When registering a business in Canada, you may encounter both a Business Number (BN) and a Corporation Number. While they may seem similar, they serve distinct purposes in government registration, payroll setup, and regulatory compliance.
What is a Business Number?
The Business Number (BN) is a 9-digit identifier issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is used to simplify and centralize interactions with government programs.
When is a Business Number issued?
The CRA assigns a BN when you register for any of the following accounts:
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Payroll deductions
-
GST/HST
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Corporate income tax
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Import/export
All program accounts use the same 9-digit BN, with a program identifier suffix (e.g. RT, RP) and a 4-digit number.
Examples:
|
Program Account |
Format Example |
|
GST/HST |
|
|
Payroll |
|
How is the Business Number used?
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Tax filing (e.g. payroll, GST/HST, corporate returns)
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Interacting with government agencies
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Opening financial accounts or working with vendors
What is a Corporation Number?
The Corporation Number (also known as a Registry ID) is issued when a business incorporates federally or provincially. It serves as the legal identifier for the corporation.
|
Field |
Description |
|
Issued by |
Corporations Canada or a provincial business registry |
|
Purpose |
Legal and regulatory identification |
|
Format |
Typically a 7-digit number |
Corporation Number in business setup and KYB
When setting up payroll or completing KYB (Know Your Business) verification:
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The Corporation Number is required to confirm that the business is legally registered
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It triggers the KYB process in the system
Corporation Numbers are separate from Business Numbers and are not used for tax filings.
Where to find your Corporation Number
You can find your Corporation Number by:
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Searching the Corporations Canada registry (for federal incorporations)
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Checking your provincial registry (e.g. BC Registry, Ontario Business Registry)
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Reviewing incorporation documents