Accounting, Tax, Payroll & Bookkeeping Services in New Brunswick

New Brunswick uses HST at 15% and offers a competitive 2.5% small business corporate rate. As Canada's only officially bilingual province, NB has strong manufacturing, energy, and tech sectors. BOMCAS Canada serves clients across the province virtually.

New Brunswick's tax structure

New Brunswick uses HST at 15% (combining the 5% federal GST with an 10% provincial portion), administered entirely by CRA. The general corporate income tax rate is 14% and the small business rate is 2.5%, producing a combined federal-provincial small business rate of 11.5% on the first $500,000 of active business income. Personal income tax follows progressive provincial brackets, with the top marginal combined federal-provincial rate near 53% at the highest bracket.

The New Brunswick economy

New Brunswick is one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces and the only officially bilingual province (French and English). The economy is anchored by Moncton (logistics, customer service contact centres, transportation), Saint John (energy refining at the Irving Oil refinery, shipping, the largest port in Atlantic Canada), and Fredericton (provincial government, the University of New Brunswick, and a growing technology cluster). The province also has significant forestry, fisheries, agriculture (especially potatoes), tourism, and mining.

Industries we serve in New Brunswick

  • Forestry and pulp/paper. A historically central industry, with specialized tax rules for forestry operations.
  • Fisheries and aquaculture. Coastal NB has substantial fishing and salmon farming operations.
  • Energy and refining. The Irving Oil refinery in Saint John is the largest in Canada.
  • Trucking. NB is the gateway to Atlantic Canada for road freight. TL2 and IFTA apply.
  • Information technology. A growing Fredericton-Moncton tech sector.
  • Construction and trades. WorkSafeNB coverage and T5018 reporting.
  • Tourism and hospitality. Coastal tourism, the Bay of Fundy, and bilingual cultural tourism.
  • Healthcare professionals. New Brunswick permits Medical Professional Corporations.
  • Customer service and shared services. Moncton hosts numerous national contact centres.

NB-specific tax incentives

  • Small Business Investor Tax Credit (provincial credit for investors in qualifying NB small businesses)
  • R&D Tax Credit (provincial credit in addition to federal SR&ED)
  • NB Film Production Tax Credit (labour-based)
  • Multimedia Initiative
  • WorkingNB and other workforce-related programs

BOMCAS Canada in New Brunswick

We serve NB clients virtually across the province: Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Dieppe, Rothesay, Quispamsis, Miramichi, Edmundston, Bathurst, Campbellton, Oromocto, Sussex, Shediac, Sackville, and many other NB towns and villages.

New Brunswick bilingual compliance in business

New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. The Official Languages Act of New Brunswick requires provincial government services to be delivered in both official languages, and many private sector activities have French-language compliance considerations. For NB businesses, this means: business signage in certain regions may have French-language requirements; consumer-facing communications in certain industries (especially food, hospitality, healthcare) typically include both languages; certain professional licensing requires French-language proficiency; and government tax communications, regulatory filings, and most CRA correspondence are available in both English and French at the taxpayer's choice.

New Brunswick natural resource and rural economy

New Brunswick's economy outside the major centres (Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Dieppe) is heavily resource-based: forestry and pulp/paper (legacy of Irving and J.D. Irving operations), fisheries and aquaculture along the coastal regions, agriculture (especially potatoes — NB is Canada's second-largest potato producer after PEI), and mining in the northern parts of the province. Each resource industry interacts with specific NB tax provisions and federal resource property treatment.

Atlantic Canada coordination for NB businesses

NB businesses operating across Atlantic Canada (NB, NS, PEI, NL) benefit from HST harmonization (15% across all four provinces administered by CRA). However, employer registration, workers' compensation, and provincial corporate compliance are separate in each province. An NB-based company with employees in multiple Atlantic provinces needs separate WorkSafe registrations (WorkSafeNB, WCB Nova Scotia, WCB PEI, WorkplaceNL) and must allocate corporate income across provinces using the federal allocation rules.

Canadian tax compliance calendar that applies to New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick clients

Canadian taxpayers commonly receive several types of CRA contact each year. Knowing what each one means helps New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick clients ask

Can I deduct my home office expenses?
Yes, if part of your home is used regularly and exclusively as a place of business OR is used on a regular and continuous basis for meeting clients, customers, or patients. The deductible portion is based on the square footage used for business divided by total square footage of the home. Expenses include heat, electricity, internet, home insurance, property tax (owners), rent (tenants), and maintenance. We optimize this calculation annually.
Can I deduct vehicle expenses?
Yes, based on business-use percentage supported by a contemporaneous kilometre log. Allowable expenses include fuel, insurance, registration, maintenance, repairs, lease payments (subject to CRA limits), interest on a vehicle loan (subject to CRA limits), and CCA on owned vehicles. The CRA limits for passenger vehicles cap the deductibility of luxury vehicles.
Do I have to pay tax instalments?
If you owed more than $3,000 of federal and provincial tax in either of the two preceding years ($1,800 for Quebec residents), CRA requires quarterly tax instalments due March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. We calculate the optimal instalment amount using the no-calculation, prior-year, or current-year method.
What is the difference between Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for self-employed vs employees?
Self-employed Canadians pay both the employee and employer portions of CPP — double the rate paid by employees. The combined cost can exceed $7,000 per year at the maximum pensionable earnings level. The contributions build retirement and disability benefit entitlement. We model the cost-benefit during incorporation decisions.
Should I incorporate my business?
Incorporation generally makes financial sense for businesses earning more than approximately $80,000 net annual income where the owner can retain meaningful earnings inside the corporation. The combined federal-provincial small business rate of 9%–12.2% (depending on province) creates substantial tax deferral compared to top personal marginal rates of 47%–53%. Personal Services Business (PSB) risk must be analyzed carefully before incorporation.
What records do I have to keep, and for how long?
CRA requires that you keep all books, records, and supporting documents for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. For corporations, the same rule applies. Records can be kept electronically. For certain items (acquisition of capital property, real estate, share transactions), longer retention is required.
What is the difference between current and capital expenses?
Current expenses are fully deductible in the year incurred — they restore the property to its existing state or relate to ordinary operations. Capital expenses are added to the asset's adjusted cost base and depreciated over multiple years through capital cost allowance (CCA). The distinction matters significantly for rental property, equipment, and renovations. We classify expenses correctly to avoid CRA reassessment.

Why working with BOMCAS Canada makes sense for New Brunswick

New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick 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.

Cities and communities we serve in New Brunswick

Below are the major New Brunswick cities with dedicated landing pages. BOMCAS Canada also serves towns, villages, and hamlets across New Brunswick virtually.

Services available throughout New Brunswick

Talk to a Canadian accountant serving New Brunswick

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

Call a BOMCAS Canada Accountant for New Brunswick — 780-667-5250 Request a Free Canadian Accounting Consultation for New Brunswick

New Brunswick accountants — Canada-wide service catalogue

Every Canadian accounting service BOMCAS Canada offers is available to New Brunswick residents and businesses, delivered virtually with full CRA representation. Open the national service pages below for the complete description of each service, what's included, costs, and who benefits:

New Brunswick communities served by BOMCAS Canada

BOMCAS Canada serves 782 New Brunswick communities. The first 30 alphabetically are listed below; the full New Brunswick directory includes all of them:

Browse the complete New Brunswick accountant directory →

Industries served in New Brunswick

BOMCAS Canada serves all major Canadian industries in New Brunswick. The most relevant industry pages: