Corporate Tax Accountant in Vancouver

Vancouver seasons, and how they change the accounting work

Vancouver has a temperate oceanic climate. Average temperatures are about 18 degrees Celsius in July and 3 degrees in January, with about 1,219 millimetres of precipitation a year at the city station, most of it rain in winter, and very little snow at sea level. Summers are dry and moderately warm, while October to March is rainy, with November the wettest month. That pattern shows up directly in the accounting calendar for Vancouver businesses.

Winter, November to March. This is year end and payroll season, in the wettest months of the year. It is the right time to close the books, reconcile payroll and CPP and EI, prepare T4 and T5 slips, and clean up bookkeeping before tax season. Rain does not change filing dates, so winter bookkeeping discipline matters for Vancouver technology, film, and professional services firms.

Spring, April to May. Personal tax season peaks here. The personal filing deadline in Canada is April 30, with self employed filers due June 15 for filing, while tax owed is still due April 30. Spring arrives earlier in Vancouver than in most Canadian cities, and it is also when corporate year ends and GST and PST quarters need to be closed cleanly, before summer work peaks.

Summer, June to August. Summer is the driest and sunniest period, peak season for Vancouver tourism, hospitality, film, and construction, with longer days and more seasonal staff. That means more payroll, more GST and PST on materials and subcontractors, and more expense tracking, even as the weather itself is at its calmest.

Autumn, September to October. Autumn is planning season, and the return of the rainy season, usually from mid October. It is the time to review year to date profit, set aside tax money, consider incorporation, and plan purchases and payroll before year end, rather than discovering the tax result in April. For Vancouver businesses with a December year end, autumn planning is especially important.