How to Find My Canadian Business Incorporation Number

What Is a Business Incorporation Number in Canada?

A business incorporation number is a unique identifier assigned to your company when it is legally registered with a federal or provincial government. It is sometimes referred to as a corporation number and is separate from the CRA-issued business number (BN).

This number confirms your company has been officially incorporated in Canada. It is commonly required for:

• Registering for taxes, including GST/HST and payroll
• Opening a business account
• Applying for government grants or loans
• Onboarding to financial platforms that verify corporate status, such as Venn

In most cases:

• If your business is federally incorporated, the number is issued by Corporations Canada
• If your business is incorporated at the provincial level, it is issued by the relevant provincial registry

You can find this number in your articles of incorporation or by using the Canada Business Registries lookup tool.

Key Takeaways

• Issued automatically upon incorporation
• Required for tax registration, legal filings, and business account onboarding
• Can be searched online through official federal and provincial registries

What Is the Difference Between a Business Number, Incorporation Number, and Corporation Number?

Many Canadian business owners confuse the terms business number, incorporation number, and corporation number. While they are related, each serves a specific role in identifying and operating a registered company in Canada.

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Why This Distinction Is Important

• You need a business number to register for any CRA tax program
• You need an incorporation number to open accounts or sign legal contracts
• Platforms like Venn may require both for compliance during onboarding

If you are unsure which number to use in a given scenario, check whether the request is related to tax registration or legal incorporation. The right number depends on the context.

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Where Can I Find My Business Incorporation Number in Canada?

If you are unsure where to find your incorporation number, there are a few reliable sources that can help you locate it quickly and for free.

Option 1: Look at Your Articles of Incorporation

When you registered your business, you should have received formal documents confirming your incorporation. Your incorporation number will appear on your:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Articles of Incorporation
• Corporate profile report (if obtained)

Option 2: Use the Government of Canada’s Online Registry

You can search for your incorporation number online through two official portals:

• Federal Corporations: Corporations Canada Search Tool

This tool is free and allow you to search by business name, business number, or corporation number.

Option 3: Check Provincial Business Registries

If you incorporated provincially, you may need to search the registry specific to your province:

• Ontario: Ontario Business Registry
• British Columbia: BC Registries and Online Services
• Alberta: Corporate Registry – Alberta.ca

These sites will provide your registry ID or incorporation number as part of your entity’s public profile.

Option 4: Ask Your Legal or Accounting Provider

If a third party handled your incorporation (lawyer, accountant, or online incorporation platform), they should be able to provide your incorporation number. Venn also recommends storing this number securely with other key business identifiers for onboarding and verification purposes.

What Does a Canadian Incorporation Number Look Like?

Your incorporation number may vary slightly depending on whether you registered federally or provincially, but it typically appears as a numeric string assigned by the registering authority. It is not the same as your CRA business number.

Federal Incorporation Number Format

• Typically a 7-digit number
  
• Example: 1234567
  
• Issued by Corporations Canada upon federal incorporation
  

This number is used to identify your business in official filings, government directories, and compliance processes.

CRA Business Number Format (Not the Same)

The CRA business number (BN) includes three parts:

1. A nine-digit business identifier (e.g., 123456789)
   
2. A two-letter program identifier (e.g., RT for GST/HST, RP for payroll)
   
3. A four-digit reference number (e.g., 0001)

Example:
GST Account: 123456789 RT 0001
Payroll Account: 123456789 RP 0001

Streamline Incorporation with Venn

Tired of chasing down paperwork or navigating government websites just to onboard with a financial platform?

Venn simplifies the process. Our platform includes a built-in incorporation verification tool that helps you:

• Instantly confirm your incorporation number during onboarding
• Validate federal or provincial registration in minutes
• Reduce manual errors that delay business account approvals

Whether you’re registering a new entity or managing multiple businesses, Venn helps you meet compliance requirements without the paperwork hassle. No third-party apps or back-and-forth emails, just secure, seamless setup.

Start incorporating now to see the Venn difference!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is my incorporation number the same as my CRA business number?

A: No. Your incorporation number is assigned by Corporations Canada or a provincial registry. Your CRA business number is assigned separately by the Canada Revenue Agency for tax purposes.

Q: Can I change my incorporation number?

A: No. Your incorporation number is fixed for the life of your corporation. If you dissolve and reincorporate, a new number will be issued.

Q: What if I lost my incorporation documents?

A: You can look up your corporation number for free using Canada's Business Registries or request replacement documents from the registry that issued them.

Q: How long does it take to get an incorporation number?

A: You will receive it immediately upon successful incorporation, whether federally or provincially. Some third-party services may take additional processing time.

Q: Do I need both an incorporation number and a business number?

A: Yes. You need your incorporation number to prove your company’s legal status and your business number to register for CRA tax accounts such as GST/HST, payroll, and corporate income tax.

‍_{This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Venn Software Inc or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.}