CRA Froze Your Bank Account for Unpaid GST – What Next?

A sudden bank account freeze by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can paralyze your business operations. One day you’re managing cash flow; the next, you have no access to funds to pay suppliers, employees, or bills. This scenario often stems from unpaid Goods and Services Tax (GST) remittances. In this high-trust advisory, we explain why CRA freezes bank accounts for GST debts, what the freeze means for your company, and how to respond within the first 48 hours. We also cover legal remedies, prevention tips, and answer common questions. Quebec-based SMEs and CFOs will find guidance on both federal CRA actions and Quebec’s Agence du Revenu (ARQ) for GST/QST enforcement.

Legal Framework: CRA’s Power to Freeze Accounts Under the Excise Tax Act

The CRA has broad legal authority under tax law to collect unpaid taxes without a court order. For GST specifically, Section 317 of the Excise Tax Act (ETA) empowers CRA to issue a “Requirement to Pay” (RTP) notice to third parties (like your bank). An RTP legally compels the bank to send funds from your account to CRA to satisfy a tax debt. This power is immediate and does not require a judge’s approval. Importantly, GST is considered a trust fund (tax you collected on behalf of the government), so CRA is allowed to act quickly – the ETA imposes no 90-day waiting period on collections. In practice, that means if your business has an outstanding GST balance, CRA can move to freeze accounts as soon as a Notice of Assessment is issued and a verbal or written warning has been attempted.

In Quebec, Revenu Québec (ARQ) has equivalent powers under the Tax Administration Act (Quebec) to enforce GST and QST remittances. Under federal-provincial agreements, ARQ administers GST for Quebec businesses, so a Quebec company behind on GST/QST could face a similar freeze either by CRA or ARQ. The bottom line: ignoring GST payment demands can trigger an RTP, freezing your funds pursuant to the law.

What Happens When CRA Freezes a Bank Account?

When CRA issues a Requirement to Pay to your bank, your bank must comply immediately. Here’s a step-by-step of what occurs:

• Account Freeze and Remittance: The bank is legally obligated to freeze the account and remit any available funds up to the amount owed directly to CRA. This process is swift and requires no court order or further notice to you.

• No Access to Funds: Once the RTP is in effect, you cannot withdraw or transfer money from the account. The freeze applies to all types of accounts – business accounts, personal accounts of the debtor, and even joint accounts. Any outgoing payments (cheques, pre-authorized debits) will be rejected due to the freeze.

• Capture of New Deposits: The freeze isn’t just a one-time grab of current funds. Any new deposits are automatically captured by the bank and forwarded to CRA as well. For example, if clients deposit payments or you attempt to add funds, that money will also be seized up to the debt amount.

• Duration of Freeze: The account remains frozen until your tax debt is cleared or CRA lifts the RTP. There is no preset time limit – CRA can keep the freeze in place indefinitely until the GST arrears (plus interest/penalties) are paid in full. Only two events normally stop the freeze: (1) full payment or a negotiated arrangement with CRA, or (2) a legal stay of collections (for instance, if you file a consumer proposal or bankruptcy, which legally halts CRA collections).

In practical terms, a CRA GST bank freeze means your operating capital is locked up without warning. CRA typically will have made some attempts to warn you (calls or letters), but they are not obliged to give a detailed heads-up about the freeze itself. Many businesses first discover the situation when transactions start bouncing. Understanding the consequences is critical, so we turn to those next.

Consequences of a Frozen Bank Account (RTP)

A CRA bank freeze via RTP has immediate and severe consequences for a business’s finances and stakeholders:

• Cash Flow Disruption: Overnight, you lose access to cash needed for day-to-day operations. Covering daily expenses becomes a scramble, as bills, supplier payments, and rent cannot be paid normally. This liquidity crisis can spiral into broader financial distress.

• Payroll and HR Crisis: If a freeze hits on the eve of payroll, you may struggle to pay employees on time. Payroll direct debits from the frozen account will bounce, leading to unpaid wages. This not only harms employee morale but can violate labor laws. Directors and officers should note: failing to pay wages could open personal liability under employment standards. It’s a critical situation requiring immediate action (more on that below).

