Most Montreal freelancers claim the obvious — laptop, internet, home office. A thorough review almost always uncovers significant additional deductions.
Professional Development
Courses, certifications, books, and subscriptions directly related to your work are fully deductible — including Coursera, Udemy, and industry conferences.
Subcontractor Costs
If you hire other freelancers to help deliver client work, their invoiced fees are fully deductible as business expenses.
Bank Fees and Payment Processing
Business bank fees, Stripe/PayPal/Square processing fees, and interest on business credit cards are deductible.
Health Insurance Premiums
Self-employed individuals can deduct provincial health insurance premiums and private health insurance paid as a business expense in Quebec.
The CCA Trap
Equipment costing over $1,500 must generally be depreciated via CCA classes rather than expensed in year one. However, the Accelerated Investment Incentive allows up to 150% of normal CCA in the acquisition year.
Client Travel Mileage
Every trip to a client's office or meeting location is deductible. Keep a log: date, destination, purpose, km. CRA rate: 70¢/km first 5,000 km, 64¢/km after.
A professional review typically identifies $3,000–$7,000 in missed deductions — far exceeding the cost of the review.