6 worked Property Managers 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 property managers work, not a specific client's file.
Client: A mortgage brokerage · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$84,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation — A mortgage brokerage, Edmonton, Alberta
A mortgage brokerage in Edmonton, Alberta had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat a chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about property managers margin. A penalty of $84,000 was accruing.
What we did for A mortgage brokerage, Edmonton, Alberta
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it. Then we rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a property managers business actually earns and spends.
The result — A mortgage brokerage, Edmonton, Alberta
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $84,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 2 · Cash and remittance control
$16,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Residential Rental Portfolio, Red Deer
Client: A residential rental portfolio · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$16,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation — A residential rental portfolio, Red Deer, Alberta
A residential rental portfolio in Red Deer, Alberta was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. Equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule explained most of the gap.
What we did for A residential rental portfolio, Red Deer, Alberta
We aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. We also built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result — A residential rental portfolio, Red Deer, Alberta
$16,000 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 3 · Scaling without breaking
Growth Handled Without A Missed Filing, $127,000 Freed — Real Estate Brokerage, Ottawa
Client: A real estate brokerage · Where: Ottawa, Ontario · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Cash freed$127,000
Compliance failuresNone
ReportingMonthly
The situation — A real estate brokerage, Ottawa, Ontario
A real estate brokerage in Ottawa, Ontario was opening in a second province. That meant different filing obligations and a different payroll regime. Industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged already sat in the file.
What we did for A real estate brokerage, Ottawa, Ontario
We reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. We then put monthly reporting in place. That let the owner see the cash effect of growth while there was still time to act on it.
The result — A real estate brokerage, Ottawa, Ontario
Growth was absorbed without a compliance failure. $127,000 of cash was released, and the monthly reporting now flags a problem while it is still small.
Case Study 4 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $18,500 Across 7 Open Years — Short-Term Rental Operator, Victoria
Client: A short-term rental operator · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$18,500
Open years claimed7
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation — A short-term rental operator, Victoria, British Columbia
An incentive review at a short-term rental operator in Victoria, British Columbia started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 7 years. It was driven by development and improvement work written off as ordinary overhead.
What we did for A short-term rental operator, Victoria, British Columbia
We reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances. We documented eligibility to the standard a reviewer would apply rather than the standard a claim form requires.
The result — A short-term rental operator, Victoria, British Columbia
The credits produced $18,500 across the open years. The tracking now in place means the following year's claim is documented as the work happens rather than reconstructed afterwards.
Case Study 5 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $12,000 Cut From A 4-Year Backlog — Real Estate Investment Partnership, Winnipeg
Client: A real estate investment partnership · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$12,000
Backlog cleared4 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A real estate investment partnership, Winnipeg, Manitoba
By the time a real estate investment partnership in Winnipeg, Manitoba called, 4 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat a previous accountant with no experience of this sector.
What we did for A real estate investment partnership, Winnipeg, Manitoba
We reconstructed the records year by year. We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A real estate investment partnership, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $12,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Case Study 6 · Objection and relief
$75,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — House-Flipping Operation, Windsor
The situation — A house-flipping operation, Windsor, Ontario
An assessment of $75,000 landed at a house-flipping operation in Windsor, Ontario following a desk review. It turned on sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the property managers rules. The auditor had not seen the records behind it.
What we did for A house-flipping operation, Windsor, Ontario
We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a property managers business actually earns and spends. We then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result — A house-flipping operation, Windsor, Ontario
$75,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
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.
