What Is a Business Number (BN)?
A Business Number is a unique 9-digit identifier issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It’s used to administer taxes and other government programs for your business. Think of it like a Social Insurance Number but for your company.
You will use your BN to identify your business when dealing with the CRA and other government agencies for programs such as:
Note that a BN is not the same as the “Ontario Corporation Number” which the Ontario Business Registry assigns to an Ontario corporation at creation. The “OCN” is used for transactions and communications with the Ontario Business Registry.
When Do You Need a BN?
You will need a Business Number if your Ontario corporation is required to register for any CRA program accounts, including:
1. GST/HST Account
You must register for GST/HST if your business earns more than $30,000 in revenue in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters. You may also choose to register voluntarily if your revenue is under the threshold, to claim input tax credits.
2. Payroll Account
If your business has employees, you will need a BN to set up a payroll account for remitting source deductions (such as CPP, EI, and income tax).
3. Corporate Income Tax Account
Once your Ontario corporation is registered, a corporate income tax account is typically assigned automatically along with your BN.
4. Import/Export Account
If you plan to import goods into Canada or export goods abroad, you will need to register for an import/export account under your BN.
How Do You Get a Business Number in Ontario?
If you are incorporating a business in Ontario, your Business Number is issued by the CRA after your incorporation is processed. While SkyLaunch does not directly issue BNs, our curated incorporation service helps ensure your company is registered properly with the Ontario Business Registry, which then triggers the BN issuance by the CRA.
In most cases, your BN will be issued automatically and sent to you within a few days of incorporation. If your BN does not arrive or you need additional CRA program accounts, you can contact the CRA directly or register online through CRA’s Business Registration Online (BRO) portal.
If you opt for SkyLaunch’s Complete Compliance Plan, the BN will be mailed to us as your corporation’s “Registered Office”. Upon receipt, we will upload it to your customer portal so you can access it at any time.
Where Can You Find Your BN?
Once issued, your Business Number will typically be:
- Included in CRA correspondence
- Available through CRA My Business Account
- Found on your corporate income tax documents
Your BN remains the same, even if you register for new CRA program accounts. For example, if your business registers for both GST/HST and payroll accounts, they’ll all be linked under your single BN, with different program extensions (e.g., RT0001 for GST/HST, RP0001 for payroll).
Key Takeaways
- A Business Number is a 9-digit identifier issued by the CRA, not the provincial government.
- If you are incorporating with SkyLaunch, we help set up your corporation so the CRA can issue your BN shortly after registration.
- You will need a BN to open CRA accounts for corporate income tax, GST/HST, payroll, or importing/exporting.
- If you don’t receive your BN automatically, you can register through the CRA’s Business Registration Online Platform.
At SkyLaunch, we are here to support you through the early stages of incorporation and beyond. We make it simple to set up your Ontario corporation and understand everything that comes with it.
