Working for yourself
Income, receipts, GST/HST and the everyday decisions that come with working for yourself in Canada.
Working for yourself
34 articles · 4 / 6
Working for yourself 7 min
Self-Employed Taxes in Ottawa: 2026 Guide
A practical guide to HST, vehicle and home-office expenses, instalments, and CCA for Ottawa sole proprietors.
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Working for yourself 2 min
The new machine and the box of staples
A sewing machine and a box of staples arrive on the same invoice. Camille learns why they need different questions before a deduction is calculated.
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Working for yourself 2 min
The market money was counted twice
Nadia sells pottery at a weekend market, then nearly reports the same money again when it reaches her bank. A simple cash trail fixes the problem.
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Working for yourself 2 min
Before you clear out the tax folder
The six-year rule has a starting point and exceptions. A compact retention checklist for sole proprietors, including electronic records.
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Working for yourself 2 min
No sales did not mean no return
Camille closes the workshop for a quiet month and checks the HST account before assuming there is nothing to file.
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Working for yourself 3 min
I sold the chairs. Then I counted the invoices.
Camille's busiest month raises a better question than profit: when does a small Ottawa business have to register for HST? Two timelines, one useful sales check.
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