6 Direct Deposit Payroll 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 direct deposit payroll work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Scaling without breaking
Growth Handled Without A Missed Filing, $35,000 Freed — Dental Practice, Toronto
Client: A dental practice · Where: Toronto, Ontario · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Cash freed$35,000
Compliance failuresNone
ReportingMonthly
The situation
A dental practice in Toronto, Ontario was opening in a second province — different filing obligations, a different payroll regime, and a director facing a personal assessment for unremitted source deductions already in the file.
What we did
We reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s and put monthly reporting in place so the owner could see the cash effect of growth while there was still time to act on it.
The result
Growth was absorbed without a compliance failure. $35,000 of cash was released, and the monthly reporting now flags a problem while it is still small.
Case Study 2 · Missed incentive claimed
Incentive Review Recovered $117,000 Across 7 Open Years — Logistics Operator with Drivers, Edmonton
Client: A logistics operator with drivers in three provinces · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Recovered$117,000
Open years claimed7
Ongoing trackingIn place
The situation
An incentive review at a logistics operator with drivers in three provinces in Edmonton, Alberta started from a simple question: what has never been claimed? The answer ran to 7 years, driven by long-term contractors who met every test for employment.
What we did
We reconciled the payroll register, general ledger and T4 summary to the cent, then filed the amended slips, documenting eligibility to the standard a reviewer would apply rather than the standard a claim form requires.
The result
The credits produced $117,000 across the open years, and the tracking now in place means the following year's claim is documented as the work happens rather than reconstructed afterwards.
Case Study 3 · Backlog brought current
6 Years Filed, $91,000 Removed From The Assessed Balance — 30-Employee Manufacturer, Surrey
Client: A 30-employee manufacturer · Where: Surrey, British Columbia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Years filed6
Assessed balance removed$91,000
CollectionsStopped
The situation
A 30-employee manufacturer in Surrey, British Columbia had not filed for 6 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments, and the business was carrying remittances still going out monthly after the business had moved to the accelerated threshold on top of a growing interest balance.
What we did
We started with the oldest year and worked forward so each year's closing balances fed the next. We moved the account to the correct remitter frequency, caught up the arrears, and filed a taxpayer relief request that cancelled the bulk of the penalty, filing the years in sequence rather than all at once.
The result
Every year is now filed and assessed on actual figures. The notional assessments were vacated and $91,000 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
Case Study 4 · Objection and relief
$130,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Restaurant with Heavy Seasonal, Burnaby
Client: A restaurant with heavy seasonal turnover · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$130,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation
An assessment of $130,000 landed at a restaurant with heavy seasonal turnover in Burnaby, British Columbia following a desk review. The auditor had not seen the records behind T4s that did not agree to the payroll register or the general ledger.
What we did
We reviewed each contractor against the CRA’s control and integration tests, converted those who met the employment tests, and priced the transition before it was forced by a ruling, then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result
$130,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
Case Study 5 · Records and systems rebuilt
Books Rebuilt From Source, $14,000 In Unclaimed Input Tax Found — Home-Care Agency, Red Deer
Client: A home-care agency · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Unclaimed tax found$14,000
Records rebuilt18 months
ProcessDocumented
The situation
A home-care agency in Red Deer, Alberta could not answer basic questions about its own numbers, because long-term contractors who met every test for employment sat between the bank statements and the ledger.
What we did
We reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s, then documented the process so the work does not depend on any one person remembering how it was done.
The result
Records rebuilt and reconciled, $14,000 recovered in input tax credits that the old file could not support, and a documented monthly process now in place.
Case Study 6 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $72,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — Construction Firm with Union, Barrie
Client: A construction firm with union and non-union crews · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Combined saving$72,000
ScopeCorporate + personal
Future yearsNo rework needed
The situation
Nothing was wrong at a construction firm with union and non-union crews in Barrie, Ontario — the filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. A director facing a personal assessment for unremitted source deductions had never been reviewed.
What we did
We reconciled the payroll register, general ledger and T4 summary to the cent, then filed the amended slips, and 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
$72,000 came off the combined corporate and personal tax bill, and the structure holds for future years without further work.
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.
