How do I make it so I pay taxes instead of my parents if Im under 18 in bc canada

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Under-18 founders in BC, Canada want to launch a Shopify store, expecting parents to be listed as owners due to age limits. They ask how to ensure income is taxed to the teens instead of the parents, whether friends need staff roles, and if one teen can receive payouts and distribute payments to others.

Update: A reply states that if the parents are the registered store owners, the tax information is under the parents’ names, so the parents are responsible for taxes. If the friends are co-owners, they should be added as staff accounts.

Clarification: “Staff” refers to Shopify access roles and does not change ownership or tax liability. The account’s registered owners determine whose details are used for tax purposes.

Banking: The poster has a separate bank account, but no guidance was provided on payouts to a minor’s account or rerouting funds to friends.

Status: Unresolved. Key questions about structuring ownership so minors are taxed individually, payout arrangements, and employment classification remain open.

Summarized with AI on December 23. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I want to start a brand with me and 2 friends, I want to run the store while they do other things. We are under 18.

So I know that I need my parents to be the owners of the store and I need to be a staff, how would I make it so the income that I and my friends make get taxed to us instead of our parents. Also do I need to have my friends as staff? I don’t mind receiving the money and then sending it to them, however I don’t know if that is something that I can do since they are technically employees.

Either way I dont want my parents get the income and pay taxes on it. I also have my own bank account which isnt connected to my parents. I looked online but not much help, if someone could guide us I would be thankful.

2

Hi @GWGS !

For the taxes, since the name of your parents are the registered store owners, the tax information should be under their name as well so, they will be the one who should pay the taxes either way. As for the staff accounts, if your friends are co-owners, then they should be added under staff as well.