6 Multi-Province 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 multi-province payroll work, not a general example.
Case Study 1 · Missed incentive claimed
$68,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — 30-Employee Manufacturer, Saskatoon
A 30-employee manufacturer in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan had been filing for 7 years without ever claiming the incentives its activity qualified for. Behind that sat remittances still going out monthly after the business had moved to the accelerated threshold.
What we did
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice, then 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.
The result
$68,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 2 · Planning that cut the bill
$34,000 Saved By Correcting What Prior Filings Had Missed — Dental Practice, Edmonton
Client: A dental practice · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Saving identified$34,000
RecurringYes
Positions documentedAll
The situation
A dental practice in Edmonton, Alberta asked for a second opinion on multi-province payroll after three years of rising tax. The review found company vehicles used personally with no logbook and no taxable benefit reported.
What we did
We built the comparison first — current structure against two alternatives — and then reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s.
The result
First-year saving of $34,000, with the same benefit recurring. Every position taken is documented and supported in the file.
Case Study 3 · Deadline rescue
Filed On Time From A Standing Start, $144,000 Penalty Avoided — Security Services Contractor, Guelph
A security services contractor in Guelph, Ontario came to us 8 weeks before its filing deadline with T4s that did not agree to the payroll register or the general ledger. A late filing would have triggered a penalty of roughly $144,000 before interest.
What we did
We worked backwards from the deadline. 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, prioritising the items that actually gated the filing and deferring everything that did not.
The result
The return was filed on time and complete. The $144,000 penalty never arose, and the compliance calendar we set means the next deadline is scheduled rather than discovered.
Case Study 4 · Backlog brought current
5 Years Filed, $14,500 Removed From The Assessed Balance — Retail Chain Across Two, Red Deer
Client: A retail chain across two provinces · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Years filed5
Assessed balance removed$14,500
CollectionsStopped
The situation
A retail chain across two provinces in Red Deer, Alberta had not filed for 5 years. The CRA had issued arbitrary assessments, and the business was carrying a director facing a personal assessment for unremitted source deductions 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 reconciled the payroll register, general ledger and T4 summary to the cent, then filed the amended slips, 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 $14,500 of the estimated balance came off, with a payment arrangement covering the rest.
Case Study 5 · CRA review defended
Audit Defence Closed In 9 Weeks, $42,000 Cleared — Home-Care Agency, London
A home-care agency in London, Ontario was selected for review after remittances still going out monthly after the business had moved to the accelerated threshold showed up in the CRA's automated matching. The proposed adjustment on multi-province payroll came to $42,000.
What we did
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. Every figure in the response traced to a source record the auditor could verify without asking a second question.
The result
The review closed with no change. $42,000 of proposed tax came off the table, and the documentation now in place makes the next review a short one.
Case Study 6 · Cash and remittance control
$129,000 Of Working Capital Freed From The Tax Cycle — Restaurant with Heavy Seasonal, Ottawa
Client: A restaurant with heavy seasonal turnover · Where: Ottawa, Ontario · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Working capital freed$129,000
On-time remittancesEvery period since
Forecast horizon13 weeks
The situation
A restaurant with heavy seasonal turnover in Ottawa, Ontario was profitable on paper and short of cash every month. Long-term contractors who met every test for employment explained most of the gap.
What we did
We reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s and built a thirteen-week cash view so tax payments stopped competing with payroll for the same dollars.
The result
$129,000 was released back into working capital. Remittances have been on time every period since, and the forecast shows the tax outflow before it lands.
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.
