Who this is for
Business owners in BC who buy accounting, bookkeeping or other professional services, and anyone who provides them and was preparing to charge PST.
What happened
-
Budget 2026 announced an expansion. PST was to apply to certain professional services from October 1, 2026. Accounting services were included, which the Province defined to cover bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, assurance and tax-related work.
-
On September 18, 2026 the Province paused it. The expansion to accounting, architectural, engineering, geoscience, non-residential real estate and security services was paused before the start date. The Province’s PST page on accounting services now says so.
-
No new date has been given. The pause is described as temporary and made by regulation. There is no announced date on which the tax would begin.
-
Earlier guidance is now wrong. Articles, newsletters and firm alerts published between the budget and September 18 describe a tax that did not take effect. Anyone relying on them, or on invoicing software set up in advance, should check.
-
What to do. Suppliers should not be charging PST on accounting or bookkeeping fees. If you were charged, ask the supplier to correct the invoice. If you provide these services and configured PST, switch it off and review any invoices issued since October 1.
One thing many people do not realize
The pause was announced two weeks before the start date, after many firms had already published guides and updated their invoicing systems. Search results still show those earlier articles. The Province’s own PST bulletin on accounting services now states that the expansion is paused, with no new date given. When a tax rule changes close to its start date, the page date matters more than the headline.
What to prepare
- Any invoice for accounting or bookkeeping services dated on or after October 1, 2026 that shows PST
- Your own invoicing set-up if you provide these services
When professional help may make sense
If the Province sets a new date, three things will matter. What is taxable. When a service is considered provided. How to handle work that spans the start date. We will update this guide if that happens.
How Rex Tax may be able to help
Our fees do not carry PST as of this guide’s date. If the rule changes we will tell clients before it affects an invoice, and we will update this page.
Official sources
- Province of BC: PST on accounting services (bulletin, updated after the pause)
- Province of BC: Budget tax changes
This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. It reflects the rules for the 2026 tax year. Rules described are those in effect from September 18, 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a practitioner. The information was checked against the official sources listed above on the date shown. Rules change. Check the official sources above or ask us. How we prepare these guides.