6 worked Brokers 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 brokers work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $116,000 Reversed — Real Estate Investment Partnership, Toronto
Client: A real estate investment partnership · Where: Toronto, Ontario · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$116,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation — A real estate investment partnership, Toronto, Ontario
A real estate investment partnership in Toronto, Ontario had been reassessed for $116,000. 21 days were left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on a previous accountant with no experience of this sector.
What we did for A real estate investment partnership, Toronto, Ontario
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder. Alongside it, we aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end.
The result — A real estate investment partnership, Toronto, Ontario
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $116,000 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
Case Study 2 · Missed incentive claimed
$123,000 Credit Claim Filed And Accepted Without Adjustment — Commercial Landlord, Vancouver
Client: A commercial landlord · Where: Vancouver, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Claim value$123,000
AcceptedWithout adjustment
RepeatableAnnually
The situation — A commercial landlord, Vancouver, British Columbia
A commercial landlord in Vancouver, British Columbia assumed the credits did not apply to a business its size. Development and improvement work written off as ordinary overhead meant they had applied all along.
What we did for A commercial landlord, Vancouver, British Columbia
We identified the qualifying activity and built the documentation to support it. Then we reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed.
The result — A commercial landlord, Vancouver, British Columbia
$123,000 recovered. Because the eligibility analysis is on file, the same claim can be repeated each year with a fraction of the effort.
Case Study 3 · Cash and remittance control
Instalments Rebased, $155,000 Of Cash Returned To The Business — Residential Rental Portfolio, Edmonton
Client: A residential rental portfolio · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Cash returned$155,000
Instalment basisCurrent year
ReviewedQuarterly
The situation — A residential rental portfolio, Edmonton, Alberta
A residential rental portfolio in Edmonton, Alberta was paying instalments calculated on a prior year. That year no longer reflected the business. Seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it was tying up $155,000 of cash.
What we did for A residential rental portfolio, Edmonton, Alberta
We rebased the instalments on the current-year estimate rather than the prior-year default. Alongside that, we reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances.
The result — A residential rental portfolio, Edmonton, Alberta
$155,000 of cash stayed in the business, the penalty cycle ended, and the instalment position is reviewed each quarter against actual results.
Case Study 4 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $19,000 Of Annual Savings — Condo Corporation Manager, Winnipeg
The situation — A condo corporation manager, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The structure at a condo corporation manager in Winnipeg, Manitoba dated from years earlier. It had been set up for a business that no longer existed. A chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about brokers margin had become expensive.
What we did for A condo corporation manager, Winnipeg, Manitoba
We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result — A condo corporation manager, Winnipeg, Manitoba
$19,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 5 · CRA review defended
$117,000 Reassessment Reduced To Nil On Review — Short-Term Rental Operator, Surrey
Client: A short-term rental operator · Where: Surrey, British Columbia · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Reassessment reduced toNil
Tax protected$117,000
Prior filingsUndisturbed
The situation — A short-term rental operator, Surrey, British Columbia
A review notice arrived at a short-term rental operator in Surrey, British Columbia, covering brokers accounting and tax for two tax years. The auditor's working position was an adjustment of $117,000. It was driven by industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged.
What we did for A short-term rental operator, Surrey, British Columbia
Rather than negotiate, we rebuilt the record. We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a brokers business actually earns and spends. We then submitted a point-by-point response that answered each proposed adjustment with the document behind it.
The result — A short-term rental operator, Surrey, British Columbia
The auditor accepted the documented position and closed the review without adjustment, protecting $117,000 and leaving the prior filings undisturbed.
Case Study 6 · Records and systems rebuilt
Month-End Close Cut From 10 Weeks To 6 Days — Property Management Company, Saskatoon
Client: A property management company · Where: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Close time before10 weeks
Close time after6 days
Year-endReview, not rebuild
The situation — A property management company, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The accounting file at a property management company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan had a weak foundation. It was built on sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the brokers rules. The year-end had taken 10 weeks each of the last three years.
What we did for A property management company, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. We also moved the reconciliations into the monthly cycle, so the year-end stopped being a rebuild.
The result — A property management company, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The file reconciles. Month-end closes in 6 days instead of 10 weeks, and the year-end is a review rather than a reconstruction.
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.
