6 worked Richmond 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 Richmond and its provincial tax regime, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $75,000 Across 7 Open Years — Real Estate Brokerage, Richmond
Client: A real estate brokerage · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$75,000
Open years claimed7
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation — A real estate brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
An incentive review at a real estate brokerage in Richmond, British Columbia started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 7 years. It was driven by BC Clean Buildings Tax Credit eligibility that had never been assessed.
What we did for A real estate brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
We recalculated the corporate tax at the 11% combined small business rate and rebased the instalments on the current year. We documented eligibility to the standard a reviewer would apply rather than the standard a claim form requires.
The result — A real estate brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
The credits produced $75,000 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 2 · Sale and succession
Intergenerational Transfer Completed With $690,000 Deferred — Mortgage Brokerage, Richmond
Client: A mortgage brokerage · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Tax deferred$690,000
TransferCompleted
RecordsReview-ready
The situation — A mortgage brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
A generational transfer at a mortgage brokerage in Richmond, British Columbia had been discussed for years without a plan. Passive assets sitting inside the operating company, disqualifying the shares meant the transfer as contemplated would have been fully taxable.
What we did for A mortgage brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
We assessed and claimed BC Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit alongside the federal return. We sequenced the steps so each one was complete and documented before the next depended on it.
The result — A mortgage brokerage, Richmond, British Columbia
$690,000 of tax was deferred through the transfer, and the successor generation took over a corporation whose records stood up to review.
Case Study 3 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $33,500 Cut From A 3-Year Backlog — Data Analytics Consultancy, Richmond
Client: A data analytics consultancy · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$33,500
Backlog cleared3 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A data analytics consultancy, Richmond, British Columbia
By the time a data analytics consultancy in Richmond, British Columbia called, 3 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat input tax credits claimed against BC provincial tax, which is not recoverable the way GST is.
What we did for A data analytics consultancy, Richmond, British Columbia
We reconstructed the records year by year. We registered the provincial payroll account, caught up the outstanding remittances, and applied for relief on the penalty. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A data analytics consultancy, Richmond, British Columbia
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $33,500, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Case Study 4 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $59,000 Of Annual Savings — Two-Unit Short-Term Rental Operator, Richmond
Client: A two-unit short-term rental operator · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$59,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation — A two-unit short-term rental operator, Richmond, British Columbia
The structure at a two-unit short-term rental operator in Richmond, British Columbia dated from years earlier. It had been set up for a business that no longer existed. Instalments still calculated on a year the business had long outgrown had become expensive.
What we did for A two-unit short-term rental operator, Richmond, British Columbia
We separated the federal GST and BC provincial sales tax streams, reconciled both to the sales ledger, and filed the corrected provincial returns. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result — A two-unit short-term rental operator, Richmond, British Columbia
$59,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 5 · Objection and relief
$54,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Family-Run Inn, Richmond
Client: A family-run inn with a licensed dining room · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$54,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation — A family-run inn with a licensed dining room, Richmond, British Columbia
An assessment of $54,000 landed at a family-run inn with a licensed dining room in Richmond, British Columbia following a desk review. It turned on a provincial payroll levy that had never been registered for or remitted. The auditor had not seen the records behind it.
What we did for A family-run inn with a licensed dining room, Richmond, British Columbia
We assessed and claimed BC Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit alongside the federal return. We then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result — A family-run inn with a licensed dining room, Richmond, British Columbia
$54,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
Client: A two-location bistro · Where: Richmond, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$102,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation — A two-location bistro, Richmond, British Columbia
A two-location bistro in Richmond, British Columbia had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat provincial sales tax collected but never remitted on the separate BC return. A penalty of $102,000 was accruing.
What we did for A two-location bistro, Richmond, British Columbia
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it. Then we recalculated the corporate tax at the 11% combined small business rate and rebased the instalments on the current year.
The result — A two-location bistro, Richmond, British Columbia
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $102,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier 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.
