6 worked Business Restructuring Support 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 restructuring support work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Missed incentive claimed
$12,500 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Family Business Adding Shares, 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, Red Deer, Alberta
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 dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them.
What we did for A family business adding a second class of shares, Red Deer, Alberta
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then filed the change of registered office and the director changes, so registry correspondence reached someone who read it.
The result — A family business adding a second class of shares, Red Deer, Alberta
$12,500 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 2 · Cash and remittance control
Remittance Schedule Corrected, $80,000 Refunded — Newly Incorporating Consultant, London
Client: A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment · Where: London, Ontario · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Overpayment refunded$80,000
Late remittances sinceZero
ScheduleAutomated
The situation — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, London, Ontario
Remittances at a consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment in London, Ontario were consistently late by a few days, which was enough to trigger penalties every quarter. Behind it sat a single class of common shares that made income splitting impossible.
What we did for A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, London, Ontario
We opened the register of individuals with significant control and put its review on the same annual cycle as the corporate annual return, then moved the remittance dates into a scheduled process rather than a monthly decision.
The result — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, London, Ontario
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 — Incorporating Contractor, Winnipeg
Client: A contractor incorporating for liability reasons · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$12,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation — A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The structure at a contractor incorporating for liability reasons in Winnipeg, Manitoba had been set up years earlier for a business that no longer existed, and a corporation dissolved administratively for missed annual returns while still operating had become expensive.
What we did for A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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 reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result — A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Winnipeg, Manitoba
$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 — Holding Structure Founder, Calgary
Client: A founder setting up a holding structure · Where: Calgary, Alberta · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Reassessment reduced toNil
Tax protected$68,000
Prior filingsUndisturbed
The situation — A founder setting up a holding structure, Calgary, Alberta
A review notice arrived at a founder setting up a holding structure 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 spouse added as a shareholder on the assumption dividends could simply be split between two returns.
What we did for A founder setting up a holding structure, Calgary, Alberta
Rather than negotiate, we rebuilt the record. We restructured the share capital so dividends could be directed deliberately, respecting the TOSI rules and submitted a point-by-point response that answered each proposed adjustment with the document behind it.
The result — A founder setting up a holding structure, Calgary, Alberta
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 — Newly Formed Corporation, Barrie
Client: A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Close time before11 weeks
Close time after5 days
Year-endReview, not rebuild
The situation — A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Barrie, Ontario
The accounting file at a corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end in Barrie, Ontario was built on dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them. The year-end had taken 11 weeks each of the last three years.
What we did for A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Barrie, Ontario
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 — A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Barrie, Ontario
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 — Federally Incorporating Seller, Kitchener
The situation — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Kitchener, Ontario
By the time an e-commerce seller incorporating federally in Kitchener, Ontario called, 5 years were outstanding and the CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat a registered office address left unchanged through two moves, so registry notices went to an empty unit.
What we did for An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Kitchener, Ontario
We reconstructed the records year by year and selected a year-end that put the balance-due date after the seasonal cash peak, then registered every program account the business actually needed. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Kitchener, Ontario
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, Founder and Tax Accountant. 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.
