Mobile Menu

Tax Preparation Services in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Samuel Kanda Samuel Kanda New York, United States Last Updated: June 2024 NAICS 54121dCA

Revenue

$1.7bn

2024

$1.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

23,768

Businesses

3,872

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Tax Preparation Services in Canada industry analysis

Revenue for tax preparation providers in Canada has steadily grown throughout 2023, driven by an increasing number of households earning $100,000 or more. The industry provides assistance to individuals and small businesses in completing, reviewing and filing tax returns. Industry operators review consumer financial documents, nominate appropriate deductions and claims, review files and send documents to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). As the population grows and more people are expected to file their taxes, demand for industry services is expected to grow. As a result, industry revenue has been growing at a CAGR of 3.4% over the past five years and is expected to total $1.7 billion in 2023, when revenue will jump an estimated 5.8%.The introduction of online tax preparation services has been the most prominent industry trend throughout 2023. Strong growth of user-friendly online products, coupled with increasing internet capabilities, has enabled more consumers to complete their returns through tax software. These technological advancements are disrupting traditional industry operations as more tax filers begin using the assisted tax preparation software such as Intuit Inc.'s TurboTax product to the benefit of the industry. However, this has also driven individuals to use the free public online resource, circumventing the industry's operators. The overall increase in competition, in addition to the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, has placed downward pressure on demand, slightly lowering the industry's profit margin as a result.Industry revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% over the five years to 2028 to total $2.1 billion. Since corporate profit and disposable income are both expected to improve, this will drive demand for the industry's services. Demand for industry services is also expected to grow as the labour force expands. In addition, industry operators are also expected to offer value-added services such as financial document compilation and consulting services to compete with the increasing use of online services. Nevertheless, businesses that offer improved and user-friendly tax preparation software are expected to have the most success throughout 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • The decline in consumer spending and the incidence of at-home work during the COVID-19 pandemic caused more individuals to use e-filing over traditional tax preparation service providers. These trends were mainly reversed during the economic recovery.
  • Given the increased use of electronic filing, standard and full-service tax preparation revenue will be the backbone for tax preparation service providers. Basic tax preparation will mostly be done online for free.
  • Canadian tax preparers mostly follow population patterns. Consumers and businesses, which drive the market, also follow population patterns.
  • Most consumers tend to go to the tax preparer who operates closest to them, so the industry is very localized. This enables individuals to have relationships with tax preparers who work as owner-operators, making it more difficult for consolidation to occur.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Strong economic conditions were a boon for tax preparation service providers

  • In 2018 and 2019, economic growth was extremely robust due to strong consumer confidence and low unemployment.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Tax Preparation Services in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Modest economic growth is expected to keep revenue from falling

  • During the outlook period, off the heels of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, GDP growth is anticipated to rise steadily.

Biggest companies in the Tax Preparation Services in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
H&R Block Inc.
382.1
64.8
17.0
Intuit Inc.
256.6
55.8
21.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Tax Preparation Services in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Client income and tax return preparation services, Business tax preparation services and Assisted software tax preparation services. Client income and tax return preparation services is the largest segment of the Tax Preparation Services in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Client income and tax preparation services comprise a large share of industry revenue

  • This segment includes the preparation of taxes in retail offices or virtually (through the internet or mobile applications) and entails preparing taxes entirely. It also includes revising tax return files.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada provides tax return preparation services to individuals without also providing accounting, bookkeeping, billing or payroll process services. Although the offices of CPAs are excluded from this industry, basic knowledge of tax law and filing requirements is required.

What's included in this industry?

Client income and tax return preparation servicesClient tax return reviewing servicesCorporate tax preparation servicesTax planning and consulting servicesFinancial document compilation services

Companies

H&R Block Inc.Intuit Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CANADIAN REVENUE AGENCY (CRA)PRE-AUTHORIZED DEBT (PAD)NETFILE

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 541213 - Tax Preparation Services in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The decline in consumer spending and the incidence of at-home work during the COVID-19 pandemic caused more individuals to use e-filing over traditional tax preparation servic...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Given the increased use of electronic filing, standard and full-service tax preparation revenue will be the backbone for tax preparation service providers. Basic tax preparat...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Canadian tax preparers mostly follow population patterns. Consumers and businesses, which drive the market, also follow population patterns.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Most consumers tend to go to the tax preparer who operates closest to them, so the industry is very localized. This enables individuals to have relationships with tax prepare...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Even large companies are unable to secure a significant market share. This is due to the presence of nonemployers and the ease of entering the industry.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of H&R Block Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Intuit Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for H&R Block Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Intuit Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Tax preparation providers in Canada do not receive formal government assistance. Various industry associations support tax preparation services across the country.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

While many tax preparers are very profitable during tax season and operate at a loss during the rest of the year, yearly profit tends to be steady. Consumers must file their ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada is $1.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Tax Preparation Services in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 3,872 businesses in the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Tax Preparation Services market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Tax Preparation Services market in Canada are H&R Block Inc. and Intuit Inc.

What does the Tax Preparation Services in Canada include?

Client income and tax return preparation services and Client tax return reviewing services are part of the Tax Preparation Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tax Preparation Services in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is H&R Block Inc..

How competitive is the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and decreasing in the Tax Preparation Services industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Payroll & Bookkeeping Services in Canada
  • Accounting Services in Canada

Complementors

  • Law Firms in Canada

International industries

  • Global Accounting Services
  • Tax Preparation Services in the US
  • Accounting Services in Australia
  • Accounting Services in New Zealand
  • Accounting & Auditing in the UK

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.