6 worked Corporate Governance 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 corporate governance support work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Cash and remittance control
$106,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Incorporating Contractor, Barrie
Client: A contractor incorporating for liability reasons · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$106,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation — A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Barrie, Ontario
A contractor incorporating for liability reasons in Barrie, Ontario was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. Dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them explained most of the gap.
What we did for A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Barrie, Ontario
We reconstructed the minute book with resolutions for each historical dividend and share transaction. We also built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result — A contractor incorporating for liability reasons, Barrie, Ontario
$106,000 was released back into working capital. Remittances have been on time every period since, and the forecast shows the tax outflow before it lands.
Case Study 2 · Backlog brought current
$30,000 Of Arbitrary Assessments Vacated After 5 Years — Holding Structure Founder, Winnipeg
Client: A founder setting up a holding structure · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Arbitrary tax vacated$30,000
Years brought current5
Account statusCurrent
The situation — A founder setting up a holding structure, Winnipeg, Manitoba
5 years of unfiled returns had turned into notional assessments at a founder setting up a holding structure in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Underneath lay a December 31 year-end chosen by default that put the balance due at the worst point in the cash cycle. Collections had already started.
What we did for A founder setting up a holding structure, 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. We then filed every outstanding year in chronological order so the CRA could vacate the notional assessments cleanly.
The result — A founder setting up a holding structure, Winnipeg, Manitoba
All 5 years were accepted as filed. $30,000 of arbitrarily assessed tax was vacated, collections action stopped, and the account is current for the first time in 5 years.
Case Study 3 · Planning that cut the bill
$67,000 Cut From The Annual Tax Bill — Newly Formed Corporation, Red Deer
Client: A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
First-year saving$67,000
RepeatsAnnually
Filing positionUnchanged in risk
The situation — A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Red Deer, Alberta
A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end in Red Deer, Alberta was compliant but paying more than it needed to. The prior year had been filed correctly. It still left a corporation dissolved administratively for missed annual returns while still operating on the table.
What we did for A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Red Deer, Alberta
We modelled the current position against the alternatives before changing anything. Then we filed the change of registered office and the director changes, so registry correspondence reached someone who read it.
The result — A corporation choosing its first fiscal year-end, Red Deer, Alberta
The change saved $67,000 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 4 · Structure rebuilt
Reorganisation Completed Tax-Deferred, $50,000 Saved Each Year — Federally Incorporating Seller, Vancouver
Client: An e-commerce seller incorporating federally · Where: Vancouver, British Columbia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Annual saving$50,000
Tax on reorganisationDeferred
Elections filedOn time
The situation — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Vancouver, British Columbia
An e-commerce seller incorporating federally in Vancouver, British Columbia had outgrown the structure it started with. A registered office address left unchanged through two moves, so registry notices went to an empty unit was the immediate problem. The longer-term one was that the structure blocked the next step.
What we did for An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Vancouver, British Columbia
We mapped the current structure and modelled the target. Then we revived the corporation, filed the outstanding annual returns, and set a compliance calendar covering both the corporate registry and the CRA. The tax-deferred elections were filed on time and the supporting valuations documented.
The result — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Vancouver, British Columbia
The reorganisation completed without triggering tax, and the new structure saves approximately $50,000 a year while removing the exposure the old one carried.
Case Study 5 · Scaling without breaking
Growth Handled Without A Missed Filing, $77,000 Freed — Federal Registry Filer, Burnaby
Client: A federal corporation filing its registry annual return · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Cash freed$77,000
Compliance failuresNone
ReportingMonthly
The situation — A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Burnaby, British Columbia
A federal corporation filing its registry annual return in Burnaby, British Columbia was opening in a second province. That meant different filing obligations and a different payroll regime. A register of individuals with significant control that had never been opened, let alone updated already sat in the file.
What we did for A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Burnaby, British Columbia
We restructured the share capital so dividends could be directed deliberately, respecting the TOSI rules. We then put monthly reporting in place. That let the owner see the cash effect of growth while there was still time to act on it.
The result — A federal corporation filing its registry annual return, Burnaby, British Columbia
Growth was absorbed without a compliance failure. $77,000 of cash was released, and the monthly reporting now flags a problem while it is still small.
Case Study 6 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $57,000 Reversed — Family Business Adding Shares, Guelph
Client: A family business adding a second class of shares · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$57,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation — A family business adding a second class of shares, Guelph, Ontario
A family business adding a second class of shares in Guelph, Ontario had been reassessed for $57,000. 17 days were left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on a spouse added as a shareholder on the assumption dividends could simply be split between two returns.
What we did for A family business adding a second class of shares, Guelph, Ontario
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder. Alongside it, we opened the register of individuals with significant control and put its review on the same annual cycle as the corporate annual return.
The result — A family business adding a second class of shares, Guelph, Ontario
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $57,000 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.
