6 Foundations 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 foundations work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Scaling without breaking
Growth Handled Without A Missed Filing, $52,000 Freed — Food Security Charity, Burnaby
Client: A food security charity · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Cash freed$52,000
Compliance failuresNone
ReportingMonthly
The situation
A food security charity in Burnaby, British Columbia was opening in a second province — different filing obligations, a different payroll regime, and a previous accountant with no experience of this sector already in the file.
What we did
We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end and put monthly reporting in place so the owner could see the cash effect of growth while there was still time to act on it.
The result
Growth was absorbed without a compliance failure. $52,000 of cash was released, and the monthly reporting now flags a problem while it is still small.
An environmental organisation in Guelph, Ontario had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule, and a penalty of $110,000 was accruing.
What we did
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it, then reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed.
The result
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $110,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 3 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $760,000 Less Tax On Closing — Faith-Based Organisation, Surrey
Client: A faith-based organisation · Where: Surrey, British Columbia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Tax saved on closing$760,000
PriceAs agreed
Post-closing adjustmentsNone
The situation
A faith-based organisation in Surrey, British Columbia was preparing to sell. Due diligence surfaced no valuation on file to support the price the parties had agreed, which would have reduced the price or killed the deal outright.
What we did
We cleaned up the historical file, reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances, and prepared the due-diligence package the buyer's advisers actually asked for.
The result
The deal closed at the agreed price. $760,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
Case Study 4 · Planning that cut the bill
$53,000 Saved By Correcting What Prior Filings Had Missed — Youth Services Agency, Windsor
A youth services agency in Windsor, Ontario asked for a second opinion on foundations accounting and tax after three years of rising tax. The review found a chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about foundations margin.
What we did
We built the comparison first — current structure against two alternatives — and then documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically.
The result
First-year saving of $53,000, with the same benefit recurring. Every position taken is documented and supported in the file.
Case Study 5 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $91,000 Reversed — Community Services Charity, Edmonton
Client: A community services charity · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$91,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation
A community services charity in Edmonton, Alberta had been reassessed for $91,000 and had 12 days left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged.
What we did
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder, and rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a foundations business actually earns and spends.
The result
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $91,000 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
Case Study 6 · Missed incentive claimed
$63,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Amateur Sports Association, Regina
Client: An amateur sports association · Where: Regina, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$63,000
Years adjusted7
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation
An amateur sports association in Regina, Saskatchewan had been filing for 7 years without ever claiming the incentives its activity qualified for. Behind that sat provincial credits left unclaimed alongside every federal filing.
What we did
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end.
The result
$63,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
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.
