6 worked Business Incorporation Services 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 business incorporation services work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Records and systems rebuilt
Books Rebuilt From Source, $9,000 In Unclaimed Input Tax Found — Federal Registry Filer, Windsor
Client: A federal corporation filing its registry annual return · Where: Windsor, Ontario · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Unclaimed tax found$9,000
Records rebuilt28 months
ProcessDocumented
The situation — A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Windsor, Ontario
A federal corporation filing its registry annual return in Windsor, Ontario could not answer basic questions about its own numbers. A corporation dissolved administratively for missed annual returns while still operating sat between the bank statements and the ledger.
What we did for A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Windsor, Ontario
We revived the corporation, filed the outstanding annual returns, and set a compliance calendar covering both the corporate registry and the CRA. We then documented the process so the work does not depend on any one person remembering how it was done.
The result — A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Windsor, Ontario
Records rebuilt and reconciled, $9,000 recovered in input tax credits that the old file could not support, and a documented monthly process now in place.
Case Study 2 · Structure rebuilt
Holding Structure Added, $74,000 Saved Annually — New Professional Corporation, Burnaby
Client: A professional forming a professional corporation · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Annual saving$74,000
ReorganisationTax-neutral
StructureMatches operations
The situation — A professional forming a professional corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia
The structure at a professional forming a professional corporation in Burnaby, British Columbia needed fixing. The file was carrying GST/HST collected for eight months before the RT account was ever opened. Every option for fixing it ran through a reorganisation that had to be done without triggering tax.
What we did for A professional forming a professional corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia
We worked with the client's lawyer. Together, we filed the change of registered office and the director changes, so registry correspondence reached someone who read it. We also prepared the elections, resolutions and valuations the structure needed to stand up.
The result — A professional forming a professional corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia
The structure now matches the business. Annual saving of $74,000, and the reorganisation itself was tax-neutral.
Case Study 3 · Missed incentive claimed
$118,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Extra-Provincial Registrant, Winnipeg
Client: An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$118,000
Years adjusted3
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation — An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Winnipeg, Manitoba
An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province in Winnipeg, Manitoba had been filing for 3 years. In that time, the incentives its activity qualified for were never claimed. Behind that sat a register of individuals with significant control that had never been opened, let alone updated.
What we did for An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Winnipeg, Manitoba
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice. Then we tested each intended dividend recipient against the excluded-amount tests before any dividend was declared, and recorded which test was being relied on.
The result — An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Winnipeg, Manitoba
$118,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 4 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $27,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — Family Business Adding Shares, Toronto
Client: A family business adding a second class of shares · Where: Toronto, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Combined saving$27,000
ScopeCorporate + personal
Future yearsNo rework needed
The situation — A family business adding a second class of shares, Toronto, Ontario
Nothing was wrong at a family business adding a second class of shares in Toronto, Ontario. The filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. A spouse added as a shareholder on the assumption dividends could simply be split between two returns had never been reviewed.
What we did for A family business adding a second class of shares, Toronto, Ontario
We reconstructed the minute book with resolutions for each historical dividend and share transaction. We ran the numbers across both the corporate and personal returns, so the saving was real rather than deferred into someone else's hands.
The result — A family business adding a second class of shares, Toronto, Ontario
$27,000 came off the combined corporate and personal tax bill, and the structure holds for future years without further work.
Case Study 5 · Deadline rescue
Filed On Time From A Standing Start, $11,500 Penalty Avoided — Newly Incorporating Consultant, Moncton
Client: A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment · Where: Moncton, New Brunswick · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty avoided$11,500
Turnaround11 weeks
FiledOn time
The situation — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Moncton, New Brunswick
A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment in Moncton, New Brunswick came to us 11 weeks before its filing deadline. The file came with dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them. A late filing would have triggered a penalty of roughly $11,500 before interest.
What we did for A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Moncton, New Brunswick
We worked backwards from the deadline. We selected a year-end that put the balance-due date after the seasonal cash peak, then registered every program account the business actually needed. We prioritised the items that actually gated the filing and deferred everything that did not.
The result — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Moncton, New Brunswick
The return was filed on time and complete. The $11,500 penalty never arose, and the compliance calendar we set means the next deadline is scheduled rather than discovered.
Case Study 6 · Backlog brought current
3 Years Filed, $14,500 Removed From The Assessed Balance — Pre-Investment Startup, Brampton
Client: A startup preparing for its first investment round · Where: Brampton, Ontario · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Years filed3
Assessed balance removed$14,500
CollectionsStopped
The situation — A startup preparing for its first investment round, Brampton, Ontario
A startup preparing for its first investment round in Brampton, Ontario had not filed for 3 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments. The business was carrying a register of individuals with significant control that had never been opened, let alone updated. That came on top of a growing interest balance.
What we did for A startup preparing for its first investment round, Brampton, Ontario
We started with the oldest year and worked forward so each year's closing balances fed the next. We separated the corporate registry deadlines from the CRA deadlines on one calendar, with a named person responsible for each. We filed the years in sequence rather than all at once.
The result — A startup preparing for its first investment round, Brampton, Ontario
Every year is now filed and assessed on actual figures. The notional assessments were vacated and $14,500 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
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.
