CRA Period Copy

How the period boundary is constructed

The boundary is defined by a start date and an end date plus an optional posting-cutoff timestamp, which is what we use to handle late-posted entries that hit the period after the fact. Every transaction with a transaction date inside the range is preserved at full detail; every transaction outside the range is removed. The trial balance at the start of the period and at the end of the period both match the source file dollar-for-dollar. The audit-trail status as of the period close is preserved on every in-period transaction so the reviewing party sees the same drill-down behaviour the source file would have shown at that moment in time.

What is preserved and what is removed

In-period transactions are preserved at full posting detail, including the original entry timestamp, the posting user, the audit-trail status, and any attachment that was attached at the time. List entries active during the period are preserved; list entries created entirely outside the range are removed unless they appear in the audit trail of an in-period transaction. Out-of-period transactions, recurring schedules whose first instance falls outside the range, and any preference changes recorded outside the range are removed cleanly. The result is a focused file with no forward-looking data, which is the posture CRA auditors prefer.

Why this pairs with Audit Trail Removal

Most practices that order Audit Trail Removal also need a CRA-ready slice of the pre-removal file as evidence of the historical state, because the audit-trail removal is irreversible. Producing the period copy first, before removal, captures that evidence cleanly. The Audit Trail + CRA Period Copy Bundle in this Portal handles the sequencing automatically and produces both files in a single round trip at a discount over buying them separately, with both files cross-verified so the audit trail of the bundling itself is documented in the verification PDF that ships with the bundle.

How does CRA Period Copy differ from Super Condense?

Super Condense reduces file size by collapsing pre-cutoff transaction history into per-account opening journals, leaving the post-cutoff period at full transaction detail. The result is one ongoing file that is smaller and faster. CRA Period Copy keeps in-range transactions at full posting detail and removes everything outside the range, producing a frozen file with no forward-looking content. The two services are not interchangeable — Super Condense is a remediation for an active operating file, and Period Copy is an evidence file for a closed audit window. Many practices use both at different times.

Can the period copy include attachments and receipts?

Yes. Every attachment that was attached to an in-period transaction at the time of posting is preserved with the transaction in the period copy. Attachments that were added to the source file outside the period are not carried across because they are out of scope by definition. The verification PDF reports the in-period attachment count alongside the in-period transaction count so the deliverable is auditable on attachments specifically — this matters for CRA audits that hinge on receipt evidence and for reviewing accountants who want to see attachment integrity confirmed in writing.

What date format should I use when ordering the period copy?

Use ISO 8601 date format (YYYY-MM-DD) for both the start date and the end date when placing the order in the Portal. The order form will accept a few other formats but ISO is the unambiguous standard and avoids any month-day-year versus day-month-year confusion. The verification PDF echoes the period boundary back in ISO format so there is no ambiguity in the deliverable either. If your CRA request specifies a particular fiscal-year convention we will default to that convention; just note it in the order details before submitting.

Is the period copy the same as making a backup of the file?

No. A standard QuickBooks backup contains the entire company file at a moment in time — every transaction, every list, every preference, every forward-looking item. A CRA Period Copy is a date-range-isolated derivative of the source file with everything outside the period cleanly removed and the trial balance verified at both endpoints. Reviewers we have worked with consistently prefer the period copy over a full backup for audit responses because it scopes the surface area to exactly the period under review without the noise and the privacy concerns of forward-looking data.