6 GST/HST Tax Filing 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 gst/hst tax filing work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Planning that cut the bill
$59,000 Cut From The Annual Tax Bill — Family Enterprise, Kelowna
Client: A family enterprise · Where: Kelowna, British Columbia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
First-year saving$59,000
RepeatsAnnually
Filing positionUnchanged in risk
The situation
A family enterprise in Kelowna, British Columbia was compliant but paying more than it needed to. The prior year had been filed correctly and still left filings handled by three different providers with no continuity between them on the table.
What we did
We modelled the current position against the alternatives before changing anything, then consolidated the work into a single engagement so the corporate, sales tax and payroll filings finally reconciled to each other.
The result
The change saved $59,000 in the first year and repeats annually. Nothing about the filings became more aggressive; the position is simply the one the rules already allowed.
Case Study 2 · Records and systems rebuilt
21 Months Reconciled And $4,400 Of Input Tax Recovered — Owner-Managed Corporation, Vancouver
Client: An owner-managed corporation · Where: Vancouver, British Columbia · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Months reconciled21
Input tax recovered$4,400
Close time6 days
The situation
An owner-managed corporation in Vancouver, British Columbia was carrying positions taken on prior returns that nobody could explain or support. Nothing reconciled, and every filing started with 21 months of cleanup.
What we did
We rebuilt from source rather than correcting on top of the existing file. We rebuilt the supporting records, corrected the affected filings, and set a compliance calendar covering every deadline the business actually carries, then set the routine that keeps it clean.
The result
21 months reconciled to the bank. The close now takes 6 days, and $4,400 of previously unclaimable input tax was recovered in the process.
Case Study 3 · Objection and relief
$45,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Service Business with Seasonal, Hamilton
Client: A service business with seasonal revenue · Where: Hamilton, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$45,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation
An assessment of $45,000 landed at a service business with seasonal revenue in Hamilton, Ontario following a desk review. The auditor had not seen the records behind a balance that had been accruing daily compound interest for two years.
What we did
We brought the outstanding filings current and negotiated an arrangement that stopped the interest from compounding further, then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result
$45,000 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 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $110,000 Cut From A 3-Year Backlog — First-Year Startup, Burnaby
Client: A first-year startup · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$110,000
Backlog cleared3 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation
By the time a first-year startup in Burnaby, British Columbia called, 3 years were outstanding and the CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat deadlines tracked in the owner’s head rather than on a compliance calendar.
What we did
We reconstructed the records year by year and documented the positions taken, retained the supporting analysis, and prepared the file so a review could be answered in days rather than weeks. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $110,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Case Study 5 · Missed incentive claimed
$26,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Growing Small Business, Victoria
Client: A growing small business · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$26,000
Years adjusted4
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation
A growing small business in Victoria, British Columbia had been filing for 4 years without ever claiming the incentives its activity qualified for. Behind that sat filings handled by three different providers with no continuity between them.
What we did
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then consolidated the work into a single engagement so the corporate, sales tax and payroll filings finally reconciled to each other.
The result
$26,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 6 · Scaling without breaking
Second-Province Expansion Handled, $94,000 Of Cash Released — Second-Generation Family Company, Guelph
Client: A second-generation family company · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Cash released$94,000
New registrationsComplete on day one
Compliance gapsNone
The situation
Revenue at a second-generation family company in Guelph, Ontario was up sharply and cash was tighter than ever. Underneath it sat filings handled by three different providers with no continuity between them.
What we did
We rebuilt the supporting records, corrected the affected filings, and set a compliance calendar covering every deadline the business actually carries. Every new obligation — registration, remittance frequency, provincial filing — was set up before it was triggered, not after.
The result
$94,000 of cash was released from the working capital cycle, and the expansion completed with every registration and filing obligation covered from day one.
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.
