How to register for a business number or Canada Revenue Agency program accounts
Effective October 21, 2024, if you need to register for or update an import and export RM program account, go to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)'s CARM Client Portal. To learn more, go to Getting or making changes to a nine-digit business number for importing and exporting.
Protect your business account by monitoring your My Business Account for any suspicious activity, which can include unsolicited changes to banking, mailing address, unauthorized appointment or changes of representatives, or benefit applications made on your behalf. Visit Security of your CRA account for tips on securing your account.
For information on protecting yourself against identity theft and fraud, go to Scam prevention and the CRA.
Did you know that businesses can recruit employees for free on the Government of Canada's Job Bank? When you're ready to hire, sign up on Job Bank with your payroll account number to start posting jobs.
You can register online, by mail, by fax or by telephone. If you operate in Québec, go to Businesses operating in Quebec and GST/HST program accounts.
Business Registration Online
Do you need a business number (BN) or program account? Using Business Registration Online (BRO) is the fastest and easiest way!
You can use BRO to get a BN. You can also register for one or more of these Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) program accounts:
- GST/HST program account (RT)
- payroll deductions program account (RP)
- corporation income tax program account (RC)
- registered charity program account (RR)
- information returns (RZ)
- luxury tax program account (LT)
- underused housing tax program account (RU)
Note
When you register for a BN using BRO, you will receive a new nine-digit BN. You must keep this new BN for your own records and future interactions with the CRA.
Non-Resident Business Number and Account Registration Web Form
This service is available for non-resident businesses that need to register for a BN.
This service is the only registration option available to non-resident digital economy businesses who are required to register for the simplified GST/HST. Go to Find out if you need to register for the GST/HST: GST/HST for digital economy businesses.
You can also use this service to register for one or more of these CRA program accounts:
- GST/HST program account (RT)
- payroll deductions program account (RP)
- corporation income tax program account (RC)
- information returns (RZ)
Before filling out the registration form:
- for non-resident digital economy businesses registering for the GST/HST, go to Get ready to register for the GST/HST for a list of information you will need
- you cannot save information during the registration process
- registration must be completed in full during one session
- the registration form will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity
- do not use the "Back" button in your web browser
- to return to previous windows of the registration form, use the "Previous" button
Note
If you are an individual with a social insurance number that starts with the number 9 and want to register for a BN or a GST/HST account, go to Business Registration Online.
Non-Resident Underused Housing Tax Registration Web Form
This service is the only registration option available to non-resident corporations looking to create an underused housing tax (UHT) account.
Before filling out the registration form:
- you cannot save information during the registration process
- registration must be completed in full during one session
- the registration form will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity
- you cannot create other program accounts using this web form
- do not use the "Back" button in your web browser
- to return to previous windows of the registration form, use the "Previous" button
Digital Services Tax Account Registration Web Form
This service is the only option available to apply to register for a Digital Services Tax (DST) program account.
Before filling out the registration form:
- make sure you gather information about your business
- you cannot save information during the registration process
- registration must be completed in full during one session
- the registration form will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity
- you cannot create other program accounts using this web form
- do not use the "Back" button in your web browser
- to return to previous windows of the registration form, use the "Previous" button
By mail or by fax
If you just want a BN or to register an RT, RC, RP, RR, or RZ program account, use Business Registration Online instead.
To print a form, go to Form RC1, Request for a Business Number and Certain Program Accounts, or, to order a form, go to Forms and publications.
Fill in Form RC1. Once you have completed the form, mail or fax it to your nearest tax services office or tax centre. To find the appropriate office or centre, go to Find a CRA address.
By phone
To get a BN and register for CRA program accounts by phone, call our Business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525. For hours of service, go to Hours of telephone service. If you just want a BN, use Business Registration Online instead.
Before calling, be ready to answer all the questions in Part A of Form RC1, Request for a Business Number and Certain Program Accounts, and any other questions in the form about the CRA program accounts you want to open.
Businesses operating in Quebec and GST/HST program accounts
In Quebec, Revenu Québec generally administers the GST/HST. If the physical location of your business is in Quebec, you have to file your returns with Revenu Québec using its forms, unless you are a person that is a selected listed financial institution (SLFI) for GST/HST or QST purposes or both. For more information, see the Revenu Québec publication IN-203-V, General Information Concerning the QST and the GST/HST, available at Revenu Québec, or call 1-800-567-4692. If you are an SLFI, go to GST/HST and QST – Financial institutions, including selected listed financial institutions.
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