service. Surrey has one of Canada's most diverse restaurant economies. Tip reporting and high-turnover payroll are typical compliance areas.
• Medical and dental professionals. Surrey Memorial Hospital, the new Cloverdale hospital, and community clinics support a large medical professional community.

Surrey-specific compliance items

• BC PST registration for all Surrey businesses selling tangible personal property or applicable services
• BC EHT for Surrey employers above the exemption threshold
• WorkSafeBC coverage for Surrey construction, trucking, and other higher-risk industries
• BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax annual declaration for Surrey residential property owners
• Federal UHT for corporations, partnerships, and trusts holding Surrey residential property

How British Columbia's tax structure affects Surrey businesses and residents

British Columbia uses a layered tax structure that Surrey businesses navigate every day. The federal 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies to most goods and services, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. On top of GST, British Columbia administers its own 7% Provincial Sales Tax (BC PST), collected and remitted to the BC Ministry of Finance through eTaxBC. BC PST registration is separate from federal GST registration, and the two taxes have different rules for what is taxable, exempt, or zero-rated. Surrey businesses selling tangible personal property, software, telecommunications services, accommodation, legal services, and certain other services generally must register for and collect BC PST.

For incorporated Surrey businesses, the British Columbia corporate income tax rate is 12% on general business income and 2% on the first $500,000 of active business income for Canadian-controlled private corporations. Combined with the federal rates, Surrey CCPCs pay 11% on small business income and 27% on general business income. BC uses the federal Tax Collection Agreement, so Surrey corporations file a single federal T2 that covers both federal and provincial corporate tax.

For individuals, BC uses progressive provincial brackets layered on top of the federal personal tax brackets. The top combined federal-provincial marginal rate exceeds 53% at the highest brackets.

BC Employer Health Tax for Surrey employers

British Columbia introduced the Employer Health Tax (EHT) on January 1, 2019, replacing Medical Services Plan premiums. The EHT applies to BC employers with total annual BC remuneration exceeding the exemption threshold. The general exemption is currently $1,000,000, and the tax rate above the threshold is up to 1.95% of BC payroll. Charitable and non-profit employers have a separate higher exemption threshold. Surrey employers approaching or above the threshold should plan EHT carefully because the tax is significant. We register for EHT, calculate liability, file the annual return, and handle quarterly installment remittances where required.

BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax for Surrey residential property owners

Owners of residential property in BC designated areas (which include most major urban regions) must file an annual declaration to confirm whether the property is the owner's principal residence, rented out long-term, or subject to the Speculation and Vacancy Tax. The declaration is mandatory regardless of whether tax is owing. Failing to file results in default assessment of the maximum tax rate. We handle the annual declaration for Surrey property owner clients in designated areas.

BC Workers' Compensation (WorkSafeBC) for Surrey employers

Almost all BC employers must register with WorkSafeBC and remit quarterly assessments based on industry classification rate. Construction, forestry, fishing, trucking, and certain other industries carry significantly higher rates. WorkSafeBC also handles independent operator coverage and the personal optional protection program for some self-employed individuals. We handle WorkSafeBC registration and remittance for Surrey employer clients.

Year-end tax planning specific to Surrey

Year-end planning for BC businesses includes the standard Canadian elements (Accelerated Investment Incentive, RRSP/TFSA optimization, salary vs dividend modelling) plus BC-specific considerations: (1) managing BC EHT exposure by reviewing total BC payroll against the exemption threshold; (2) BC PST reconciliation and ITC-equivalent input recovery where BC PST was paid on inputs that became part of a tax-exempt sale; (3) BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax planning for residential property owners considering rental vs personal use; (4) BC film and digital media tax credit claim preparation where applicable; (5) review of BC Mining Exploration Tax Credits and BC SR&ED investment tax credit interactions.

Canadian tax compliance calendar that applies to Surrey clients

The Canadian tax compliance calendar is the same regardless of where you live in Canada, but several deadlines are commonly missed or misunderstood by Surrey businesses and individuals:

• January 31. T4, T4A, and T5018 information returns due for the prior calendar year. Late filing penalties start at $100 and escalate quickly for larger employers.
• February 28. T5 investment income slips due for the prior calendar year.
• March 1 or March 2. RRSP, FHSA, and similar registered plan contribution deadline for the prior tax year (60 days into the new calendar year).
• March 31. T3 trust return deadline (90 days after the trust's calendar year end).
• April 30. T1 personal tax return deadline for most Canadians. Balance owing is due by this date regardless of whether the filing deadline is extended.
• June 15. T1 deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses (although any balance owing is still due April 30).
• Six months after corporate year-end. T2 corporate income tax return filing deadline.
• Two or three months after corporate year-end. T2 balance owing payment deadline (three months for CCPCs claiming the small business deduction throughout the year and meeting the taxable income threshold; two months otherwise).
• Quarterly: March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15. Personal tax instalment due dates for taxpayers required to pay instalments.
• Monthly or quarterly. CRA source deduction remittances and GST/HST remittances based on the assigned filing frequency.