• Bounced Cheques & Credit Damage: Any cheques you’ve issued (to suppliers, utilities, loans, etc.) may bounce, and pre-authorized payments will fail. This leads to NSF fees, late penalties, and damaged relationships with creditors. Your company’s credit rating can suffer indirectly as obligations go unpaid and collection notices pile up. (RTPs themselves aren’t reported to credit bureaus, but the downstream effects of unpaid bills and bounced payments certainly impact creditworthiness.)

• Legal Exposure for Directors: GST collected but not remitted is considered a trust fund, and the Excise Tax Act allows CRA to hold corporate directors personally liable for unremitted GST/HST in some cases. In other words, if the company cannot pay, CRA can assess the directors individually for the debt. That means personal bank accounts or assets of directors can be targeted through a separate RTP or legal action. This ratchets up the pressure on owner-managers – a business tax problem can quickly become a personal financial problem.

• Reputational Damage: A prolonged freeze or visible collection action can hurt your business reputation. Key suppliers or partners might learn that payments bounced for “CRA hold” reasons, raising concerns about your company’s stability. In tight-knit industries (especially in Quebec’s business community), news of CRA enforcement can erode trust. You might also face tougher conversations with your bank, as banks are notified of your tax delinquency via the RTP and could reassess your credit facilities.

Each of these consequences underscores why immediate response is vital. Next, we outline what to do in the critical first 48 hours after discovering CRA has frozen your account.

Mackisen’s Emergency Response Strategy (First 48 Hours)

Facing a CRA GST bank freeze is a financial emergency. At Mackisen CPA, we approach the first 1–2 days with a coordinated plan to minimize damage and start resolving the issue. Here’s how we help clients navigate the crisis:

1. Verify and Gather Information: First, we confirm the source and scope of the freeze. This involves contacting your bank to obtain a copy of the CRA’s Requirement to Pay notice and understanding how much is being demanded. It’s important to know if the freeze covers one account or multiple, and the total GST arrears including interest. We also review your CRA account statements and any recent notices to piece together the timeline (e.g. was a Demand to Pay letter issued earlier?).

2. Immediate Communication with CRA Collections: Time is of the essence, so we contact the CRA Collections officer promptly – usually within hours of being engaged. As your authorized representative, Mackisen will handle these communications so that you do not inadvertently say anything to harm your case (it’s well-known that anything you tell CRA can be used in their collection efforts). Our goal in this initial call is to stop the bleeding: we inform CRA that the business is actively working on a resolution, and we request a short-term hold on further enforcement. In many cases, CRA is willing to pause additional actions (like expanding the freeze to other accounts or garnishing receivables) once they know a professional is addressing the file.

3. Negotiate Release or Relief: Mackisen immediately opens negotiations to lift or ease the freeze. We present a plan to CRA for how the GST debt will be addressed – this could involve a payment arrangement proposal or a partial lump-sum payment followed by installments. The key is offering a realistic plan that gives CRA confidence they will get paid. We leverage our Big-4 style expertise in crafting proposals that meet CRA’s requirements while keeping your business afloat. For example, if you can pay a portion upfront, we negotiate whether CRA will release the bank account once that portion is received and then accept scheduled payments for the remainder. Our team also raises the issue of critical payments (like payroll or essential supplier cheques) – in some cases, we’ve secured a rapid unfreeze of funds once CRA saw a good-faith payment and the urgent need (one client’s account was unfrozen in 48 hours after we negotiated terms acceptable to CRA).

4. File Compliance and Paperwork: If your GST filings are not up to date, CRA will generally refuse to lift a freeze. So in parallel, we help you file any missing GST/HST returns or correct errors in reported amounts. Often, collection action stems from unfiled returns or estimated assessments. By getting all returns filed (even if you can’t pay the full balance immediately), we show CRA that the non-compliance is being rectified. Mackisen also examines the assessment for any obvious inaccuracies – if the CRA’s amount is too high due to a mistake, we flag this and work to correct the record quickly. In some cases, an objection or appeal might be warranted for a disputable tax amount, but since objections do not stop GST collection, our immediate focus stays on a payment solution.

5. Protect the Directors and Owners: A crucial part of our strategy is shielding individuals from personal liability. We advise on steps to prevent a director’s liability assessment – for instance, by paying off the trust portion of the debt (GST collected) as a priority or demonstrating that directors acted with due diligence. If the CRA has already issued or is threatening a director liability claim, Mackisen coordinates with tax legal counsel to contest that (e.g. showing the director resigned more than 2 years ago or exercised proper oversight). Our goal is to keep the problem contained to the company and avoid a freeze spreading to personal accounts.

