Switching accountants in Ontario, explained
Moving to a new accountant or bookkeeper in Ontario is mostly their work, and can be done mid-year.
Switching accountants feels daunting, but most of the work falls on the new firm, not you. Your books and records are yours, and a good firm handles the handoff and catches you up.
What actually happens
The new firm collects your prior records, reconnects your accounts through read-only feeds, brings any backlog current, and takes over the monthly work. It can happen mid-year; you don't have to wait for a fiscal year-end.
What you keep
Your history and records come with you. See switching to taxifi for how the handoff works step by step.
What actually happens when you switch
Owners delay switching accountants for years because they imagine a confrontation and a lost year of records. In practice the process is administrative, and your professional obligations run in your favour: your existing accountant is generally expected to cooperate in the transfer of your records to a successor.
| Step | Who does it | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Decide and engage | You | One call to scope your situation and get a price |
| 2. Authorization | You sign | CRA representative authorization so the new firm can access your accounts |
| 3. Records request | The new firm | They contact your current provider directly for prior returns, working papers, and the general ledger |
| 4. Catch-up review | The new firm | Any behind-the-line bookkeeping is scoped and priced before you commit |
| 5. Handover | The new firm | They take over the monthly work from an agreed date |
With taxifi the handoff itself is free — you pay for ongoing service, and any catch-up work is quoted before it starts. Your part of the process is about an hour.
When to switch, and what to take with you
Mid-year is fine, and often better than waiting: switching before year-end means the new firm sees the year as it happens rather than reconstructing it. What you should always retain regardless of timing: prior-year T2s and notices of assessment, financial statements, the general ledger, your minute book and share records, and payroll and HST filing history. Those are your records, not the firm’s.
The genuine reasons owners switch are consistent — books perpetually behind, advice that arrives after the decisions, a bill for every question, no idea what the year looks like until spring. If that is the pattern, the cost of staying is usually larger than the cost of moving. How switching to taxifi works covers the mechanics, and bookkeeper versus accountant is worth reading if you are not sure which part is failing.
This is general information, not tax advice for your situation. Get started and a Canadian accountant will give you the answer for your business.
Common questions
Can I switch accountants mid-year?
Yes. A clean handoff can happen any time; you don't need to wait for your year-end.
Will I lose my financial history?
No. Your books and records are yours and come with you to the new firm.
Can I switch accountants in the middle of the year?
Yes, and mid-year is often the better time: the new firm sees the year as it happens rather than reconstructing it from records in the spring. The main practical step is a CRA representative authorization so the new firm can access your accounts, plus a records request to your current provider.
What records should I get from my old accountant?
Prior-year T2 returns and notices of assessment, financial statements, the general ledger or accounting file, your minute book and share records, and payroll and HST filing history. These are your records. A professional accountant is generally expected to cooperate in transferring them to a successor firm.
Do I have to tell my current accountant myself?
No — with taxifi we contact your current provider directly and handle the records request, so you do not have to manage an awkward conversation. Your part of the switch is about an hour of authorizations and questions.