6 worked Cambridge 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 Cambridge and its provincial tax regime, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Backlog brought current
3 Years Filed, $17,500 Removed From The Assessed Balance — Benefits Consultancy, Cambridge
The situation — A benefits consultancy, Cambridge, Ontario
A benefits consultancy in Cambridge, Ontario had not filed for 3 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments. The business was carrying a provincial payroll levy that had never been registered for or remitted. That came on top of a growing interest balance.
What we did for A benefits consultancy, Cambridge, Ontario
We started with the oldest year and worked forward so each year's closing balances fed the next. We assessed and claimed Ontario Innovation Tax Credit alongside the federal return. We filed the years in sequence rather than all at once.
The result — A benefits consultancy, Cambridge, Ontario
Every year is now filed and assessed on actual figures. The notional assessments were vacated and $17,500 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
Case Study 2 · Scaling without breaking
Scaled To 28 Staff With $58,000 Of Working Capital Freed — Home-Care Nursing Agency, Cambridge
The situation — A home-care nursing agency, Cambridge, Ontario
A home-care nursing agency in Cambridge, Ontario was growing fast, with headcount reaching 28 in eighteen months. The back office had not kept up. 13% HST charged on every sale regardless of where the customer was located was the first thing to break.
What we did for A home-care nursing agency, Cambridge, Ontario
We recalculated the corporate tax at the 12.2% combined small business rate and rebased the instalments on the current year. We built the compliance calendar for the size the business was becoming rather than the size it had been.
The result — A home-care nursing agency, Cambridge, Ontario
The business reached 28 staff with no missed remittance and no late filing. $58,000 of working capital was freed in the process.
Case Study 3 · Deadline rescue
Filed On Time From A Standing Start, $92,000 Penalty Avoided — Family Medicine Clinic, Cambridge
Client: A family medicine clinic · Where: Cambridge, Ontario · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty avoided$92,000
Turnaround4 weeks
FiledOn time
The situation — A family medicine clinic, Cambridge, Ontario
A family medicine clinic in Cambridge, Ontario came to us 4 weeks before its filing deadline. The file came with sector-specific exposure the previous accountant had not seen before. A late filing would have triggered a penalty of roughly $92,000 before interest.
What we did for A family medicine clinic, Cambridge, Ontario
We worked backwards from the deadline. We assessed and claimed Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit alongside the federal return. We prioritised the items that actually gated the filing and deferred everything that did not.
The result — A family medicine clinic, Cambridge, Ontario
The return was filed on time and complete. The $92,000 penalty never arose, and the compliance calendar we set means the next deadline is scheduled rather than discovered.
Case Study 4 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $385,000 Less Tax On Closing — Mobile App Studio, Cambridge
Client: A mobile app studio · Where: Cambridge, Ontario · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Tax saved on closing$385,000
PriceAs agreed
Post-closing adjustmentsNone
The situation — A mobile app studio, Cambridge, Ontario
A mobile app studio in Cambridge, Ontario 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 mobile app studio, Cambridge, Ontario
We cleaned up the historical file. We registered the provincial payroll account, caught up the outstanding remittances, and applied for relief on the penalty. Then we prepared the due-diligence package the buyer's advisers actually asked for.
The result — A mobile app studio, Cambridge, Ontario
The deal closed at the agreed price. $385,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
Case Study 5 · Planning that cut the bill
$25,000 Saved By Correcting What Prior Filings Had Missed — Packaging Producer, Cambridge
The situation — A packaging producer, Cambridge, Ontario
A packaging producer in Cambridge, Ontario asked for a second opinion on its ON tax and accounting file. That followed three years of rising tax. The review found instalments still calculated on a year the business had long outgrown.
What we did for A packaging producer, Cambridge, Ontario
We built the comparison first: current structure against two alternatives. Then we rebuilt the sales ledger by customer location, applied the correct place-of-supply rate to each stream, and filed the adjusted HST returns.
The result — A packaging producer, Cambridge, Ontario
First-year saving of $25,000, with the same benefit recurring. Every position taken is documented and supported in the file.
Case Study 6 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $70,000 Reversed — Translation Services Company, Cambridge
Client: A translation services company · Where: Cambridge, Ontario · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$70,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation — A translation services company, Cambridge, Ontario
A translation services company in Cambridge, Ontario had been reassessed for $70,000. 6 days were left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on a provincial payroll levy that had never been registered for or remitted.
What we did for A translation services company, Cambridge, Ontario
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder. Alongside it, we assessed and claimed Ontario Innovation Tax Credit alongside the federal return.
The result — A translation services company, Cambridge, Ontario
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $70,000 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
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.
