New Business Registration Number Process: Shift Online

Posted on February 26th, 2026 in Domestic Tax

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Effective November 3, 2025, most new CRA business number registrations, including adding new program accounts to existing business numbers, must be done online through CRA’s Business Registration Online (BRO) system. Calls to the CRA business enquiries phone line will be directed to the BRO webpage. CRA has noted the following situations where online registration cannot be used:

reactivating a previously closed account;
registering a Canadian business with only non-resident owners; and
registering a business owned by another business (e.g. a partnership or corporation).
In these situations, registration must be done by calling the business enquiries phone line or by paper filing.

If registering for a new CRA business number, ensure the proper process is followed.

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Article originally published in: Tax Tips & Traps 2026 First Quarter – Issue 153.