
New to Canada and Self-Employed? Your First Tax Return, Explained
A first-timer's guide to filing self-employed taxes as a newcomer to Canada: the T2125, GST/HST, your SIN, CPP, what to set aside, and the deadlines that matter.
AdSense, Twitch subs, Patreon, brand deals, merch. Track income from every platform, deduct your gear and home studio, and keep your T2125 ready, so a great year doesn't become a tax-season nightmare.

The money comes from everywhere, AdSense, subs, sponsorships, affiliate links, and none of it has tax taken off. Gear receipts pile up, platforms pay in USD, and by April you're stitching together a year you can barely remember. Accountly keeps the money side organized while you make.
Record AdSense, Twitch, Patreon, sponsorship, affiliate, and merch income in one view. Reconcile the totals with each platform's statements before filing.
Photograph gear receipts and keep them with the expense record. Review whether each purchase is a current expense or capital asset before calculating any CCA claim.
Your T2125 category totals update as you record income and expenses. Review the breakdown yourself or share the supporting records with your accountant.
Built into Accountly's categories from day one.
Cameras, lights, and mics are business assets claimed through CCA, whatever the price.
Premiere, DaVinci, CapCut Pro, your editing rig. The tools you use to make content are deductible.
If itβs your main place of business, a dedicated recording or streaming room earns you a percentage of rent, utilities, and internet.
Critical for streamers and uploaders. Claim the business-use portion of your connection.
Epidemic Sound, stock footage, SFX libraries, and asset packs you license for your content.
Pay an editor or thumbnail designer? Those are deductible subcontractor costs with a proper invoice.
Flights, hotels, and the business share of your vehicle costs for collabs, conventions, and on-location shoots.
Set pieces, backdrops, and the cost of merch you produce and sell.
Accounting, contract review, and the software that keeps your business side organized.
Written for Canadians making money online.

A first-timer's guide to filing self-employed taxes as a newcomer to Canada: the T2125, GST/HST, your SIN, CPP, what to set aside, and the deadlines that matter.

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How self-employed consultants in Canada file the T2125: professional vs. business income, home office, the GST/HST $30K trap, and when to incorporate.
Yes. Ad revenue, subscriptions, tips, sponsorships, and affiliate income are all self-employment income reported on a T2125. The platforms report to tax authorities, so unreported income is a real risk.
Track AdSense, Twitch, Patreon, brand deals, affiliate payouts, and merch in one place. Accountly totals it across platforms so your T2125 income figure is always current.
US viewers generate US-sourced income. Submitting your tax info in AdSense to claim the Canada-US treaty rate can reduce it, and tax still withheld can often be claimed as a foreign tax credit. Our content creator tax guide covers the details.
Registration is generally mandatory when worldwide taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 in one calendar quarter or across four consecutive calendar quarters. Some supplies to non-residents may be zero-rated but still count toward the threshold; eligibility depends on the facts.
Yes. Product received in exchange for promotion is generally taxable at its fair market value. Log it as income so it is captured at tax time.
Yes. Invite your accountant for direct read or edit access to your income, expenses, and T2125 totals, no exports or email attachments.
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