Receiving a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can trigger immediate anxiety for any business owner in Mississauga. Whether it’s a notice of review, an audit notification, or a request for documentation, CRA contact demands swift, strategic action. At Insight Accounting CPA, we specialize in CRA audit defense and tax representation, protecting businesses across Mississauga, Toronto, Brampton, Oakville, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from penalties, interest, and excessive tax assessments.
With over 15 years of experience and Ex-KPMG expertise on our team, we’ve successfully represented hundreds of Ontario businesses through CRA audits, Voluntary Disclosure Programs (VDP), back tax filings, and penalty negotiations. Our 79+ Google Reviews with a 4.9-star rating reflect our clients’ confidence in our ability to resolve even the most complex tax disputes.
Comprehensive CRA Audit Defense Services in Mississauga
When the CRA comes knocking, you need experienced representation immediately. Our tax professionals provide complete audit defense services designed to protect your interests and minimize financial exposure.
CRA Audit Representation
A CRA audit can encompass income tax, HST/GST, payroll remittances, or corporate structure. We represent Mississauga businesses through all audit types:
- Desk audits (correspondence-based reviews)
- Field audits (CRA officer visits your business)
- Net worth assessments
- Trust account examinations
- Industry-specific audits targeting restaurants, construction, cash businesses
- Transfer pricing audits for international transactions
Our approach involves becoming your primary point of contact with the CRA, managing all correspondence, organizing documentation, preparing written submissions, and negotiating directly with auditors to achieve the most favorable outcome possible.
Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP)
If you’ve made errors on past tax returns or failed to report income, the Voluntary Disclosure Program offers a path to compliance with significantly reduced penalties. For businesses across Toronto, Brampton, and Mississauga, VDP can mean the difference between devastating penalties and manageable corrections.
Our VDP services include:
- Eligibility assessment for voluntary disclosure
- Complete VDP application preparation
- Reconstruction of historical financial records
- Negotiation with CRA for penalty relief
- Anonymous pre-disclosure inquiries
- Representation throughout the VDP process
The VDP is complex and time-sensitive. One mistake in the application can disqualify you from relief, which is why experienced representation from our Mississauga CPA firm is essential.
Back Tax Filing and Compliance
Many GTA business owners fall behind on tax filings due to illness, business challenges, or simple overwhelm. Unfiled returns create compound problems: penalties accrue, the CRA may file arbitrary assessments against you, and your stress multiplies.
We help Mississauga businesses get back on track with:
- Reconstruction of financial records for missing years
- Preparation and filing of outstanding T1, T2, T3, and T5013 returns
- HST/GST return catch-up filing
- Payroll remittance corrections
- Penalty and interest relief applications (Taxpayer Relief)
- Payment arrangement negotiations with CRA Collections
Our patent-pending AI technology accelerates the record reconstruction process, reducing the time and cost required to bring your filings current.
Penalty Reduction and Taxpayer Relief
CRA penalties and interest can exceed the original tax owing. The Taxpayer Relief provisions allow the CRA to cancel or reduce penalties and interest in cases of extraordinary circumstances, financial hardship, CRA error, or actions beyond your control.
Our Mississauga tax professionals prepare comprehensive Taxpayer Relief applications that:
- Document the circumstances that led to late filing or payment
- Present financial hardship evidence where applicable
- Cite relevant case law and CRA policy
- Include supporting documentation and sworn statements
- Follow up systematically with CRA decision-makers
Success rates for Taxpayer Relief applications vary dramatically based on preparation quality. Our experience representing Ontario businesses results in significantly higher approval rates.
Notice of Objection and Tax Appeals
If you disagree with a CRA assessment, you have 90 days (for most taxpayers) to file a Notice of Objection. This critical deadline cannot be missed. We prepare and file Notices of Objection for Mississauga businesses challenging:
- Income reassessments
- Denied deductions or expenses
- HST/GST assessments
- Transfer pricing adjustments
- Penalties for alleged gross negligence
- RRSP over-contribution penalties
If the objection is unsuccessful, we can represent you through the Tax Court of Canada appeal process, working with specialized tax litigation counsel when required.
What to Do When CRA Contacts Your Mississauga Business
The actions you take in the first 48 hours after receiving CRA correspondence can significantly impact the outcome. Here’s our recommended response protocol:
Step 1: Do Not Ignore the Letter
Ignoring CRA correspondence never makes it go away. Unresponded letters escalate to assessments, collection action, bank account freezes, and wage garnishments. Read the letter carefully and note all deadlines.
Step 2: Do Not Provide Information Without Professional Review
Many Mississauga business owners inadvertently harm their position by providing too much information, making verbal admissions, or misunderstanding CRA requests. Before responding, consult with our experienced accounting professionals.
Step 3: Contact Insight Accounting CPA Immediately
Call us at (905) 270-1873 the day you receive CRA correspondence. We’ll review the letter, explain your options, and take over communications if you authorize us as your representative. Early involvement by experienced counsel dramatically improves outcomes.
Step 4: Organize Your Records
While we’re developing your response strategy, begin gathering relevant documentation: bank statements, receipts, invoices, contracts, and prior tax returns. We’ll guide you on exactly what’s needed.
Step 5: Let Us Handle CRA Communications
Once we’re retained, all CRA correspondence goes through our office. This ensures consistent messaging, prevents inadvertent admissions, and allows us to control the information flow to protect your interests.
