FREE DOWNLOAD FOR CANADIAN CREATORS

The 2026 year-end tax checklist for content creators

The 9 moves we use to plan Q4 with our clients, on two printable pages. Most of them have to happen before December 31, so grab it now and work through it before the holidays.

  • December 15th

    Final tax instalment due
    (if required)

  • December 31st

    Last day for buying gear, FHSA contributions and charitable donations that reduce this year’s tax bill

  • April 30th

    Tax balance payment due
    (net of any instalments paid)

  • June 15th

    Self-employed tax filing deadline

WHAT’S INSIDE

Everything worth doing before the tax year closes

Our year-end tax checklist contains important deadlines, dollar thresholds and decisions that every Canadian content creator should know about.

Buy & set up gear you actually need

Computer hardware in use before January 1
can be written off 100% this year.

Contribute to your FHSA

Up to $8,000 a year, deductible
contributions and tax-free growth when you use it to buy your first home.

Register for GST/HST if you passed $30K

Your best quarter of brand deals is the one most likely to push you over the threshold.

Separate your personal & business money

The simplest change that makes your creator side hustle feel like a real business.

Time your TFSA withdrawals

Withdraw in December and you can put it back in January.

Decide whether to incorporate

Why January 1 is a clean start date, and who should be thinking about it.

Pay your final tax instalment

What to do if the CRA sent you a reminder, and when paying less makes sense.

Make your planned donations

Including how to handle charity streams and merch donations.

Organize your income, expenses & docs

Close the year cleanly and skip the
last-minute tax scramble in April.

Made by a CPA who spent 5 years as a creator

WE’VE BEEN IN YOUR SHOES

I ran my YouTube channel, TDI Hockey, for five years. I know December is when you need to focus on making content & finishing up brand deliverables instead of prepping for tax season. This is how we plan Q4 with our clients, and we’re here to help you too.

P.J. Carino, CPA, CA

FREE # 2 PAGES # UPDATED FOR 2026

Get the checklist before December sneaks up on you

Download it, print it and check things off as you go. If anything on the list raises a question, reach out to us.

Already know you want a second set of eyes?
Book a free year-end tax prep call

This checklist is general information and isn’t tax advice for your specific situation. Book a call with us or talk to another qualified tax professional before acting on it.