6 Subcontractors tax and accounting engagements in full — what the client came to us with, what we did, and what it was worth. Each one is specific to subcontractors work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $54,000 Of Annual Savings — Roofing Company, Winnipeg
Client: A roofing company · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$54,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation
The structure at a roofing company in Winnipeg, Manitoba had been set up years earlier for a business that no longer existed, and a previous accountant with no experience of this sector had become expensive.
What we did
We reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result
$54,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 2 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $132,000 Reversed — Custom Home Builder, Lethbridge
Client: A custom home builder · Where: Lethbridge, Alberta · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$132,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation
A custom home builder in Lethbridge, Alberta had been reassessed for $132,000 and had 21 days left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it.
What we did
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder, and documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically.
The result
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $132,000 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
Case Study 3 · Deadline rescue
5-Week Turnaround Beat The Deadline And Saved $130,000 — Electrical Contractor, Red Deer
Client: An electrical contractor · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Late-filing penalty avoided$130,000
Filed with15 days to spare
Next yearPapers ready
The situation
With the deadline for subcontractors accounting and tax weeks away, an electrical contractor in Red Deer, Alberta was carrying industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged. The exposure if the date slipped was around $130,000.
What we did
We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. The filing went in complete rather than provisional, so there was no amended return to follow.
The result
Filed with 15 days to spare. $130,000 in late-filing penalties avoided, and the working papers are ready for the following year.
Case Study 4 · Records and systems rebuilt
33 Months Reconciled And $3,100 Of Input Tax Recovered — Concrete and Forming Crew, Halifax
Client: A concrete and forming crew · Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Months reconciled33
Input tax recovered$3,100
Close time6 days
The situation
A concrete and forming crew in Halifax, Nova Scotia was carrying equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule. Nothing reconciled, and every filing started with 33 months of cleanup.
What we did
We rebuilt from source rather than correcting on top of the existing file. We reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances, then set the routine that keeps it clean.
The result
33 months reconciled to the bank. The close now takes 6 days, and $3,100 of previously unclaimable input tax was recovered in the process.
Case Study 5 · Cash and remittance control
$108,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Drywall Subcontractor, Vancouver
Client: A drywall subcontractor · Where: Vancouver, British Columbia · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$108,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation
A drywall subcontractor in Vancouver, British Columbia was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. A chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about subcontractors margin explained most of the gap.
What we did
We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a subcontractors business actually earns and spends and built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result
$108,000 was released back into working capital. Remittances have been on time every period since, and the forecast shows the tax outflow before it lands.
Case Study 6 · Planning that cut the bill
$42,000 Cut From The Annual Tax Bill — Civil Works Company, Moncton
Client: A civil works company · Where: Moncton, New Brunswick · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
First-year saving$42,000
RepeatsAnnually
Filing positionUnchanged in risk
The situation
A civil works company in Moncton, New Brunswick was compliant but paying more than it needed to. The prior year had been filed correctly and still left sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the subcontractors rules on the table.
What we did
We modelled the current position against the alternatives before changing anything, then reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed.
The result
The change saved $42,000 in the first year and repeats annually. Nothing about the filings became more aggressive; the position is simply the one the rules already allowed.
Reviewed for the 2025 tax year by Udit Gupta, Certified Tax Accountant. Figures describe representative engagements of this type; outcomes depend on your own facts. Client names and identifying details are omitted for confidentiality.