Common CRA Audit Triggers for Mississauga Businesses
Understanding what triggers audits helps GTA businesses avoid scrutiny. Common red flags include:
Cash-Heavy Businesses
Restaurants, retail, construction, and personal services businesses in Mississauga, Toronto, and Brampton face higher audit risk due to cash transactions. The CRA uses industry-specific ratios to identify potential unreported income.
Disproportionate Expense Claims
When your claimed expenses are significantly higher than industry norms for your revenue level, CRA’s computer systems flag your return for review. Vehicle expenses, meals and entertainment, and home office deductions receive particular scrutiny.
Losses Year After Year
While legitimate businesses can lose money, chronic losses prompt CRA to question whether your venture is a business or a hobby. Ontario business owners must demonstrate a reasonable expectation of profit.
Large Fluctuations in Income
Dramatic year-over-year income changes without corresponding business events trigger reviews. Our Mississauga accounting services help you maintain documentation that explains legitimate variations.
Missing or Late Filings
Unfiled returns virtually guarantee CRA contact. The agency may file an arbitrary assessment based on their estimates, which are almost always unfavorable to you.
Informant Tips
The CRA maintains a tip line where competitors, ex-employees, or former spouses report suspected tax evasion. These tips generate focused audits of specific allegations.
Why Mississauga Businesses Trust Insight Accounting CPA for CRA Defense
Big Four Training, Boutique Service
Our founder, Bader A. Chowdry, CPA, CA, LPA, brings KPMG experience to CRA defense. You receive world-class expertise with personalized attention and responsiveness.
Proven Track Record
We’ve successfully negotiated penalty reductions, VDP approvals, and favorable audit settlements for businesses across the GTA. Our 79+ Google Reviews averaging 4.9 stars demonstrate consistent client satisfaction.
Proactive Audit Prevention
Beyond defense, our tax planning services help Mississauga businesses structure operations to minimize audit risk. We ensure your returns are accurate, well-documented, and defensible before filing.
Technology-Enhanced Service
Our patent-pending AI technology helps us analyze large volumes of transactions quickly, reconstruct missing records efficiently, and identify documentation gaps before the CRA does.
Comprehensive Business Services
CRA issues often stem from poor bookkeeping or inadequate tax planning. As your complete business advisors, we address the root causes while defending the immediate crisis. Our accounting services prevent future problems.
Frequently Asked Questions About CRA Audits in Mississauga
What should I do immediately after receiving a CRA audit letter?
Do not ignore it. Read the letter carefully to understand what the CRA is requesting and note all deadlines. Do not provide information or make statements to the CRA without professional advice. Contact Insight Accounting CPA at (905) 270-1873 immediately. We’ll review the letter, explain your rights and obligations, and take over communications with the CRA if you authorize us as your representative.
How long does a CRA audit typically take?
Audit duration varies significantly based on complexity. Simple desk audits of single-issue questions may resolve in weeks. Comprehensive field audits of multi-year corporate tax, HST, and payroll can extend 6-18 months. Having experienced representation typically shortens the process by ensuring efficient, complete responses that satisfy CRA requirements the first time.
Can the CRA audit years that I’ve already been assessed on?
Yes. The CRA can reassess most returns for up to three years after the initial Notice of Assessment. This period extends to four years for HST/GST. If the CRA suspects fraud or gross negligence, there is no time limit—they can reassess any year. This makes accurate, defensible tax filing essential for all Mississauga businesses.
Will I owe penalties and interest if the CRA finds errors?
If the audit results in additional tax owing, you will owe interest from the original due date. Penalties apply if the CRA determines you were negligent or made false statements. Gross negligence penalties can reach 50% of the tax understated. Our representation focuses on minimizing or eliminating penalties through Taxpayer Relief applications and by demonstrating reasonable care in your tax preparation.
How can Insight Accounting CPA help if I haven’t filed tax returns in years?
We specialize in bringing Mississauga businesses back into compliance. We’ll reconstruct your financial records using bank statements and available documentation, prepare all outstanding returns, and file them with the CRA. We simultaneously prepare Voluntary Disclosure Program applications where eligible and Taxpayer Relief requests to reduce or eliminate penalties. We then negotiate payment arrangements if you cannot pay the full amount immediately. Our goal is to resolve your tax debt and get you back to focusing on your Ontario business.
Industries We Serve Across Mississauga and the GTA
Our CRA audit defense experience spans virtually every industry operating in Ontario:
- Restaurants and food services (high audit risk)
- Construction and contractors (frequent HST/GST scrutiny)
- Real estate investors and developers
- Professional services (doctors, lawyers, consultants)
- Retail and e-commerce
- Technology and software companies
- Healthcare and dental practices
- Personal services (salons, spas, fitness)
- Transportation and logistics
- Manufacturing and distribution
Take Control of Your CRA Situation Today
Every day you wait to address CRA correspondence, your situation becomes more difficult and expensive. Penalties and interest accrue daily. The CRA’s position hardens. Your stress compounds. Don’t face the Canada Revenue Agency alone.
Whether you’re dealing with an active audit, considering voluntary disclosure, or need to file years of back returns, our Mississauga CPA team is ready to help. We serve businesses throughout Toronto, Brampton, Oakville, and the entire GTA with the expertise and responsiveness you need during tax crises.
Contact Insight Accounting CPA today at (905) 270-1873. We typically respond within hours, not days. Your initial consultation will give you clarity on your situation, your options, and the likely outcomes. Let our 15+ years of experience and Big Four training work for you.
Visit our contact page to schedule your consultation, or learn more about our team. When you’re facing the CRA, experience matters.
By Bader A. Chowdry, CPA, CA, LPA | Insight Accounting CPA