January Canadian Business Due Dates & Three Fabulous Business Resources!


Hello Reader!

Happy New Year! Welcome to December 30th 2025! In this Newsletter:

  • What’s due at the end of December?
  • Three Business Hacks and Resources!
  • What due dates are coming up in January?
  • Announcements and Updates

What’s Due End of December?

Here are some end of December due dates that may apply to your business;

  • If your business is incorporated, and owed greater than $3k in corporate Income Tax for the previous fiscal year, then it is required to pay installments for next year on the last day of every month. December 31st is the due date for the December Corporate Tax Instalment.
  • Though there are no other standard items due at the end of this month, be aware that if your Sales Tax filing is monthly, November's GST/HST filing and remittance is due on December 31st. If your Sales Tax quarterly filing is on a different schedule because of a corporate fiscal year end date that is not standard, the GST/HST for a quarter Sept to Nov would be due Dec 31st. Also, if your Corporate Fiscal Year End is June, your Corporate Tax Return is due 6 months after your Fiscal Year end (December 31st). If your Corporate Year End is October, the Income Tax Payable is payable 2 or 3 months after the Fiscal Year End; either due December or January, depending on your corporation. Check in with your accountant to find out more about your corporate tax due dates specific to your corporation.

Three Business Resources and Hacks!

  1. Managing Vacation Pay in Canada: Vacation pay remains one of the more nuanced areas of payroll for Canadian small businesses — especially as federal and provincial standards continue to evolve. From minimum entitlements to how vacationable earnings are defined, staying compliant can be challenging. Check out Wagepoint's Blog Post that breaks down all the nuances, plus links to each province’s specific vacation pay rules for those wanting additional resources.
  2. End of Period Bookkeeping Comprehensive Checklist: For my Case Study I needed to create a comprehensive Bookkeeping and GST Prep filing checklist. I go through this comprehensive checklist in my video here. It's a great way for Bookkeepers, Office Managers, and Business Owners to check their monthly bookkeeping to make sure mistakes are found and everything is accounted for! You can download this comprehensive checklist here!
  3. Profit on Paper, Broke in Real Life: If revenue is coming in but the bank balance never seems to match the effort, you’re not alone — and it’s usually not a “work harder” problem. Tanya Hilts of Cloud Business Services created an on-demand masterclass for business owners who want a practical business cashflow plan built for real life — not spreadsheets. It's currently available for free for a limited time, find out more here!

What Resources have you found that have helped you start, run, or grow your business? Feature it (and a callout to your business!) in our next Resources Newsletter!

What due dates are coming up in January?

Now’s the time to prep your January Calendar! #BeThatBusiness that is organized! Here are some January due dates that might affect your business. (January 31st is a Saturday in 2026, so any CRA due dates below that fall on January 31st are due on the next business day, Monday February 2nd)

  • New Year's Day is January 1st. Check out the regional regulations on this holiday here.
  • If you have employees, January 15th is the due date for your payroll source deductions relating to December's payroll, if you are a regular remitter.
  • If you have employees, then you likely are registered for provincial Workplace Insurance (WSIB/WCB). WCB in some provinces is due monthly, and on the 15th. In others it is due quarterly but due on the 20th. In Ontario, WSIB is due quarterly, and the Workplace Insurance for the employee earnings from October to December is due on January 31st. (Self-employed in the construction industry? You may need to pay it on your labour even if you have no employees!)
  • If you file your GST/HST on a quarterly basis, and your year ends on Dec 31st, then your October to December GST/HST quarter is due to be filed and paid at the end of January. Even if you don’t have all the funds, file on time to not waste money on late filing penalties. (Don’t give CRA more money than you have to!!!)
  • If you file your GST/HST annually, but last year your GST/HST was greater than $3,000, then you are required to pay quarterly installments, and the last of these GST/HST instalments is due to be paid January 31st.
  • If you file your GST/HST monthly, then your December GST/HST is due on January 31st.
  • If you are in a province that has PST, make a note of what your PST due date is, it may also be quarterly like the GST.
  • If you offer hotel or BnB accommodations, you may be in a jurisdiction that has MAT (Municipal Accommodations Tax), your MAT Tax may be due at the end of January. MAT taxes are sometimes due monthly, sometimes due quarterly.
  • If you business is incorporated, and owed greater than $3k in corporate Income Tax for the previous fiscal year, then it is required to pay installments for next year on the last day of every month. January 31st is the due date for the January Corporate Tax Instalment.
  • Though there are no other standard items due at the end of this month, be aware that if your Corporate Fiscal Year End is July, your Corporate Tax Return is due 6 months after your Fiscal Year end (January 31st). If your Corporate Year End is November, the Income Tax Payable is payable 2 or 3 months after the Fiscal Year End; either due end of January or end of February, depending on your corporation. Check in with your accountant to find out more about your corporate tax due dates specific to your corporation. Check out CRA's Quick Reference Guide for more information.

Events and Updates

The final chapter of the Grand Gate Gardens Case Study 2025 just dropped, and we are going out with a BANG! 🎉

IT’S DONE! 🥳 The final week of the Grand Gate Gardens Case Study 2025 is officially live, and it is by far the most comprehensive set of resources I have ever released!

I just published 11 new videos covering “June Week 5.” This set is designed to test your skills on the advanced workflows that separate data entry from true bookkeeping management.

What’s inside this massive update? I finally turn on the automation power with Dext, showing you how to streamline document management and data entry. But I don’t stop there…

I also dive deep into: 💳 POS RECONCILIATIONS: Cleaning up the clearing accounts for Moneris and Square. 📉 BAD DEBT: How to properly write it off in Intuit QuickBooks Online QBO. (Hint: it involves Line 107!) ✅ MONTH END CHECKS: A comprehensive checklist to check the bookkeeping file (whether you are checking your own work or someone else’s!) 🍁 GST/HST PREPARATION & FILING: A full walkthrough of the process, including what reports to download, how to find miscoded transactions, and how to file online with CRA! …And so much more!

This case study has been a labor of love 💌, simulating a real Canadian business in real-time. If you’ve been following along, this is the graduation week! 🎓

FABULOUS FIRST FRIDAYS @FIVE!: Looking to connect? Join my live FABULOUS FIRST FRIDAYS @FIVE open Zoom Meeting this week! My Monthly Open AMA Zoom Chat Session where we can connect and discuss questions regarding starting and running a business in Canada! (and all things related such as bookkeeping and software and apps!). It's a free group event where anyone can drop by to say hi and ask a question! Next one up is on January 2nd! Click here to register!

Be Intentional Today!
Get out there, and Be That Business That Thrives!

Naomi Wilkins
I Love Making Bookkeeping Make Sense

www.naomiwilkins.ca

Let's Get Social!

Disclaimer: This Newsletter is intended to inform readers in general terms. It is not intended to provide any tax or business advice. Please consult your accountant if you have any questions about your unique situation. While I have tried to ensure the accuracy of the information in this newsletter, I accept no liability for errors or omissions.

Be That Business Newsletter

You want to "Be That Business" – the one that's organized, informed, and thriving. But to get there, you need to understand how your business actually works. That's where the "Be That Business Newsletter" comes in. Each month, you'll receive essential Canadian business deadlines for the month ahead, plus practical tips and resources to help you master your records, data processes, and the inner workings of your business. Let's move beyond just ticking boxes and build a business with intention. You cannot manage what you do not monitor, but knowing what and how to monitor efficiently and accurately avoids wasted time, money, and double work. Compliance is the foundation, but understanding how your business actually works and leveraging that information and data for growth? That’s where the magic happens! ✨

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