How to Register a Business Number or CRA Account

How do I register for a Business Number?

You can register online for both your Business Number, as well as a number of CRA program accounts using the CRA’s Business Registration Online tool (also called “BRO”).

Access BRO by going here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/registering-your-business/register.html

This page also contains information about how to register by mail, fax, or phone. However, it is often fastest and most efficient to use the BRO system instead.

BRO is intended for use by:

• a business owner
• a third party requester
• a representative with a RepID or a GroupID
• an individual that employs a caregiver, a babysitter or a domestic worker

You can use BRO if you have all of the following:

• valid social insurance number (SIN)
• income tax return filed with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

You cannot use BRO if you have any of the following:

• invalid SIN
• SIN that starts with a 9
• income tax return that was never filed with the CRA
• GST/HST program account to register for:
  • business located in Quebec
  • non-resident business
  • bare trust to register

Once registered for your Business Number, you can also apply for the following CRA program accounts using BRO:

• corporation income tax
• GST/HST
• payroll deductions
• import-export
• registered charity
• information returns

What do I need to prepare to register for a Business Number?

As a business owner (or third party requester), you must provide all of the following:

• last name
• social insurance number (SIN)
• date of birth
• personal postal code (where you live)

When applying for your Business Number, please have the following information available:

• business name
• business number (if this business already has one)
• type of business or organization (for example: sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, registered charity)
• name and SIN of owners as required
• physical address
• mailing address (if different from the physical address)
• description of major business activity

There are also other requirements to apply for specific CRA program accounts, such as the GST/HST account. You can read about those on this government webpage.

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