Forming, incorporating, or registering a company in Canada.
Accountant-authored. Written and published by Nathan Wiebe, an accountant approved on OpenAccountants. Their licence number (1009081) is published on their profile, so you can check it against the register yourself. No second accountant has attested to this version yet. General reference material, not advice on your specific facts; don't file, pay, or take a position on it without a professional reviewing your situation.
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Corporations Canada fee — online
$200Corporations Canada — corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca
Express service
+ $100 (4 business hours)Corporations Canada
Processing time
1 business day (online)Corporations Canada
Annual return
$12 online / $20 paper; within 60 days of anniversaryCorporations Canada; CBCA s.263
Director residency
25% Canadian-resident (majority if <4)CBCA s.105(3)
Min share capital
NoneCBCA; OBCA; BCBCA
Ontario
$300ServiceOntario — Ontario Business Registry
British Columbia
$350BC Registry Services — bcregistry.gov.bc.ca
Alberta
Alberta incorporation fee: $283.25.Alberta Corporate Registry
Quebec
Quebec incorporation fee: $397Registraire des entreprises du Québec
Requirement
Federal corp must register in each province of businessCBCA s.15; provincial equivalent legislation
Fee range
Extra-provincial registration fees range $0 (Ontario)–$520 (NFL) per province.Provincial corporate registries
CRA Business Number
Free; online via BROCRA — Business Registration Online — canada.ca
GST/HST registration
If taxable supplies > $30,000ETA s.148
Corporate tax payment
2 months after year-end; 3 months only for a corporation that was a CCPC throughout the year, claimed the small business deduction (current or prior year), and whose associated-group prior-year taxable income did not exceed the business limitITA s.157(1); CRA — Corporate payments — canada.ca
Foreign ownership restrictions
None generally; Investment Canada Act for large/sensitiveInvestment Canada Act
Corporate name/number rules
Numbered corporation: no name search required (e.g., "12345678 Canada Inc."). Named corporation: NUANS name search included in online filing process. Name must include a legal element: "Inc.", "Incorporated", "Corporation", "Corp.", "Ltd.", "Limited", "Ltée", "Limitée"
Filing process
Use Online Filing Centre at corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca. Fee: $200 (online); $250 (email/mail); +$100 for express (4 business hours). Certificate of Incorporation issued typically within 1 business day (online)
Extra-provincial registration process
Federal corporation must register in each province where it carries on business. E.g., Ontario: file Form 2 with ServiceOntario; BC: extra-provincial registration with BC Registry. Fees vary: typically $0--$520 per province
Business Number process
Apply to Canada Revenue Agency for a Business Number. Simultaneously register for: GST/HST, payroll deductions, corporate income tax, import/export. Free; done online via CRA Business Registration Online
Required documents
Certificate of Incorporation (federal or provincial) Articles of Incorporation Directors' resolution authorising account opening Government-issued ID for all directors and signing authorities Business Number from CRA Proof of business address
Bank account opening timeline
1--5 days (major Canadian banks for Canadian residents) 1--3 weeks (non-resident founders)
R-CA-F1 -- Director residency non-compliance (federal)
Under the CBCA, at least 25% of directors must be resident Canadians. If fewer than 4 directors, at least 1 must be Canadian-resident. Failure to comply can result in dissolution proceedings. If no Canadian resident is available, consider incorporating in BC or Nova Scotia (no residency requirement).
R-CA-F2 -- Missing extra-provincial registration
A federal corporation must register in each province where it carries on business. Operating without registration can result in the corporation being unable to maintain legal proceedings in that province.
R-CA-F3 -- GST/HST threshold ignorance
GST/HST registration is mandatory once worldwide taxable supplies exceed $30,000 in any four consecutive calendar quarters. Failure to register triggers penalties and interest.
R-CA-F4 -- Confusing incorporation with business registration
Sole proprietors and partnerships register a business name; they do not incorporate. Incorporation creates a separate legal entity with limited liability. These are fundamentally different.
R-CA-F5 -- Shell company for non-resident tax avoidance
A Canadian corporation is taxed on worldwide income. Using a Canadian corporation solely to hold passive investments or as a conduit without Canadian substance may attract CRA scrutiny and GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rule) application.
Rendered from the canonical facts model. General reference only — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
Reviewed against the cited tax authorities by Nathan Wiebe on 2026-06-21.
Items flagged for further clarification are tracked separately and excluded here.
This block is generated from verified skill_facts — edit the facts, not the prose.
Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Currency | CAD |
| Company registrar (federal) | Corporations Canada (ISED) -- corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca |
| Company registrar (provincial) | Varies by province (e.g., Ontario: ServiceOntario; BC: BC Registry Services; QC: Registraire des entreprises) |
| Key legislation | Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) -- federal; provincial equivalents (OBCA, BCBCA, etc.) |
| Typical formation time | 1 day (federal online); 1--5 days (most provinces online) |
| Corporate tax rate | 15% federal + provincial (combined ~26.5% general; ~12.2% small business on first $500K) |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
Entity Types Comparison
| Feature | Sole Proprietorship | Partnership (GP/LP) | Federal Corporation (CBCA) | Provincial Corporation | Cooperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal personality | No | No (GP) / LP has some | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Liability | Unlimited | GP: Unlimited; LP: Limited for limited partners | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Min. founders | 1 | 2 | 1 shareholder + 1 director | Varies by province | Per applicable Act |
| Min. share capital | N/A | N/A | No minimum | No minimum (most provinces) | Per applicable Act |
| Jurisdiction | Province of residence | Province | Canada-wide (right to carry on business nationally) | Province of incorporation (must extra-provincially register elsewhere) | Federal or provincial |
| Tax treatment | Personal | Partners taxed individually | Corporate | Corporate | Corporate (special rules) |
| Name protection | Province only | Province only | Canada-wide | Province only | Varies |
Federal vs Provincial Incorporation -- Key Decision
| Factor | Federal (CBCA) | Provincial |
|---|---|---|
| Name protection | Canada-wide | Province only |
| Right to operate | All provinces (must extra-provincially register) | Province of incorporation (must extra-provincially register in others) |
| Annual filing | With Corporations Canada + each province of registration | With provincial registry only |
| Cost | $200 + extra-provincial fees | Province-specific (e.g., Ontario $300 online) |
| Director residency | 25% Canadian-resident (or majority if <4 directors) | Varies: ON requires 25%; BC has no requirement; QC no requirement |
Recommended default: Federal incorporation for businesses operating in multiple provinces. Provincial for single-province operations.
Share classes and rights Restrictions on share transfers (if any) Number of directors (fixed or min/max range) Restrictions on business activities (if any) Provisions for financial year-end
Some municipalities require a business licence Check with local municipality
Capital Requirements
| Entity Type | Min. Share Capital | Min. Paid-Up | Payment Timing | In-Kind Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Corporation (CBCA) | No minimum | No minimum | As per share terms | Permitted (no statutory valuation requirement, but directors have fiduciary duties) |
| Ontario Corporation (OBCA) | No minimum | No minimum | As per share terms | Permitted |
| BC Corporation (BCBCA) | No minimum | No minimum | As per share terms | Permitted |
| Quebec Corporation (QBCA) | No minimum | No minimum | As per share terms | Permitted |
Canada has no minimum capital requirements for private corporation formation at any level.
Federal Incorporation Costs
| Cost Component | Amount (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporations Canada (online) | $200 | Standard (1 business day) |
| Express service | +$100 | 4 business hours |
| Extra-provincial registration (per province) | $0--$520 | Varies; Ontario ~$0; BC ~$350; QC ~$400 |
| NUANS name search (if named) | Included online | Separate $25 if pre-ordered |
| Total federal + 1 province | $280--$600 | Government fees only |
Provincial Incorporation Fees
| Province | Online Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $300 | ServiceOntario |
| British Columbia | $350 | BC Registry Services |
| Alberta | $283.25 | Alberta Corporate Registry |
| Quebec | $397 | Registraire des entreprises |
Annual Maintenance Costs
| Item | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Corporations Canada annual return | $12 (online) / $20 (paper) |
| Provincial annual return | $0--$50 per province |
| Accountant fees | $1,500--$5,000/year |
| Corporate tax return (T2) | Included in accountant fees |
| Extra-provincial renewal fees | Varies by province |
Post-Formation Compliance
| Obligation | Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return (federal) | Within 60 days of anniversary date | Corporations Canada |
| Annual return (provincial) | Varies by province | Provincial registry |
| T2 corporate tax return | 6 months after fiscal year-end | CRA |
| Corporate tax payment | 2 months after year-end (3 months for qualifying CCPCs claiming the SBD) | CRA |
| GST/HST returns | Quarterly or annually | CRA |
| Payroll remittances | Monthly or as required | CRA |
| T4/T5 information slips | By last day of February | CRA |
| Directors' register and minutes | Maintain at registered office | Internal |
| Shareholder register | Maintain at registered office | Internal |
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), TD Bank, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC (Big 5) National Bank, Desjardins (QC) (large regional) Wise Business, Airwallex (digital/international)
Foreign Founder Considerations
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Non-resident directors allowed? | Federal (CBCA): Yes, but 25% must be Canadian-resident (majority if <4). BC: No residency requirement. Ontario: 25% Canadian-resident |
| Canadian-resident requirement workaround | Some provinces (BC, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick) have no director residency requirement |
| Nominee directors | Permitted but must comply with CBCA fiduciary duties |
| Physical presence required? | No -- online filing accepted |
| Apostille requirements | Foreign documents may require authentication for banking |
| Foreign ownership restrictions | No general restrictions; Investment Canada Act review for large acquisitions or sensitive sectors |
| Social Insurance Number | Not required for incorporation; required for payroll if personally employed by the corporation |
| Non-resident tax implications | Non-resident corporations carrying on business in Canada are subject to Canadian tax on Canadian-source income |
Timeline
| Step | Duration | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Decide federal vs provincial | 1 day | Day 1 |
| Prepare articles of incorporation | 1--3 days | Day 2--4 |
| File online (federal or provincial) | 1 day | Day 3--5 |
| Certificate of Incorporation received | 1 day (federal online) | Day 3--6 |
| Extra-provincial registration(s) | 1--10 days per province | Day 4--16 |
| CRA Business Number and tax accounts | 1--5 days (online) | Day 4--11 |
| Open bank account | 1--5 days (resident) / 1--3 weeks (non-resident) | Day 5--32 |
| Ready to trade | As fast as 3--5 days (Canadian-resident, federal online) |
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