# Money App for Self-Employed Canadians and Freelancers > An AI CFO for self-employed Canadians: sets aside tax and both halves of CPP, tracks GST/HST, instalments and expenses, and smooths uneven income. Source: https://trykosh.com/for/self-employed-and-freelancers Kosh for self-employed and freelancers # A CFO for self-employed Canadians and freelancers No employer is withholding tax or CPP for you, income arrives in lumps and the CRA expects instalments once your bill gets big enough. Kosh reads your business and personal statements and tells you what to set aside, and when. ## What gets in the way ### No one withholds for you Every invoice is gross. Without a set-aside habit, April brings a bill for a whole year of income tax and CPP at once. ### Both halves of CPP Self-employed people pay the employee and employer shares, up to about $8,460 of base CPP in 2026. It surprises people the first year. ### GST/HST registration Once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 in a quarter or over four consecutive quarters, you must register and start charging GST/HST. ### Instalments Owe more than $3,000 ($1,800 in Quebec) this year and in one of the previous two, and the CRA expects quarterly payments on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. ### Business and personal mixed together One card for everything makes deductible expenses hard to find at tax time. ## What Kosh does about it ### Sets your tax-aside rate From your actual income, province and deductions, Kosh works out how much of each payment to put away for income tax and CPP. ### Separates business expenses Kosh sorts transactions from your statements into likely business expenses so you have a list ready for your T2125. ### Watches the $30,000 line Kosh adds up revenue by calendar quarter and warns before you cross the GST/HST small supplier threshold. ### Plans instalments Reminders before each instalment date with an estimate based on what you've earned so far. ### Smooths uneven income A monthly pay-yourself amount and an emergency fund sized to your slowest months. ### Uses RRSP room Your net business income creates RRSP room; Kosh shows what a contribution saves at your marginal rate. ## Free tools for self-employed and freelancers [Free tool**Income tax calculator**Work out your 2026 federal and provincial income tax, CPP and EI, and what you keep, in any province or territory. Add self-employment income, capital gains and RRSP contributions to see how each one changes the bill.](/tools/income-tax-calculator)[Free tool**Marginal tax rate calculator**See how much of your next dollar goes to tax in your province, on salary and interest, capital gains and dividends. It's the number that decides what an RRSP contribution saves and what a raise is worth.](/tools/marginal-tax-rate-calculator)[Free tool**RRSP tax refund calculator**Find out how much tax an RRSP contribution saves you this year, and what it really costs once the refund comes back.](/tools/rrsp-calculator)[Free tool**Emergency fund calculator**Add up your essential monthly costs, choose how many months to cover, and see your target, the gap and how long it'll take to close it.](/tools/emergency-fund-calculator) ## A CFO for self-employed and freelancers. Upload a statement and Kosh maps your money, estimates your federal and provincial tax and tells you the one thing to fix first. Free to start. [Start free](/signup?via=for-self-employed-and-freelancers) ## What does a self-employed year cost in tax and CPP? Say you net $80,000 from self-employment in Alberta in 2026. Income tax is about **$13,180** and CPP, both halves, about **$8,460**. Together that's roughly $21,640, or 27% of your net income, before any GST/HST you collect for the government. Half of your CPP is deducted from income and half earns a credit, which is already reflected here. Put a fixed share of every payment into a separate savings account the day it lands, and you won't be scrambling when the return or an instalment is due. See [self-employed taxes in Canada](/learn/self-employed-taxes-canada). ## Deadlines that differ from employees - **June 15:** filing deadline for self-employed people and their spouses. - **April 30:** any balance owing is still due, so interest runs on unpaid tax if you wait until June to pay. - **Instalments:** March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 once the CRA asks for them. - **GST/HST:** register within 29 days of the supply that took you over $30,000. [Free tool**Income tax calculator**Work out your 2026 federal and provincial income tax, CPP and EI, and what you keep, in any province or territory. Add self-employment income, capital gains and RRSP contributions to see how each one changes the bill.](/tools/income-tax-calculator)[Free tool**RRSP tax refund calculator**Find out how much tax an RRSP contribution saves you this year, and what it really costs once the refund comes back.](/tools/rrsp-calculator)[Free tool**Emergency fund calculator**Add up your essential monthly costs, choose how many months to cover, and see your target, the gap and how long it'll take to close it.](/tools/emergency-fund-calculator) ## Frequently asked questions How much should I set aside for taxes as a self-employed person in Canada? It depends on your province, income and deductions. Estimate your income tax plus both halves of CPP on your net income, and save that share of each payment. GST/HST you collect is separate and belongs to the government. When do self-employed Canadians file their taxes? Self-employed people and their spouses have until June 15 to file, but any balance owing is due by April 30. Interest is charged on unpaid amounts after April 30. Do I need to register for GST/HST? You must register once your taxable revenue is more than $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over the last four consecutive quarters. Taxi and ride-sharing drivers must register from their first fare. You can register voluntarily below the threshold. Do I have to pay tax instalments? You may if your net tax owing is more than $3,000, or $1,800 in Quebec, this year and in either of the two previous years. Instalments are due March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Can Kosh do my bookkeeping or file my return? No. Kosh reads your statements, sorts likely business expenses, estimates tax and reminds you of deadlines. It doesn't keep formal books, file income tax or GST/HST returns, or deal with the CRA for you. ## Sources - [CRA: Paying your income tax by instalments](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/making-payments-individuals/paying-your-income-tax-instalments.html) - [CRA: RC4022 General Information for GST/HST Registrants](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/rc4022/general-information-gst-hst-registrants.html) - [CRA: T4127 Payroll Deductions Formulas (CPP rates)](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/payroll/t4127-payroll-deductions-formulas.html) General information for planning, not tax, legal or investment advice. Kosh is an educational financial planning tool by Primedepth Labs. It is not registered with any Canadian securities regulator as an adviser or dealer, does not recommend specific securities, and does not hold your money or execute trades. Tax figures are estimates; confirm with the CRA or a qualified professional before acting. Investing carries risk.