6 worked Cybersecurity Companies 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 cybersecurity companies work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Backlog brought current
3 Years Filed, $106,000 Removed From The Assessed Balance — Digital Product Agency, Moncton
Client: A digital product agency · Where: Moncton, New Brunswick · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Years filed3
Assessed balance removed$106,000
CollectionsStopped
The situation — A digital product agency, Moncton, New Brunswick
A digital product agency in Moncton, New Brunswick had not filed for 3 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments. The business was carrying seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it. That came on top of a growing interest balance.
What we did for A digital product agency, Moncton, New Brunswick
We started with the oldest year and worked forward so each year's closing balances fed the next. We reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. We filed the years in sequence rather than all at once.
The result — A digital product agency, Moncton, New Brunswick
Every year is now filed and assessed on actual figures. The notional assessments were vacated and $106,000 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
Case Study 2 · Cash and remittance control
Instalments Rebased, $53,000 Of Cash Returned To The Business — E-Learning Platform, Barrie
The situation — An e-learning platform, Barrie, Ontario
An e-learning platform in Barrie, Ontario was paying instalments calculated on a prior year. That year no longer reflected the business. Industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged was tying up $53,000 of cash.
What we did for An e-learning platform, Barrie, Ontario
We rebased the instalments on the current-year estimate rather than the prior-year default. Alongside that, we aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end.
The result — An e-learning platform, Barrie, Ontario
$53,000 of cash stayed in the business, the penalty cycle ended, and the instalment position is reviewed each quarter against actual results.
Case Study 3 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $255,000 Less Tax On Closing — Hardware Startup, Kelowna
Client: A hardware startup · Where: Kelowna, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Tax saved on closing$255,000
PriceAs agreed
Post-closing adjustmentsNone
The situation — A hardware startup, Kelowna, British Columbia
A hardware startup in Kelowna, British Columbia was preparing to sell. Due diligence surfaced a single shareholder holding every share, with no room to multiply the exemption. That would have reduced the price or killed the deal outright.
What we did for A hardware startup, Kelowna, British Columbia
We cleaned up the historical file. We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a cybersecurity companies business actually earns and spends. Then we prepared the due-diligence package the buyer's advisers actually asked for.
The result — A hardware startup, Kelowna, British Columbia
The deal closed at the agreed price. $255,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
Case Study 4 · Records and systems rebuilt
30 Months Reconciled And $19,000 Of Input Tax Recovered — Mobile App Studio, Guelph
Client: A mobile app studio · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Months reconciled30
Input tax recovered$19,000
Close time5 days
The situation — A mobile app studio, Guelph, Ontario
Nothing reconciled at a mobile app studio in Guelph, Ontario. Every filing started with 30 months of cleanup. The file was carrying a chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about cybersecurity companies margin.
What we did for A mobile app studio, Guelph, Ontario
We rebuilt from source rather than correcting on top of the existing file. We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. Then we set the routine that keeps it clean.
The result — A mobile app studio, Guelph, Ontario
30 months reconciled to the bank. The close now takes 5 days, and $19,000 of previously unclaimable input tax was recovered in the process.
Case Study 5 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $95,000 Across 5 Open Years — Custom Software Development Shop, Lethbridge
Client: A custom software development shop · Where: Lethbridge, Alberta · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$95,000
Open years claimed5
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation — A custom software development shop, Lethbridge, Alberta
An incentive review at a custom software development shop in Lethbridge, Alberta started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 5 years. It was driven by sector incentives that had never been tested against cybersecurity companies activity.
What we did for A custom software development shop, Lethbridge, Alberta
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 custom software development shop, Lethbridge, Alberta
The credits produced $95,000 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 6 · Deadline rescue
3-Week Turnaround Beat The Deadline And Saved $136,000 — B2B SaaS Company, Toronto
Client: A B2B SaaS company · Where: Toronto, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Late-filing penalty avoided$136,000
Filed with16 days to spare
Next yearPapers ready
The situation — A B2B SaaS company, Toronto, Ontario
A B2B SaaS company in Toronto, Ontario was weeks away from the deadline for cybersecurity companies accounting and tax. Behind that sat a previous accountant with no experience of this sector. The exposure if the date slipped was around $136,000.
What we did for A B2B SaaS company, Toronto, Ontario
We reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. The filing went in complete rather than provisional, so there was no amended return to follow.
The result — A B2B SaaS company, Toronto, Ontario
Filed with 16 days to spare. $136,000 in late-filing penalties avoided, and the working papers are ready for the following year.
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.