What happens when CRA contacts Surrey clients

Canadian taxpayers commonly receive several types of CRA contact each year. Knowing what each one means helps Surrey businesses and individuals respond appropriately:

• Notice of Assessment (NOA). Issued after CRA processes a return. The NOA states the assessed tax, refund or balance owing, and any adjustments CRA made. Review your NOA carefully against your filed return.
• Notice of Reassessment. Issued when CRA changes a previously assessed return. You have 90 days from the date of a Notice of Reassessment to file a Notice of Objection if you disagree.
• Pre-assessment review letter. A request for documentation about specific items on a return before CRA finalizes the assessment. Strict response deadlines.
• Post-assessment review letter. Same documentation request, but after the NOA has been issued. Strict response deadlines.
• Demand to file. A formal demand that you file a return that CRA believes is overdue. Failure to comply can lead to a Notional Assessment (CRA estimates your tax, almost always at a higher amount than actual).
• Audit notice. The most serious form of CRA contact. Audits can be desk audits (by mail) or field audits (CRA officer reviews books in person or virtually).
• Collections letter. Issued when there is an unpaid balance. CRA collections has significant powers including garnishment and asset seizure.

If you receive any form of CRA contact, contact us immediately. Do not call CRA back yourself and do not send documents without professional review.

How BOMCAS Canada handles CRA representation for Surrey clients

With your signed authorization on file (RC59 for businesses or AUT-01 for individuals), BOMCAS Canada can communicate with CRA on your behalf. This means: CRA calls about your file route to us; we can access your CRA My Account or My Business Account information; we respond to review letters, audit requests, and collections matters; we file Notices of Objection within the 90-day deadline if needed; we represent you in CRA audits virtually; and we coordinate with tax counsel for Tax Court of Canada appeals where required.

Common Canadian tax questions Surrey clients ask

Why working with BOMCAS Canada makes sense for Surrey

Surrey businesses and residents work with BOMCAS Canada for several reasons that may matter to you:

• Fixed-fee transparency. Most engagements are quoted as a fixed monthly fee or fixed per-project fee, signed in writing before any work begins. No surprise hourly invoices for routine work.
• One-business-day response standard. We staff to a one-business-day response standard for client emails and calls during normal business hours. No multi-day voicemail backlogs.
• Year-round support. Most clients have unlimited email and phone support included in the engagement, not just during tax season.
• Same accountant year over year. You are not transferred to a new junior every year. The same person who knows your file this year will still know it next year.
• Secure virtual delivery. Encrypted client portal, e-signature, multi-factor authentication, and direct CRA representation under your written authorization. PIPEDA-compliant. No driving to a CPA office.
• Canadian-only tax expertise. We do not do US-only tax, UK tax, or other foreign jurisdictions in isolation. Our cross-border work is always anchored by deep Canadian compliance. Every member of the team works exclusively on Canadian files.
• Industry depth. We have specialized experience across trucking, real estate, medical professionals, contractors, restaurants, e-commerce, farms, nonprofits, and other Canadian industries.

Getting started — what Surrey clients can expect

A typical engagement with BOMCAS Canada begins with a phone call or contact form submission. We respond within one business day to schedule a 15–30 minute discovery conversation by phone or video. The discovery call covers your current tax situation, accounting history, prior accountant relationship (if any), pain points, and goals. There is no sales pitch and no obligation. If we are a fit, we provide a written engagement letter with a fixed fee and clear scope. If we are not a fit, we are happy to suggest other Canadian professionals who might be.

Once the engagement letter is signed, you e-sign the CRA authorization (RC59 for businesses or AUT-01 for individuals), and we onboard you to the encrypted client portal. From that point forward, the relationship is structured around predictable monthly deliverables: bookkeeping, sales tax filings, payroll, and year-end financial statements plus T2 corporate tax (for incorporated businesses) — with proactive tax planning conversations throughout the year.

Services available to Surrey clients

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Talk to a Canadian accountant serving Surrey

Call 780-667-5250 or submit the contact form. We respond within one business day.

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