Sales tax across borders, done right.
Bookkeeping, sales tax and cross-border compliance for online sellers and retailers, from a chartered accountant who has untangled more than one marketplace payout report.
Selling everywhere means registering somewhere.
An online store crosses tax jurisdictions the moment it starts shipping. GST/HST across provinces, US state sales tax nexus and marketplace facilitator rules all attach obligations that arrive quietly.
We get the registrations right, reconcile the payouts to the books, and keep the corporate return built on numbers that tie out.
What these businesses actually need.
GST/HST and provincial
Registration where required, returns filed, and the place-of-supply rules applied across provinces.
US and cross-border
Nexus reviewed, US filing obligations assessed, and treaty positions taken where they apply.
Payouts and inventory
Marketplace and processor payouts reconciled to revenue, with cost of goods and inventory tracked properly.
Corporate return
T2 filed on numbers that reconcile to your platform reports, not estimated from deposits.
The issues that come up most.
Marketplace payouts
A Shopify or Amazon deposit is net of fees, refunds and sometimes collected tax. Booking the deposit as revenue understates both sales and expenses.
Sales tax nexus
Selling into a US state can create a filing obligation based on volume alone. Marketplace facilitator rules cover some of it and not all of it.
Inventory and cost of goods
Without inventory tracking, margin is invisible and the tax position is wrong. This is the most common gap we find in e-commerce books.
Three steps, no surprises.
Map where you sell
Provinces, states and platforms reviewed to establish what you actually have to register for.
Connect the books
Platform and processor data reconciled into cloud accounting, with inventory and cost of goods tracked.
File everything
Sales tax returns, the corporate return and any cross-border filings, on schedule.
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need to register for GST/HST if I sell online?
Once you pass the small supplier threshold on taxable sales, yes. Which rate you charge depends on where the customer is, not where you are.
Do I owe US sales tax?
Possibly. Most states create a filing obligation based on sales volume or transaction count into that state. Marketplace facilitators collect on some sales but not on your own storefront.
How should Shopify or Amazon payouts be recorded?
Gross sales, then fees, refunds and taxes as separate lines. Recording only the net deposit understates revenue and hides the fee expense.
Do I need inventory tracking?
If you hold stock, yes. Cost of goods sold has to be based on actual inventory movement for the return to be right.
Can you fix books that are already a mess?
Yes. Cleanup is common in this sector and usually pays for itself in the sales tax alone.
Licensed, certified, and accountable for it.
The bodies that license this practice, and the certifications behind the day-to-day work.
CPA Ontario
The provincial body that regulates Chartered Professional Accountants in Ontario.
EFILE certified
Certified by the Canada Revenue Agency to file returns electronically on behalf of clients.
Intuit ProAdvisor
Intuit certification covering QuickBooks Online setup, reconciliation and reporting.
QuickBooks Payroll
Intuit certification for running payroll, deductions and remittances inside QuickBooks.
In their words.
Aaron has done my personal taxes for six years and he’s the best. My files are sometimes complicated and I was not always the most organized client, yet he handles all of it without ever making me feel bad about the mess. He’s fast, he explains everything in plain English, and he always finds credits I would have missed.Shmuel Neft
Working with Aaron and his team, especially Anna, has been fantastic for both our camp operations and Prime Coat Painters. From complex contractor billings to seasonal accounts and corporate taxes, they handle everything with real attention to detail. If you need a reliable, top-tier accounting team for your business, I can’t recommend Aaron Herman CPA highly enough!Tzadi Zlotnick, Prime Coat Painters Inc.
I use him for personal and business accounting. He is absolutely phenomenal with his work and expertise. Thorough, reliable, dependable, and punctual with due dates. I’ve worked with many accountants previously and Aaron surpassed them all in everything on my list.Elior Zipori, Zipori Landscapes & Design
We have been using Aaron Herman CPA for about four years now and we are very happy with their services. Anna is especially great to work with. She is on the ball, always up to date, and gets back to you right away with any questions or concerns.Reuven Durbach
Very happy with Aaron’s service. He is very knowledgeable and professional. Very patient with all my questions, ready to answer and be with the client within a short period of time. All the accounting service is done in a timely manner.Artem Artemov, Rimland
Aaron is excellent! He responds quickly, explains everything clearly, and makes the whole tax process easy and stress-free. He is very knowledgeable and always helps find the best way to get everything done properly.Mai Edry
Aaron is an amazing accountant! He is very supportive and great at explaining the ins and outs of what was needed when expanding my business. I highly recommend Aaron and his team!Leah Lomiansky, Speech Volumes Therapy
He is knowledgeable, thorough and effective. He is very responsive and takes great care of his clients. I highly recommend him and his services!Rachel Danzinger, Learning Pods
Absolutely love Aaron and Anna. They are fantastic to work with, go above and beyond, and their communication and dedication is unsurpassed.Fat Cat Cookie Co.
Two people. Trusted with your year.
Aaron Herman
CPA, CA · Founder and Managing Partner
Aaron planned and prepared tax in public practice, then led financial reporting inside large Canadian companies. He is the person who answers when you call.
My number one priority is a happy client.
Anna Herman
Director of Finance and Operations
Anna runs the machinery behind the work: cloud accounting, CRA compliance, payroll and client onboarding. If your year-end is uneventful, that is Anna.
Order creates opportunity.
Tell us where your year stands.
Send the form and Aaron will come back to you directly. If it is easier, call. Someone here answers.