6 worked Cryptocurrency Tax Planning 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 cryptocurrency tax planning work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $16,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — First-Time SR&ED Claimant, Saskatoon
The situation — A first-time SR&ED claimant, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Nothing was wrong at a first-time SR&ED claimant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. Eligible development work never claimed because nobody thought it counted as research had never been reviewed.
What we did for A first-time SR&ED claimant, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We identified the eligible projects, documented the technological uncertainty and systematic investigation for each, and filed a claim that survived review without adjustment. 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 first-time SR&ED claimant, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
$16,000 came off the combined corporate and personal tax bill, and the structure holds for future years without further work.
Case Study 2 · Scaling without breaking
Second-Province Expansion Handled, $100,000 Of Cash Released — Digital Media Game Studio, Mississauga
Client: A game studio claiming digital media credits · Where: Mississauga, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Cash released$100,000
New registrationsComplete on day one
Compliance gapsNone
The situation — A game studio claiming digital media credits, Mississauga, Ontario
Revenue at a game studio claiming digital media credits in Mississauga, Ontario was up sharply and cash was tighter than ever. Underneath it sat a claim filed at the 15% non-refundable rate when CCPC status supported 35% refundable.
What we did for A game studio claiming digital media credits, Mississauga, Ontario
We netted the government assistance against the qualified expenditure pool, so the claim matched what would survive a review. Every new obligation was set up before it was triggered, not after. That covered registration, remittance frequency and provincial filing.
The result — A game studio claiming digital media credits, Mississauga, Ontario
$100,000 of cash was released from the working capital cycle. The expansion completed with every registration and filing obligation covered from day one.
Case Study 3 · CRA review defended
$83,000 Proposed Adjustment Withdrawn In Full — Reformulating Food Producer, Barrie
Client: A food producer reformulating its product line · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Adjustment withdrawn$83,000
File closed in5 weeks
Penalties assessedNone
The situation — A food producer reformulating its product line, Barrie, Ontario
A food producer reformulating its product line in Barrie, Ontario received a proposal letter opening a review of cryptocurrency tax planning. The CRA had identified a filing deadline missed by three weeks, extinguishing the entire claim. It proposed an adjustment of $83,000, with 30 days to respond.
What we did for A food producer reformulating its product line, Barrie, Ontario
We treated the response as an evidence exercise rather than an argument. We put contemporaneous tracking in place — project logs tied to time records — so the following year’s claim was defensible by construction. We then indexed every supporting document against the specific line the auditor had questioned.
The result — A food producer reformulating its product line, Barrie, Ontario
The proposed adjustment was withdrawn in full — all $83,000 of it. The file closed in 5 weeks with no change to the assessed amounts and no penalty.
Case Study 4 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $11,500 Across 7 Open Years — Late-Documented Claimant, Brampton
Client: A claimant whose project records were written after the work · Where: Brampton, Ontario · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$11,500
Open years claimed7
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation — A claimant whose project records were written after the work, Brampton, Ontario
An incentive review at a claimant whose project records were written after the work in Brampton, Ontario started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 7 years. It was driven by an amended claim adding two projects after the reporting deadline had already passed.
What we did for A claimant whose project records were written after the work, Brampton, Ontario
We filed the complete project list on the original claim rather than holding projects back for an amendment that could not be made. We documented eligibility to the standard a reviewer would apply rather than the standard a claim form requires.
The result — A claimant whose project records were written after the work, Brampton, Ontario
The credits produced $11,500 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 · Sale and succession
Intergenerational Transfer Completed With $395,000 Deferred — Materials Science Company, Winnipeg
Client: A materials science company · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Tax deferred$395,000
TransferCompleted
RecordsReview-ready
The situation — A materials science company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
A generational transfer at a materials science company in Winnipeg, Manitoba had been discussed for years without a plan. Retained cash well above what the business needed to operate meant the transfer as contemplated would have been fully taxable.
What we did for A materials science company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
We confirmed CCPC status and refiled at the enhanced 35% refundable rate. We sequenced the steps so each one was complete and documented before the next depended on it.
The result — A materials science company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
$395,000 of tax was deferred through the transfer, and the successor generation took over a corporation whose records stood up to review.
Case Study 6 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $93,000 Cut From A 5-Year Backlog — Clean-Technology Startup, Lethbridge
Client: A clean-technology startup · Where: Lethbridge, Alberta · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$93,000
Backlog cleared5 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A clean-technology startup, Lethbridge, Alberta
By the time a clean-technology startup in Lethbridge, Alberta called, 5 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat a provincial credit left unclaimed alongside a successful federal SR&ED claim.
What we did for A clean-technology startup, Lethbridge, Alberta
We reconstructed the records year by year. We sat with the technical staff to write each project description around the uncertainty they actually faced and the tests they ran. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A clean-technology startup, Lethbridge, Alberta
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $93,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
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.
