Do Bookkeepers Need to Charge PST in BC?

Not right now. BC has paused the planned October 1, 2026 expansion of PST to professional services, so bookkeeping services stay exempt from PST for now. The Province hasn't set a new date.

Status as of October 10, 2026.

What BC Announced

BC's February 2026 budget planned to apply 7% PST to accounting services, including bookkeeping, starting October 1, 2026. On September 18, the Province announced it was pausing that expansion in response to international trade disruptions and economic uncertainty. It says the pause will be put in place through a temporary regulation, and that the PST exemption will be maintained for accounting and bookkeeping, architectural, geoscientist and engineering services, non-residential real estate commissions and services, and security and private investigation services. You can read it in the Province's announcement.

Paused isn't cancelled. There's no new effective date.

What the Rule Would Have Covered

The planned definition of accounting services was broad enough to include bookkeeping and account reconciliation. The planned rules were based on the services provided, not whether the bookkeeper held a CPA designation. Small practices could also have been affected, although the Province's normal small-seller rules and other exemptions could still matter. That's still the shape of the rule if it comes back.

What to Do Now

• Don't charge PST on your bookkeeping services. The exemption stays in place for now.
• Review anything you changed for October 1. That includes invoice templates, tax settings in your software, price lists and client contracts.
• If you registered for a PST account only because of this change, contact the BC Ministry of Finance before closing it. If you collect PST on other taxable goods or services, you may still need the account.
• If you've already charged PST on bookkeeping invoices, talk to your accountant or the Ministry about how to handle it.

If It Returns

If the Province sets a new date, the details, including any transitional rules, would come with it, so don't rely on the October 1 rules. Check gov.bc.ca/pst for the latest. Our guide to sales tax on bookkeeping services across Canada shows how BC compares with the other provinces, and the post on the pause itself covers the announcement. If you buy bookkeeping instead of selling it, see will I pay PST on my bookkeeper's fees in BC?

Tax rules on your own practice are a question for your accountant. For the bookkeeping side, the RSB Guide and Margot (bottom right of this page, free to try, no sign-up) can help you work through how your books should be run, and tell you plainly when something is one for your accountant.

FAQ

Do I need to register for PST as a bookkeeper right now? Not for this change, because it's paused. If you sell goods that are PST-taxable, you may have separate obligations.

Would this have applied with only one or two small clients? Potentially, yes. The planned expansion wasn't limited to large firms or CPAs, although applicable exemptions and small-seller rules would still need to be considered. It's moot while the expansion is paused.

Does this cover software I resell or recommend to clients? The planned rule was about the service you provide, your bookkeeping work. Third-party software is a separate tax question.

What about clients outside BC? If the expansion returns, whether PST applies would depend on BC's rules about the service's connection to the province. Confirm with the Ministry before assuming either way.

Follow the system. File with confidence.