6. Document Hardship and Essential Needs: If your case involves genuine financial hardship (e.g. the freeze means you cannot meet essential expenses like payroll or rent), we prepare a hardship relief request to CRA. This can involve submitting a cash flow forecast, list of critical upcoming payments, and a cover letter invoking CRA’s internal policy to consider hardship. While CRA is not required to release funds, they have been directed by courts to consider taxpayer hardship in collection enforcement. A well-documented request can persuade CRA to unfreeze a portion of funds or hold off further action, buying you time to reorganize finances.

Throughout these first 48 hours, Mackisen’s team is in constant contact with CRA and with you, the client. Our approach is proactive and relentless – we leave no stone unturned to get your funds released or at least get an agreement in principle. Every hour counts when a business can’t access its money, so we push for rapid resolution. Our intervention often results in CRA lifting or modifying the RTP within days, not weeks.

Legal Remedies and Options for the Freeze

Many owner-managers ask if there are legal ways to fight or reverse a CRA bank freeze. It’s important to set expectations: CRA’s powers to collect GST are very broad, and courts have generally upheld these powers. However, you do have a few options to mitigate the impact:

• Financial Hardship Relief: CRA policy allows that enforcement action may be altered if it’s shown to cause financial hardship. In fact, CRA will consider withdrawing an RTP if the action is proven to jeopardize the taxpayer’s basic operations or livelihood. In practice, this means you (or your representative) must contact CRA and present evidence of hardship – for a business, that could be proof that you can’t meet payroll or critical expenses because of the freeze. CRA may then decide to temporarily lift or soften the freeze (for example, releasing some funds or not seizing new deposits) to allow the business to survive. Hardship relief is discretionary, but it’s more likely to succeed if accompanied by a concrete plan for debt payment.

• Posting Security or Guarantees: Another remedy is offering CRA an alternative form of security for the debt. CRA’s own collections guidelines state that they can accept security in addition to or instead of immediate payment. This might involve, for instance, posting a letter of credit, bond, or lien on property equivalent to the debt amount. If CRA is confident it has secured the debt by other means, they may release your bank account. Small businesses don’t always have unencumbered assets to pledge, but if you do (or a third party is willing to guarantee the debt), this can be a way to unfreeze cash while still assuring CRA of eventual payment.

• Challenging the RTP (Legal Appeal): Formally challenging a Requirement to Pay is difficult. There is no direct appeal process for an RTP itself – it’s an administrative action, not a court judgment. In theory, one could apply for a judicial review of CRA’s decision, but courts have upheld CRA’s right to collect tax debts swiftly (e.g. the Supreme Court in McKinlay Transport confirmed no court order is needed). Unless CRA made a legal error (for example, freezing an account that doesn’t belong to the debtor, or violating a statutory stay), a court is unlikely to intervene. Thus, legal action to stop a freeze is rarely practical on its own. It’s usually more effective to work within the CRA system via negotiation, as described above. (If there are procedural fairness issues – say, you genuinely received zero warning and had an arrangement in place – those can be raised through the CRA’s Service Complaints or the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson, but those won’t give immediate relief.)

• Replacing or Reducing the Debt: While not a direct remedy to the freeze, addressing the underlying debt will ultimately solve the problem. This can include filing a Notice of Objection if you believe the GST assessment is wrong. Note that filing an objection for GST does not prevent CRA from continuing to collect in the meantime (unlike income tax for individuals, which usually has collections stay pending an objection). However, if an objection is filed for a clear error, sometimes a collections officer might hold off further action informally. Additionally, exploring taxpayer relief (waiver of penalties or interest) won’t lift the freeze now, but can reduce the total debt, making it easier to pay off and end the RTP. In extreme cases, a legal insolvency filing (proposal or bankruptcy) can stay CRA’s actions – that’s a last resort, but it is a legal mechanism to immediately unfreeze accounts via a stay of proceedings. A consumer proposal (or Division I proposal for corporations) can be effective, though it means entering a formal insolvency process. This option should be evaluated with professional advice, considering the business’s viability.

