6 Business Restructuring Support 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 business restructuring support work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Missed incentive claimed
$12,500 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Family Business Adding a, Red Deer
Client: A family business adding a second class of shares · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$12,500
Years adjusted4
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation
A family business adding a second class of shares in Red Deer, Alberta had been filing for 4 years without ever claiming the incentives its activity qualified for. Behind that sat a December 31 year-end chosen by default that put the balance due at the worst point in the cash cycle.
What we did
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then reconstructed the minute book with resolutions for each historical dividend and share transaction.
The result
$12,500 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Remittances at an e-commerce seller incorporating federally in London, Ontario were consistently late by a few days, which was enough to trigger penalties every quarter. Behind it sat a corporation dissolved administratively for missed annual returns while still operating.
What we did
We revived the corporation, filed the outstanding annual returns, and set a compliance calendar covering both the corporate registry and the CRA, then moved the remittance dates into a scheduled process rather than a monthly decision.
The result
Penalties stopped from the following remittance onwards, and $80,000 of overpaid instalments was refunded.
Case Study 3 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $12,000 Of Annual Savings — Founder Setting Up a, Winnipeg
Client: A founder setting up a holding structure · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$12,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation
The structure at a founder setting up a holding structure in Winnipeg, Manitoba had been set up years earlier for a business that no longer existed, and a single class of common shares that made income splitting impossible had become expensive.
What we did
We restructured the share capital so dividends could be directed deliberately, respecting the TOSI rules. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result
$12,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 4 · CRA review defended
$68,000 Reassessment Reduced To Nil On Review — Consultant Incorporating After Two, Calgary
Client: A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment · Where: Calgary, Alberta · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Reassessment reduced toNil
Tax protected$68,000
Prior filingsUndisturbed
The situation
A review notice arrived at a consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment in Calgary, Alberta covering business restructuring support for two tax years. The auditor's working position was an adjustment of $68,000, driven by a December 31 year-end chosen by default that put the balance due at the worst point in the cash cycle.
What we did
Rather than negotiate, we rebuilt the record. 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 and submitted a point-by-point response that answered each proposed adjustment with the document behind it.
The result
The auditor accepted the documented position and closed the review without adjustment, protecting $68,000 and leaving the prior filings undisturbed.
Case Study 5 · Records and systems rebuilt
Month-End Close Cut From 11 Weeks To 5 Days — Contractor Incorporating for Liability, Barrie
Client: A contractor incorporating for liability reasons · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Close time before11 weeks
Close time after5 days
Year-endReview, not rebuild
The situation
The accounting file at a contractor incorporating for liability reasons in Barrie, Ontario was built on GST/HST collected for eight months before the RT account was ever opened. The year-end had taken 11 weeks each of the last three years.
What we did
We reconstructed the minute book with resolutions for each historical dividend and share transaction and moved the reconciliations into the monthly cycle, so the year-end stopped being a rebuild.
The result
The file reconciles. Month-end closes in 5 days instead of 11 weeks, and the year-end is a review rather than a reconstruction.
Case Study 6 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $45,000 Cut From A 5-Year Backlog — Startup Preparing for Its, Kitchener
Client: A startup preparing for its first investment round · Where: Kitchener, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$45,000
Backlog cleared5 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation
By the time a startup preparing for its first investment round in Kitchener, Ontario called, 5 years were outstanding and the CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them.
What we did
We reconstructed the records year by year and revived the corporation, filed the outstanding annual returns, and set a compliance calendar covering both the corporate registry and the CRA. 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 $45,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
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.
