# Teplov CPA > Teplov CPA is a CPA-led accounting practice serving Canadian IT contractors and IT consultancies. Alex Teplov, CPA, is registered with CPA Ontario. Website: https://teplov.ca/ ## AI-readable files - [Concise index](https://teplov.ca/llms.txt): This file. - [Full site content](https://teplov.ca/llms-full.txt): Plain-text context with service summaries, specialties, and article bodies. - [Sitemap](https://teplov.ca/sitemap-index.xml): XML sitemap for all indexable pages. ## Pages - [Homepage](https://teplov.ca/): Overview of CPA-led accounting, tax planning, PSB review, GST/HST, and cross-border support for Canadian IT contractors. - [Services](https://teplov.ca/services/): Launch, Run, and Close compliance packages for business setup, ongoing operations, and corporation wind-down. - [Specialties](https://teplov.ca/specialties/): Role-specific pages for software, DevOps, cybersecurity, data and AI, cloud, and technical leadership consultants. - [PSB Risk Review](https://teplov.ca/psb-risk-review/): Personal services business risk review for incorporated contractors with single-client, agency, long-tenure, or government contracts. - [Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/incorporated-it-contractors/): Corporate bookkeeping, T2 filing, GST/HST, owner compensation, shareholder account, and PSB review support. - [Ottawa Government IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/ottawa-government-it-contractors/): Federal government contractor page focused on Ottawa and Gatineau staffing-agency PSB risk and QST questions. - [First-Year Contractor](https://teplov.ca/first-year-contractor/): Guidance for contractors moving from employment to business income, GST/HST, tax set-asides, and incorporation questions. - [Considering Incorporation](https://teplov.ca/considering-incorporation/): Review of retained earnings, small business deduction assumptions, PSB risk, fiscal year choice, and timing before incorporating. - [US Clients](https://teplov.ca/us-clients/): Canadian reporting, exchange-rate support, W-8 context, and GST/HST export-service review for U.S. client income. - [Behind on Books](https://teplov.ca/behind-on-books/): Catch-up bookkeeping, QBO setup, overdue GST/HST, and source-document cleanup for disorganized contractor files. - [Switching Accountants](https://teplov.ca/switching-accountants/): Prior-year review, CRA authorization, bookkeeping transfer, and contractor-specific gap review for IT contractors changing accountants. - [Resources](https://teplov.ca/resources/): Article library of Canadian IT contractor tax guides, checklists, and CRA explainers. - [How We Work](https://teplov.ca/how-we-work/): How Teplov CPA uses Microsoft 365, Teams, and SharePoint to run a dedicated client workspace for every engagement. - [About](https://teplov.ca/about/): Professional standing, practice focus, and CPA-led service model. - [Contact](https://teplov.ca/contact/): Intake form for Canadian IT contractors and tech consultants. - [AI Disclosure](https://teplov.ca/ai-disclosure/): How Teplov CPA uses AI tools for website development and content workflows. ## Specialty Pages - [Software Developers](https://teplov.ca/specialties/software-developers/): CPA support for Canadian software developers with T4A income, agency contracts, U.S. clients, software deductions, GST/HST, and incorporation questions. - [DevOps Consultants](https://teplov.ca/specialties/devops-consultants/): Tax planning and bookkeeping for Canadian DevOps consultants with cloud platform costs, agency contracts, U.S. clients, and corporation planning needs. - [Cybersecurity Consultants](https://teplov.ca/specialties/cybersecurity-consultants/): CPA-led tax and accounting support for Canadian cybersecurity contractors handling certifications, tooling, client retainers, U.S. work, and PSB risk. - [Data and AI Consultants](https://teplov.ca/specialties/data-ai-consultants/): Tax planning for Canadian data and AI consultants with high-value advisory contracts, U.S. clients, compute costs, software tools, and retained earnings. - [Cloud Architects](https://teplov.ca/specialties/cloud-architects/): CPA support for Canadian cloud architects with incorporated consulting income, U.S. clients, GST/HST, equipment, and corporate tax planning. - [Fractional CTOs and Technical Advisors](https://teplov.ca/specialties/fractional-cto-technical-advisors/): Tax planning for Canadian fractional CTOs and technical advisors with retainers, U.S. clients, equity-like arrangements, and corporation planning. ## Articles - [Your RRSP When You Leave Canada for the U.S.](https://teplov.ca/resources/rrsp-when-leaving-canada-for-us/): Your RRSP isn't triggered when you leave Canada, but withdrawals as a non-resident bring new rules. This guide covers what changes and what to plan for. - [When Does an IT Contractor Become a Consultancy?](https://teplov.ca/resources/when-does-it-contractor-become-consulting-firm/): The line between contractor and consultancy is not a revenue number. It is the moment clients stop buying your time and start buying your firm's capacity. - [Departure Tax When Moving from Canada to the U.S.](https://teplov.ca/resources/departure-tax-moving-from-canada-to-us/): When you leave Canada for the U.S., CRA treats the departure date as a deemed sale of most property. This guide covers what that means before you file. - [Federal and Quebec Filing Structure for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/federal-quebec-filing-structure-it-contractors/): An IT contractor in Quebec files with two agencies. This guide maps the full structure: T2, CO-17, T1, TP-1, QST, RL slips, QPP, and two-track instalments. - [Business Expenses for Quebec IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/business-expenses-quebec-it-contractors/): Quebec IT contractors claim expenses across two agencies and two forms. QST input tax refunds, TP-80, and Quebec rules change how the deductions work. - [Quebec Quarterly Tax Instalments for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/quebec-quarterly-instalments-it-contractors/): Quebec residents face two separate instalment tracks: one to CRA and one to Revenu Québec. Missing either triggers interest independently. - [Quebec Tax Document Checklist for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/quebec-tax-document-checklist-it-contractors/): Quebec