6 Vernon tax and accounting engagements in full — what the client came to us with, what we did, and what it was worth. Each one is specific to Vernon and its provincial tax regime, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $60,000 Of Annual Savings — Talent Management Agency, Vernon
Client: A talent management agency · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$60,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation
The structure at a talent management agency in Vernon, British Columbia had been set up years earlier for a business that no longer existed, and sector-specific exposure the previous accountant had not seen before had become expensive.
What we did
We assessed and claimed BC Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit alongside the federal return. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result
$60,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 2 · Scaling without breaking
Second-Province Expansion Handled, $61,000 Of Cash Released — Cybersecurity Firm, Vernon
Client: A cybersecurity firm · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Cash released$61,000
New registrationsComplete on day one
Compliance gapsNone
The situation
Revenue at a cybersecurity firm in Vernon, British Columbia was up sharply and cash was tighter than ever. Underneath it sat instalments still calculated on a year the business had long outgrown.
What we did
We separated the federal GST and BC provincial sales tax streams, reconciled both to the sales ledger, and filed the corrected provincial returns. Every new obligation — registration, remittance frequency, provincial filing — was set up before it was triggered, not after.
The result
$61,000 of cash was released from the working capital cycle, and the expansion completed with every registration and filing obligation covered from day one.
Case Study 3 · Objection and relief
$80,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Residential Rental Portfolio, Vernon
Client: A residential rental portfolio · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$80,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation
An assessment of $80,000 landed at a residential rental portfolio in Vernon, British Columbia following a desk review. The auditor had not seen the records behind provincial sales tax collected but never remitted on the separate BC return.
What we did
We recalculated the corporate tax at the 11% combined small business rate and rebased the instalments on the current year, then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result
$80,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
Case Study 4 · CRA review defended
$122,000 Proposed Adjustment Withdrawn In Full — Coffee Shop Group, Vernon
Client: A coffee shop group · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Adjustment withdrawn$122,000
File closed in10 weeks
Penalties assessedNone
The situation
A coffee shop group in Vernon, British Columbia received a proposal letter opening a review of its bc tax and accounting file. The CRA had identified input tax credits claimed against BC provincial tax, which is not recoverable the way GST is and proposed an adjustment of $122,000, with 30 days to respond.
What we did
We treated the response as an evidence exercise rather than an argument. We registered the provincial payroll account, caught up the outstanding remittances, and applied for relief on the penalty, then indexed every supporting document against the specific line the auditor had questioned.
The result
The proposed adjustment was withdrawn in full — all $122,000 of it. The file closed in 10 weeks with no change to the assessed amounts and no penalty.
Case Study 5 · Deadline rescue
$114,000 Late-Filing Penalty Cancelled On Relief Application — Mortgage Brokerage, Vernon
Client: A mortgage brokerage · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$114,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation
A mortgage brokerage in Vernon, British Columbia had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat a provincial payroll levy that had never been registered for or remitted, and a penalty of $114,000 was accruing.
What we did
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it, then assessed and claimed BC Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit alongside the federal return.
The result
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $114,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 6 · Missed incentive claimed
$141,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Theatre Company, Vernon
Client: A theatre company · Where: Vernon, British Columbia · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$141,000
Years adjusted6
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation
A theatre company in Vernon, British Columbia had been filing for 6 years without ever claiming the incentives its activity qualified for. Behind that sat British Columbia incentives claimed by competitors and never by this business.
What we did
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then assessed and claimed BC Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit alongside the federal return.
The result
$141,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Reviewed for the 2025 tax year by Udit Gupta, Certified Tax Accountant. Figures describe representative engagements of this type; outcomes depend on your own facts. Client names and identifying details are omitted for confidentiality.
