6 Outsourced Payroll Services 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 outsourced payroll services work, not a general example.
Client: A retail chain across two provinces · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Annual saving$24,500
ReorganisationTax-neutral
StructureMatches operations
The situation
A retail chain across two provinces in Guelph, Ontario was carrying remittances still going out monthly after the business had moved to the accelerated threshold, and every option for fixing it ran through a reorganisation that had to be done without triggering tax.
What we did
Working with the client's lawyer, 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 and prepared the elections, resolutions and valuations the structure needed to stand up.
The result
The structure now matches the business. Annual saving of $24,500, and the reorganisation itself was tax-neutral.
Case Study 2 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $37,500 Reversed — Security Services Contractor, Victoria
Client: A security services contractor · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$37,500
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation
A security services contractor in Victoria, British Columbia had been reassessed for $37,500 and had 13 days left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on long-term contractors who met every test for employment.
What we did
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder, and reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s.
The result
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $37,500 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
Client: A dental practice · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$68,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation
A dental practice in Burnaby, British Columbia had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat company vehicles used personally with no logbook and no taxable benefit reported, and a penalty of $68,000 was accruing.
What we did
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it, then 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.
The result
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $68,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 4 · Records and systems rebuilt
Books Rebuilt From Source, $5,800 In Unclaimed Input Tax Found — 30-Employee Manufacturer, Hamilton
A 30-employee manufacturer in Hamilton, Ontario could not answer basic questions about its own numbers, because T4s that did not agree to the payroll register or the general ledger sat between the bank statements and the ledger.
What we did
We reconciled the payroll register, general ledger and T4 summary to the cent, then filed the amended slips, 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, $5,800 recovered in input tax credits that the old file could not support, and a documented monthly process now in place.
Case Study 5 · Cash and remittance control
Remittance Schedule Corrected, $75,000 Refunded — Home-Care Agency, Vancouver
Client: A home-care agency · Where: Vancouver, British Columbia · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Overpayment refunded$75,000
Late remittances sinceZero
ScheduleAutomated
The situation
Remittances at a home-care agency in Vancouver, British Columbia were consistently late by a few days, which was enough to trigger penalties every quarter. Behind it sat a director facing a personal assessment for unremitted source deductions.
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, then moved the remittance dates into a scheduled process rather than a monthly decision.
The result
Penalties stopped from the following remittance onwards, and $75,000 of overpaid instalments was refunded.
Case Study 6 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $18,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — Growing Tech Team, Kelowna
Client: A growing tech team with stock options · Where: Kelowna, British Columbia · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Combined saving$18,000
ScopeCorporate + personal
Future yearsNo rework needed
The situation
Nothing was wrong at a growing tech team with stock options in Kelowna, British Columbia — the filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. Remittances still going out monthly after the business had moved to the accelerated threshold had never been reviewed.
What we did
We reconstructed vehicle logbooks, calculated the standby charge and operating benefit properly, and amended the affected T4s, 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
$18,000 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.