In summary, your best “remedy” is usually a negotiated one. By showing CRA a plan and good faith – or by securing their interest through collateral – you can often achieve a lift of the freeze without needing a courtroom battle. The sooner you act, the more options you’ll have; doing nothing will only allow CRA to tighten its grip (they might issue additional RTPs to other banks, seize accounts receivable, etc., if you don’t respond).

Prevention Tips: Avoiding Future RTPs and Freezes

After navigating one bank freeze, you’ll never want to experience another. Here are proactive strategies to avoid the circumstances that lead to RTPs:

• Stay Current with GST/QST Filings: Always file your GST/HST returns on time, even if you can’t pay right away. Not filing is the fastest way to raise red flags; filed returns at least show CRA the size of the debt and signal compliance. Quebec businesses should likewise file QST returns timely. Consistent filing demonstrates responsibility, which may buy goodwill with tax authorities if you later need a payment arrangement.

• Remit Trust Funds Promptly: GST (and QST) collected from customers is not your money – it’s held in trust for the government. Use strategies to ensure these funds are set aside. For example, many businesses maintain a separate account for tax collected, so it’s not accidentally used for operations. At minimum, prioritize remitting GST/QST on schedule. If you find yourself borrowing from tax remittances to cover other costs, it’s a sign of deeper cash flow issues that need addressing; seek financial advice before it snowballs.

• Communicate and Arrange Early: If a cash crunch makes it impossible to remit GST on time, proactively contact CRA (or ARQ in Quebec) to discuss a payment arrangement before they have to take action. CRA is often willing to agree to a short-term payment plan if you reach out early and have a reasonable proposal. By contrast, ignoring CRA’s notices or calls will be interpreted as non-compliance, almost guaranteeing a harsher enforcement like an RTP. It’s far better to negotiate from a position of cooperation. Document any arrangement you make and stick to it; if you default on a plan, CRA will be far less patient the next time.

• Monitor CRA Correspondence and Warnings: Do not disregard Demand to Pay letters or legal warning letters from CRA. These are precursors to actions like bank freezes. The CRA usually issues at least one formal warning (written or verbal) that legal action is imminent. Make sure the address on file with CRA is up to date and that someone checks the company mail. If you receive a notice referencing possible “legal action” or an RTP, treat it as an emergency and get advice immediately. Often, there is a brief window to resolve the issue or at least convince CRA to hold off, but that window closes once an RTP is sent.

• Keep Directors in the Loop: Since company principals can be on the hook personally, ensure that directors and officers are aware of any tax arrears early. Don’t hide tax problems from your own leadership team. Directors should push for timely resolution of GST debts (or consider resigning if the company is insolvent and not remitting, though resignation must occur more than 2 years before a liability assessment to be effective). Active oversight and pressure from directors to management on tax compliance can prevent nasty surprises. It’s much easier to handle a tax shortfall with a planned response than to scramble after a freeze.

• Engage Professionals When in Doubt: If cash flow issues or disputes with CRA are brewing, involve your CPA or tax advisor sooner rather than later. Expert intervention at the first sign of trouble – a missed GST payment, a large reassessment, etc. – can help you manage the situation. For instance, we at Mackisen often help clients set up installment plans, make voluntary disclosures, or correct filings to avoid enforcement triggers. It’s an investment in peace of mind: an hour with a professional today could avert a crisis that costs far more down the road.

By implementing these prevention tips, your business can significantly reduce the risk of another gut-wrenching “CRA GST bank freeze” scenario. Staying compliant and on CRA’s good side is far easier than dealing with enforcement after the fact.

Common Questions about CRA Freezing Bank Accounts

Q1: Can CRA freeze personal accounts too, or just business accounts?
A: Yes, CRA can freeze personal bank accounts as well. An RTP is issued against a tax debtor, which might be an individual or a corporation. If you personally owe taxes (for example, as a sole proprietor or on your personal income tax, or via a director’s liability assessment for GST), CRA can direct a bank to freeze your personal or joint account just as readily as a business account. In the case of corporate GST debt, CRA cannot freeze a shareholder’s personal account unless they have assessed that person directly (e.g. under director’s liability or as a guarantor). But note that if you mix personal and business funds or operate as an unincorporated business, there’s little distinction – CRA will target whatever accounts are in the name of the debtor. Also, joint accounts are vulnerable: if your name is on a joint account, CRA may freeze it on the logic that funds in the account could be partially yours. (The non-debtor joint holder would then have to argue with the bank/CRA about their share, which is complicated.) In summary, no account is truly “safe” from CRA if it’s legally associated with the taxpayer who owes money.