IT contractors file with two agencies. This checklist adds RL slips, QST return documents, TP-80, TP-1, and CO-17 to the federal document list. - [Should I Incorporate as a Quebec IT Contractor?](https://teplov.ca/resources/should-i-incorporate-quebec-it-contractors/): Quebec IT contractors need a different incorporation break-even: higher filing costs, QPP/QPIP payroll overhead, QST, and two tax agencies. - [Salary vs. Dividend for Quebec Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/salary-vs-dividend-quebec-it-contractors/): The salary vs. dividend calculation looks different in Quebec. QPP, QPIP, HSF, and a separate TP-1 all shift the math for Quebec owner-managers. - [QST Registration for IT Contractors in Quebec](https://teplov.ca/resources/qst-registration-it-contractors/): In Quebec, both GST and QST are administered by Revenu Québec. One agency, two taxes, one registration process. - [Shareholder Benefits and Corporate Leakage for Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/shareholder-corporate-leakage/): Personal spending through a corporation is not a grey area. Unsupported personal expenses are commonly reassessed as shareholder benefits. - [Tax Filing for IT Contractors with a Quebec Establishment](https://teplov.ca/resources/quebec-incorporated-it-contractors/): Working in Quebec adds a second set of returns: CO-17 alongside the T2, TP-1 alongside the T1, and QST alongside GST. - [T2 and T1 Filing for Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/t2-and-t1-for-incorporated-it-contractors/): The T2 and T1 are separate returns, but the compensation decisions you make for one directly affect what you owe in the other. - [Salary vs Dividend for Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/salary-vs-dividend-it-contractors/): The salary vs. dividend question isn't just about the tax rate. CPP, RRSP room, and loan eligibility all depend on how you pay yourself. - [W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E for Canadian IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/w8ben-w8bene-canadian-it-contractors/): U.S. clients often request a W-8 form before paying. Which version you submit depends on whether you're a sole proprietor or a corporation. - [Sole Proprietor vs Corporation for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/sole-proprietor-vs-corporation-it-contractors/): Incorporation isn't automatically the better structure. The answer depends on your income level, risk tolerance, and how you work with clients. - [Reasonable Salary for Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/reasonable-salary-incorporated-it-contractors/): There's no formula for what to pay yourself from your corporation. But the decision affects your RRSP room, CPP, and what a lender counts as income. - [U.S. Client Income for Canadian IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/us-client-income-it-contractors/): USD revenue is taxable in Canadian dollars at the exchange rate on the invoice date, not the day the money lands in your account. - [Personal Services Business Risk for Incorporated IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/personal-services-business-risk/): If CRA classifies your corporation as a personal services business, most deductions disappear and the tax cost goes up significantly. - [How IT Contractors Should Organize Tax Documents for T1, T2125, and T2 Filing in Canada](https://teplov.ca/resources/it-contractor-tax-document-organization/): Most of the scramble at tax time is avoidable. It comes down to what you track during the year and where you keep it. - [What IT Contractors Should Do When CRA Contacts Them](https://teplov.ca/resources/what-to-do-when-cra-contacts-you/): A CRA letter can be a routine review or the start of an audit. Either way, the first step is understanding exactly what they're asking for. - [CRA Penalties and Interest for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/cra-penalties-and-interest/): CRA interest on late payments starts the day after the due date. By April, some contractors owe more than they expected. - [Home Office and Business Expenses for IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/home-office-vehicle-expenses/): Home office, software, and equipment are all deductible: but CRA's documentation requirements are stricter than most contractors expect. - [Quarterly Tax Instalments for Canadian IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/quarterly-tax-installments/): CRA charges interest on missed instalments even if you settle the full balance in April. - [Should I Incorporate as an IT Contractor?](https://teplov.ca/resources/should-i-incorporate/): The tax savings are real, but so is the admin cost. Whether it makes sense depends on your income level and how you work. - [GST/HST Registration for Canadian IT Contractors](https://teplov.ca/resources/gst-hst-registration/): Once you cross $30,000, you owe GST/HST on everything after that: including before you've registered. - [2025 Tax Document Checklist for IT Contractors and Tech Consultants](https://teplov.ca/resources/it-contractor-tax-document-checklist/): T4A slips from clients don't always arrive on time, and a missing one is enough to trigger a reassessment. ## What Teplov CPA does Launch, Run, and Close accounting packages for Canadian IT contractors, IT consultancies, incorporated contractors, and technology professionals with U.S. clients. Services include monthly bookkeeping, T1 personal tax returns, T2125 self-employment schedules, T2 corporate returns, GST/HST registration and filings, quarterly instalment calculations, incorporation timing analysis, personal services business risk review, salary and dividend planning, retained earnings planning, U.S. client income and foreign income support, W-8 context, and deduction strategy for software, equipment, home office, and professional development. Compliance package pricing is provided after consultation. Teplov CPA is connected to the public it-contractors-skills repository, which contains CPA-developed AI workflows for organizing Canadian IT contractor tax information before self-entry or CPA review. ## Professional standing Teplov CPA is registered with CPA Ontario. Services comply with the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct and CPA Canada Handbook standards.