Gather your information
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Business number and CRA program accounts
Gather your information
If you need a business number (BN) or program account with the CRA, you may need to have the following information ready when you register:
Gather what you need to register
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Your personal and basic business information
Information businesses may need to provide:
- Name, title, and phone number of owners
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) of owners
- Legal and operating business names
- Mailing and physical addresses
- Type of business (for example: sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, domestic worker, trust)
- Description of major business activity
- Main products or services with estimated percentage of revenue
- Incorporation date, jurisdiction and certificate number, if applicable
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Your existing business number (BN) if you have one
If you already have a 9-digit BN, you need to provide it and verify some information to match what the CRA has on file.
Examples of numbers you cannot use:
- Ontario Business Identification Number (BIN)
- Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ)
If you can't find your BN, you can get help to find an existing BN.
If you don’t have a BN, you may get one as part of your registration.
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Other information you need for certain program accounts
To register for the following CRA program accounts, you will need to provide additional details:
GST/HST (RT)
You may need to provide the following:
- Amount of your annual worldwide and domestic GST/HST taxable sales
- Effective date of registration
- Fiscal year-end
- Reporting period
For non-residents
You may also need to provide the following where applicable:
- Type of products or services the business provides
- Filing method (simplified or normal)
- Canadian banking information
- Addresses in Canada (for example: branch, office, books and records, product storage)
You may need to provide the following where applicable:
- Months of operation
- Months covered for payroll of employee wages
- Number of employees
- Expected annual salaries for employees
- Date employees receive their first wages
- Frequency of pay period (for example: weekly, monthly, quarterly)
- Country of parent or affiliate, subsidiary, or head office of franchise
You may need to provide your corporation name.
For non-residents
You must also indicate if you will file certain special elections or special returns.
You may need to provide the following where applicable:
- Type of account needed:
- Charity
- Canadian amateur athletic association (CAAA)
- National arts service organization (NASO)
- Books and records address
You may need to provide the following where applicable:
- Effective date of registration
- Account types:
- T5 group
- Tax-free savings account (TFSA)
- Contract payments (T5018)
- Compliance and exchange
- Partnerships
For non-residents
You must also indicate if you will file certain special elections or special returns.
You may need to provide:
- Legal name
- Name and phone number of at least one officer or director
You may need to provide the following where applicable:
- Type of item you are selling or importing
- Effective date of registration
- Books and records address
You may need to provide the following where applicable:
- Effective date of registration
- Books and records address
You may need to provide additional information based on your specific business activities for the following program accounts:
- Air Travellers Security Charge (RG)
- Excise duties (RD)
- Excise taxes (RE)
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2025-09-23