Business Number - BN

The Business Number (BN) is a reference numbering system that replaces the multiple numbers businesses required to deal with government. The BN is designed to help businesses reduce costs and increase competitiveness; it also increases government efficiency and helps it deliver one-stop service at Business Windows.

A sample BN might be 123456789 RP 0004

Eligibility Criteria

• Corporate Income Tax;
• Importer/Exporter account number;
• Payroll (source) deductions (Trust accounts);
• Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized sales tax (GST/HST).

Summary

The next six digits identify the account, as follows:

How do I get a Business Number?

New businesses will get their BNs when they register for one or more of the four accounts that the BN includes.

Business Registration on-line:

This Business Registration On-line (BRO) service is provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and its provincial partners, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia.  It is designed so that businesses can conveniently register themselves for CRA, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia programs at one time.

Quebec

In Quebec, the ministère du Revenu du Québec (MRQ) administers GST on behalf of the CRA, so businesses registering in Quebec have to contact both the CRA and the MRQ. Contact the MRQ by calling, toll-free 1-800-567-4692, or by visiting the MRQ Web site.

Publications on the BN

Several forms and publications on the Business Number are available in hard copy by calling 1-800-959-2221 or on line.

Additional Information

The Social Insurance Number Disclosure Regulations specify that every individual who registers for the GST must present their Social Insurance Number. For more information, see the document Social Insurance Number -SIN.

For more information on the above, please contact the CRA Business Window closest to you (see Related Reading: Business Window - Supplement or CRA's Web site for a list of addresses).

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
See National Contact.