Q2: How fast can funds be released once I address the debt?
A: Typically, CRA will instruct the bank to release your account as soon as the debt is resolved or a satisfactory payment arrangement is in place. The timing can be a matter of days. In our experience, once you pay the full balance or sign an agreement, the CRA collections officer faxes a release to the bank within 24–48 hours. The bank then lifts the freeze, often the same or next business day. For example, one Mackisen client’s business account was unfrozen within 48 hours after CRA accepted a payment proposal we negotiated. Keep in mind that if a large payment is made, it might need to clear before CRA considers it paid (so certified funds or direct payments post faster). It’s good practice to follow up with the CRA officer and the bank to confirm the release. Until you see the hold removed, assume it’s still in effect. Also, be aware that if you only partially resolved the issue (e.g. paid half the debt under a tentative plan), ensure that CRA’s agreement explicitly included lifting the freeze – otherwise, the RTP could technically remain active for the balance. Always get confirmation in writing of a release.

Q3: What if I desperately need some of that frozen money for payroll or critical expenses?
A: You should immediately communicate this to CRA through your representative. CRA does recognize critical business needs in some cases of financial hardship. If you can demonstrate that, for instance, “Without access to $X, I will miss payroll on Friday for 20 employees,” CRA may be willing to partially lift or pause the freeze – if you simultaneously present a plan to satisfy the tax debtc. Often CRA might say: “We’ll allow you access to the account for payroll if you send us $Y toward the arrears now and agree to a plan for the rest.” Each situation is unique, but CRA’s mandate isn’t to put you out of business if that would actually hinder collection. They want to collect the debt, and sometimes that means leaving you with just enough to keep operating. Another route is to request a formal Ministerial approval for relief, but that can take time and isn’t guaranteed. In practice, quick negotiation is the way to go. If CRA won’t budge and payroll is due, you might have to resort to emergency measures: use a different account or source (if available) for payroll in the short term. (For example, some owners temporarily pay employees from a personal line of credit while the business account is frozen – not ideal, but better than missing payroll.) This is a stop-gap; you still need to get the freeze lifted as soon as possible. Never ignore payroll obligations – the fallout from unpaid wages (lawsuits, government fines, loss of staff) can be worse than the tax issue. We’ve found that when we clearly convey the downstream consequences (like layoffs or insolvency) to CRA, they might show flexibility to avoid killing the golden goose.

Q4: Can CRA freeze my account without warning?
A: Technically, yes. Legally, CRA is not required to warn you immediately before freezing a bank account, as long as some form of legal warning was given within the past 180 days. CRA’s standard practice is to issue at least one warning (either a letter or a phone call) that collections will escalate if you don’t pay. For GST debts, the notice of assessment itself often serves as a written warning, and CRA may attempt one phone call. If those attempts are made (or sometimes even if not, in urgent cases), CRA can proceed to send an RTP to your bank. Many taxpayers feel blindsided because the warnings can be vague (a letter might simply say “If you do not pay, we may take legal action” without specifying a freeze). There have been cases where taxpayers had an ongoing dialogue or dispute with CRA and still found their account frozen, complaining of “no warning.” The Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson noted that confusion about CRA’s warnings is common. So, while CRA should give you notice, you might not recognize it as a final warning. Once the RTP is issued, there’s no further grace period – the bank will freeze funds immediately. The lesson: treat any communication from CRA about unpaid GST as a potential precursor to enforcement. Don’t wait for a crystal-clear threat letter; by then, you might already be en route to a frozen account.

Q5: Will a CRA bank freeze affect my company’s credit or public record?
A: The RTP itself is not a public filing (unlike a lien or a judgment, which can appear in credit searches). CRA freezing your bank account is a private action between CRA, your bank, and you. However, the indirect effects can harm credit. If the freeze causes you to miss loan payments, default on supplier credit, or have items sent to collections, those events will hit your credit reports or Dunn & Bradstreet profile. Additionally, CRA has other collection tools like filing a lien (a certificate in Federal Court that is like a judgment). If they register a lien for the GST debt, that becomes public and can definitely impact credit and reputation. So while the freeze itself is under the radar, the circumstances around it often lead to credit issues. It’s best to be proactive with any creditors that might be affected – for example, if a loan payment will bounce due to the freeze, talk to your lender to explain and perhaps make alternate arrangements. They might be more understanding if they hear it from you first rather than finding out after a default.

