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T2125 Line 8860

Professional Fees on Your T2125

Accountant fees, legal costs, and tax preparation are all deductible on Line 8860.

Qualifying Expenses

What You Can (and Can't) Deduct

Know exactly what belongs on Line 8860 — and what the CRA says doesn't qualify.

What Qualifies

  • Accounting and bookkeeping fees
  • Legal fees related to your business operations
  • Tax return preparation fees, consulting fees, and fees for filing objections or appeals

Does NOT Qualify

  • Legal fees for acquiring capital property (added to the cost base for CCA)
  • Personal legal fees unrelated to your business
  • Legal fees for buying or selling your home (personal capital property)
CRA Rules

Rules & Limits

Special CRA rules and percentage limits that apply to professional fees (legal & accounting).

Special Rules

Legal Fees for Capital Property Acquisition

Heads up

If you pay legal fees to acquire a capital asset (e.g., a building), those fees are added to the cost of the asset and depreciated through CCA, not deducted as a current expense.

Real Examples

Real-World Examples

See how different professionals use Line 8860 deductions in practice.

IT Consultant Line 8860

Annual Accountant Fees

Paid an accountant for annual T1/T2125 tax preparation and quarterly bookkeeping support.

Amount

$1,200

Deductible

$1,200 (100%)

Hairdresser Line 8860

Business Legal Consultation

Consulted a lawyer about a commercial lease agreement for a new salon location.

Amount

$500

Deductible

$500 (100%)

Watch Out

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These errors on Line 8860 can trigger a CRA review — here's how to get it right.

01
medium
Mistake

Not deducting tax software subscriptions

Correction

Tax preparation software (e.g., TurboTax, Wealthsimple Tax Pro) used for your business return is a deductible professional fee on Line 8860.

02
low
Mistake

Putting platform fees here instead of Line 8871

Correction

Platform fees (Uber, DoorDash, Shopify) are operational/admin costs that belong on Line 8871 (Management & Administration Fees), not Line 8860.

Don't Mix Up

Commonly Confused Categories

These categories are often mixed up with Professional Fees (Legal & Accounting). Here's the difference.

Sample Receipt Walkthrough

See how ScanForTax processes a typical professional fees expense.

Receipt

Smith & Associates CPA

2025-04-05

T1/T2125 Tax Preparation $$650.00
GST/HST Return Filing $$200.00
Subtotal $$850.00
HST $$110.50
TOTAL $$960.50

Ontario

How ScanForTax categorizes this

ScanForTax identifies this CPA invoice and auto-categorizes it under Professional Fees (Line 8860). The $110.50 HST is flagged as fully recoverable through your ITC claim.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deduct the cost of tax preparation software?
Yes. Tax preparation software used for your business return (e.g., TurboTax, Wealthsimple Tax) is a deductible professional fee on Line 8860.
What is the difference between professional fees (8860) and management fees (8871)?
Professional fees (8860) cover advisory services from accountants, lawyers, and consultants. Management fees (8871) cover ongoing operational services like brokerage desk fees, platform charges, and admin outsourcing.

Related Professions

Profession-specific guides that frequently use Professional Fees deductions.

Tax Guides by Province

See how tax recovery works for professional fees expenses in each province.

Related Expense Categories

Tax deadline is April 30th.

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