6 worked Social Services 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 social services work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Missed incentive claimed
$116,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Arts and Culture Organisation, Saskatoon
Client: An arts and culture organisation · Where: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$116,000
Years adjusted7
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation — An arts and culture organisation, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
An arts and culture organisation in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan had been filing for 7 years. In that time, the incentives its activity qualified for were never claimed. Behind that sat development and improvement work written off as ordinary overhead.
What we did for An arts and culture organisation, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice. Then we reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances.
The result — An arts and culture organisation, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
$116,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 2 · Records and systems rebuilt
Month-End Close Cut From 10 Weeks To 4 Days — Community Services Charity, Hamilton
Client: A community services charity · Where: Hamilton, Ontario · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Close time before10 weeks
Close time after4 days
Year-endReview, not rebuild
The situation — A community services charity, Hamilton, Ontario
The accounting file at a community services charity in Hamilton, Ontario had a weak foundation. It was built on industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged. The year-end had taken 10 weeks each of the last three years.
What we did for A community services charity, Hamilton, Ontario
We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a social services business actually earns and spends. We also moved the reconciliations into the monthly cycle, so the year-end stopped being a rebuild.
The result — A community services charity, Hamilton, Ontario
The file reconciles. Month-end closes in 4 days instead of 10 weeks, and the year-end is a review rather than a reconstruction.
Case Study 3 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $555,000 Less Tax On Closing — Faith-Based Organisation, Edmonton
Client: A faith-based organisation · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Tax saved on closing$555,000
PriceAs agreed
Post-closing adjustmentsNone
The situation — A faith-based organisation, Edmonton, Alberta
A faith-based organisation in Edmonton, Alberta 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 faith-based organisation, Edmonton, Alberta
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 faith-based organisation, Edmonton, Alberta
The deal closed at the agreed price. $555,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
Case Study 4 · Cash and remittance control
$67,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Food Security Charity, Calgary
Client: A food security charity · Where: Calgary, Alberta · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$67,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation — A food security charity, Calgary, Alberta
A food security charity in Calgary, Alberta was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. Sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the social services rules explained most of the gap.
What we did for A food security charity, Calgary, Alberta
We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. We also built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result — A food security charity, Calgary, Alberta
$67,000 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 5 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $17,500 Cut From A 3-Year Backlog — Foundation Making Grants, Guelph
Client: A foundation making grants · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$17,500
Backlog cleared3 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A foundation making grants, Guelph, Ontario
By the time a foundation making grants in Guelph, Ontario called, 3 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule.
What we did for A foundation making grants, Guelph, Ontario
We reconstructed the records year by year. We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A foundation making grants, Guelph, Ontario
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $17,500, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Case Study 6 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $9,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — Housing Non-Profit, Moncton
Client: A housing non-profit · Where: Moncton, New Brunswick · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Combined saving$9,000
ScopeCorporate + personal
Future yearsNo rework needed
The situation — A housing non-profit, Moncton, New Brunswick
Nothing was wrong at a housing non-profit in Moncton, New Brunswick. The filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. Seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it had never been reviewed.
What we did for A housing non-profit, Moncton, New Brunswick
We reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances. We ran the numbers across both the corporate and personal returns, so the saving was real rather than deferred into someone else's hands.
The result — A housing non-profit, Moncton, New Brunswick
$9,000 came off the combined corporate and personal tax bill, and the structure holds for future years without further work.
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.
