6 worked Antique & Specialty Retailers case studies — the position a client typically comes to us with, what we do, and what it is worth. Each is an illustrative example built on the rules that apply to antique & specialty retailers work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Planning that cut the bill
$36,000 Cut From The Annual Tax Bill — Consumer Electronics Reseller, Burnaby
Client: A consumer electronics reseller · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
First-year saving$36,000
RepeatsAnnually
Filing positionUnchanged in risk
The situation — A consumer electronics reseller, Burnaby, British Columbia
A consumer electronics reseller in Burnaby, British Columbia was compliant but paying more than it needed to. The prior year had been filed correctly. It still left a previous accountant with no experience of this sector on the table.
What we did for A consumer electronics reseller, Burnaby, British Columbia
We modelled the current position against the alternatives before changing anything. Then we rebuilt the chart of accounts around how an antique & specialty retailers business actually earns and spends.
The result — A consumer electronics reseller, Burnaby, British Columbia
The change saved $36,000 in the first year and repeats annually. Nothing about the filings became more aggressive. The position is simply the one the rules already allowed.
Case Study 2 · CRA review defended
Audit Defence Closed In 6 Weeks, $143,000 Cleared — Shopify Store Shipping Nationwide, Victoria
Client: A Shopify store shipping nationwide · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Proposed tax cleared$143,000
Review duration6 weeks
OutcomeNo change
The situation — A Shopify store shipping nationwide, Victoria, British Columbia
A Shopify store shipping nationwide in Victoria, British Columbia was selected for review. Sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the antique & specialty retailers rules had shown up in the CRA's automated matching. The proposed adjustment on antique & specialty retailers accounting and tax came to $143,000.
What we did for A Shopify store shipping nationwide, Victoria, British Columbia
We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. Every figure in the response traced to a source record the auditor could verify without asking a second question.
The result — A Shopify store shipping nationwide, Victoria, British Columbia
The review closed with no change. $143,000 of proposed tax came off the table, and the documentation now in place makes the next review a short one.
Case Study 3 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $640,000 Less Tax On Closing — Handmade Goods Marketplace Seller, Guelph
The situation — A handmade goods marketplace seller, Guelph, Ontario
A handmade goods marketplace seller in Guelph, Ontario was preparing to sell. Due diligence surfaced no valuation on file to support the price the parties had agreed. That would have reduced the price or killed the deal outright.
What we did for A handmade goods marketplace seller, Guelph, Ontario
We cleaned up the historical file. We reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. Then we prepared the due-diligence package the buyer's advisers actually asked for.
The result — A handmade goods marketplace seller, Guelph, Ontario
The deal closed at the agreed price. $640,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
The situation — A direct-to-consumer apparel brand, Mississauga, Ontario
The structure at a direct-to-consumer apparel brand in Mississauga, Ontario needed fixing. The file was carrying equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule. Every option for fixing it ran through a reorganisation that had to be done without triggering tax.
What we did for A direct-to-consumer apparel brand, Mississauga, Ontario
We worked with the client's lawyer. Together, we reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances. We also prepared the elections, resolutions and valuations the structure needed to stand up.
The result — A direct-to-consumer apparel brand, Mississauga, Ontario
The structure now matches the business. Annual saving of $65,000, and the reorganisation itself was tax-neutral.
Client: A print-on-demand business · Where: Surrey, British Columbia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$87,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation — A print-on-demand business, Surrey, British Columbia
A print-on-demand business in Surrey, British Columbia had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged. A penalty of $87,000 was accruing.
What we did for A print-on-demand business, Surrey, British Columbia
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it. Then we documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically.
The result — A print-on-demand business, Surrey, British Columbia
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $87,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 6 · Cash and remittance control
Remittance Schedule Corrected, $90,000 Refunded — Pet Products Retailer, Brampton
Client: A pet products retailer · Where: Brampton, Ontario · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Overpayment refunded$90,000
Late remittances sinceZero
ScheduleAutomated
The situation — A pet products retailer, Brampton, Ontario
Remittances at a pet products retailer in Brampton, Ontario were consistently late by a few days. That was enough to trigger penalties every quarter. Behind it sat seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it.
What we did for A pet products retailer, Brampton, Ontario
We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how an antique & specialty retailers business actually earns and spends. Then we moved the remittance dates into a scheduled process rather than a monthly decision.
The result — A pet products retailer, Brampton, Ontario
Penalties stopped from the following remittance onwards, and $90,000 of overpaid instalments was refunded.
Reviewed by Udit Gupta, Founder and Tax Accountant for the 2025 tax year. These case studies are illustrative worked examples composed from the CRA rules that apply to this type of work, not specific client files; figures are representative and outcomes depend on your own facts.
