6 worked Corporation Revival 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 corporation revival work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Deadline rescue
$143,000 Late-Filing Penalty Cancelled On Relief Application — Federally Incorporating Seller, Toronto
The situation — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Toronto, Ontario
An e-commerce seller incorporating federally in Toronto, Ontario had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat a register of individuals with significant control that had never been opened, let alone updated. A penalty of $143,000 was accruing.
What we did for An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Toronto, Ontario
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it. Then we filed the change of registered office and the director changes, so registry correspondence reached someone who read it.
The result — An e-commerce seller incorporating federally, Toronto, Ontario
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $143,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 2 · Cash and remittance control
$16,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Provincially Incorporating Trades Business, Surrey
Client: A trades business incorporating provincially · Where: Surrey, British Columbia · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$16,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation — A trades business incorporating provincially, Surrey, British Columbia
A trades business incorporating provincially in Surrey, British Columbia was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. A December 31 year-end chosen by default that put the balance due at the worst point in the cash cycle explained most of the gap.
What we did for A trades business incorporating provincially, Surrey, British Columbia
We restructured the share capital so dividends could be directed deliberately, respecting the TOSI rules. We also built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result — A trades business incorporating provincially, Surrey, British Columbia
$16,000 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 3 · Scaling without breaking
Scaled To 28 Staff With $135,000 Of Working Capital Freed — Holding Structure Founder, Red Deer
Client: A founder setting up a holding structure · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Headcount reached28
Working capital freed$135,000
Missed deadlinesZero
The situation — A founder setting up a holding structure, Red Deer, Alberta
A founder setting up a holding structure in Red Deer, Alberta was growing fast, with headcount reaching 28 in eighteen months. The back office had not kept up. GST/HST collected for eight months before the RT account was ever opened was the first thing to break.
What we did for A founder setting up a holding structure, Red Deer, Alberta
We revived the corporation, filed the outstanding annual returns, and set a compliance calendar covering both the corporate registry and the CRA. We built the compliance calendar for the size the business was becoming rather than the size it had been.
The result — A founder setting up a holding structure, Red Deer, Alberta
The business reached 28 staff with no missed remittance and no late filing. $135,000 of working capital was freed in the process.
Case Study 4 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $38,500 Across 6 Open Years — Converting Partnership, Calgary
Client: A partnership converting to a corporation · Where: Calgary, Alberta · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$38,500
Open years claimed6
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation — A partnership converting to a corporation, Calgary, Alberta
An incentive review at a partnership converting to a corporation in Calgary, Alberta started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 6 years. It was driven by a registered office address left unchanged through two moves, so registry notices went to an empty unit.
What we did for A partnership converting to a corporation, Calgary, Alberta
We opened the register of individuals with significant control and put its review on the same annual cycle as the corporate annual return. We documented eligibility to the standard a reviewer would apply rather than the standard a claim form requires.
The result — A partnership converting to a corporation, Calgary, Alberta
The credits produced $38,500 across the open years. The tracking now in place means the following year's claim is documented as the work happens rather than reconstructed afterwards.
Case Study 5 · Backlog brought current
6 Years Filed, $118,000 Removed From The Assessed Balance — Newly Incorporating Consultant, Halifax
Client: A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment · Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Years filed6
Assessed balance removed$118,000
CollectionsStopped
The situation — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment in Halifax, Nova Scotia had not filed for 6 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments. The business was carrying dividends paid for three years with no directors’ resolutions behind them. That came on top of a growing interest balance.
What we did for A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Halifax, Nova Scotia
We started with the oldest year and worked forward so each year's closing balances fed the next. We reconstructed the minute book with resolutions for each historical dividend and share transaction. We filed the years in sequence rather than all at once.
The result — A consultant incorporating after two years of self-employment, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Every year is now filed and assessed on actual figures. The notional assessments were vacated and $118,000 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
Case Study 6 · Objection and relief
$103,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Extra-Provincial Registrant, Victoria
Client: An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$103,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation — An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Victoria, British Columbia
An assessment of $103,000 landed at an owner registering extra-provincially in a second province in Victoria, British Columbia following a desk review. It turned on a spouse added as a shareholder on the assumption dividends could simply be split between two returns. The auditor had not seen the records behind it.
What we did for An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Victoria, British Columbia
We separated the corporate registry deadlines from the CRA deadlines on one calendar, with a named person responsible for each. We then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result — An owner registering extra-provincially in a second province, Victoria, British Columbia
$103,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
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.