Have other questions? Every case has its nuances. Our team at Mackisen CPA can address the full range of concerns regarding CRA or ARQ enforcement actions – from “Can they also freeze my receivables?” (yes, CRA can issue RTPs to your clients too) to “What if I close this account and open a new one?” (CRA will likely find the new account in short order, especially if you’re issuing cheques or payments from it – moving banks is not a long-term solution). The safest path is to tackle the problem head-on with professional help.

Why Mackisen CPA for CRA/ARQ Tax Enforcement Issues

Dealing with a CRA or Revenu Québec enforcement action is high-stakes and stressful – it’s akin to a financial crisis that requires expertise and steady navigation. Here’s why clients across Quebec trust Mackisen CPA as their ally in these situations:

• Deep Expertise in Tax Collections Defense: With more than 35 years of combined CPA experience, our firm understands the intricate workings of CRA and ARQ collections. We have handled numerous CRA GST bank freezes, RTPs, garnishments, and director liability files. Our team includes not just accountants, but former “Big Four” advisors and tax lawyers, giving you big-firm technical knowledge with boutique-level attention. We know the policies, the unwritten procedures, and the negotiation tactics that get results. Our priority is to protect you from financial damage and get your operations back to normal.

• Immediate and Aggressive Response: Mackisen treats every enforcement case with urgency. We will jump on a call with CRA collections the day you hire us, and we don’t let up until the issue is resolved. Our approach is to negotiate proactively, correct any CRA errors quickly, and push for the most favorable terms possible. We speak the CRA’s language – citing their own guidelines, court cases, and facts – to advocate for you. This high-trust, professional approach often leads CRA to work with us in good faith. The result? We often achieve RTP releases or reductions in a matter of days, as described earlier, so you can regain financial stability.

• Holistic Solutions (GST/QST and Beyond): In Quebec, businesses might face parallel issues with federal and provincial taxes. Mackisen is adept in both CRA and ARQ processes. If your issue spans GST and QST, we’ll coordinate a unified strategy. For example, if ARQ has frozen your account for QST, we know the provincial rules to get that lifted, which can differ from CRA’s. Our services also extend to related areas like compliance cleanup (filing back tax returns), voluntary disclosures, and if necessary, guiding you through consumer proposals or arranging financing to pay off tax debts. We aim to not only fix the immediate crisis but also set you on a path to full compliance and peace of mind.

• Protecting Your Interests at Every Step: Our firm prides itself on being a fierce advocate for taxpayers’ rights. We ensure CRA or ARQ agents treat you fairly and follow the rules. If there’s an opportunity to reduce penalties or secure relief, we seize it. We maintain your confidentiality and handle sensitive negotiations with discretion – important for reputational reasons. And we keep you informed in plain language, so you’re never in the dark about what’s happening. High-trust service means you can rely on us to act in your best interests, not simply what’s easiest.

• Crisis Prevention and Ongoing Support: Beyond resolving the current freeze, Mackisen will help you implement controls to prevent future issues. After the immediate situation is handled, we often continue working with clients to improve their tax compliance processes – for instance, setting up reminder systems for remittances, planning for tax installments, or restructuring finances to avoid cash flow shortfalls. We don’t just put out the fire and walk away; we equip you to operate safely moving forward. Our goal is to become your long-term partner in financial and tax matters, so if CRA or ARQ comes knocking, you have experts already on your team.

Conclusion: A CRA bank account freeze for unpaid GST is a serious setback, but with the right strategy, it can be resolved and even turned into a learning opportunity for stronger financial management. The key is to act quickly and get experienced help. Mackisen CPA is here for Quebec businesses and individuals facing tax enforcement crises – from CRA GST collections to ARQ QST issues. We combine technical tax know-how with compassionate, Big-4-caliber service to deliver solutions when you need them most. Don’t let a frozen bank account freeze your business’s future. With expert guidance, you can navigate the storm and come out the other side with your company intact.