Annual Returns – Everything You Need To Know

In Canada, an Annual Return for corporations is a filing that must be submitted to the appropriate government authority—either federal or provincial jurisdiction—every year. It provides basic information about the corporation, ensuring that the government’s corporate registry remains up to date. Failure to file an Annual Return can result in the corporation being struck off the registry, meaning it is dissolved and loses its legal status to operate and may be required to pay fines or penalties.

A company Incorporated federally will file annual returns with Corporations Canada under the Federal Jurisdiction; Corporations incorporated provincially will be required to file their annual returns in the province where they incorporated.

Federal Annual Return

A Corporation Governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act or the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act is required to file its Annual Return with Corporations Canada Every Year. The information that you provide on the Annual Return helps keep the Corporations Canada’s data base of Federal Business up to date. This information will be available to Public, and it provides investors, consumers, financial institutions, and many others make informed decisions about your company.

Do I have to File a Federal Annual Return?

Yes. If your Corporation Status is “Active” (Not Dissolved, Discontinued or Amalgamated with another corporation) you will be requested to File this Annual Return.

What is the deadline for filing my federal annual return?

The deadline for filing an annual return is within the 60 days following a corporation’s anniversary date. The anniversary date is the date your corporation incorporated, amalgamated or continued under the CBCA . You do not file for the year the corporation was incorporated, amalgamated or continued. The date can be found on your corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, Amalgamation or Continuance. You can also find your anniversary date on Corporation’s Canada online data base.

Filing my federal annual return with CPA4IT

If you would like CPA4IT to process your annual return filing through our government service provider on your behalf, the turnaround time is 5 business days. Please click here if you wish to have our firm assisting you with this filing.

How do I file a federal annual return on my own?

Use the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre.

There is a government fee for filing the annual return and you will be required to have an Account with the Government of Canada online services.

To set up a Government of Canada online services please click here OR call 1866-333-5556 for assistance.

What happens if I am late filing or if I don’t file my federal annual return?

If you do Not File your annual return on time, the status of your corporation’s annual filing will be showing up as ‘overdue’ and your corporation will not be able to obtain a Certificate of Compliance.

If your Corporation Fails to File its annual returns, your business may be Dissolved. If your corporation is not filing its annual returns, Corporations Canada will assume that it is not operating and will take steps to Dissolve your Business. Dissolution can have several repercussions (including the legal capacity to conduct business). You may also incur Legal and Government Fees to Activate your Company again by Filing Articles of Revival. We recommend that you read all the Corporations Canada personalized reminders regarding your annual returns to be filed and that you Do file these annual returns right away.

Ontario Annual Return

The Annual Return provides information to the Ontario Government which includes the mailing address, taxation year end date, date of incorporation or amalgamation, corporation number, jurisdiction and information about the directors and officers of the corporation as well as the Legal name of the company. Failure to file the Annual Return could result in penalties or an Involuntary Dissolution of the company (non-compliance).

An Annual Return for an Ontario Corporation is additional to Filing a Corporate Tax Return with the Canada Revenue Agency. An Annual Return must be filed within 6 months after the Corporation’s Fiscal Year End, even if the business has not generated any income during the year.

If you would like CPA4IT to process your annual return filing through our government service provider on your behalf, the turnaround time is 5 business days. Please click here if you want to avail this service.

Filing my Ontario Annual Return on my Own

To file an Annual Return directly with the Ontario Business Registry (The Registry), you will require a Company Key as well as a My Ontario Account. You will also be requested to provide an Official email Address for the Company. There is a 10-15 days process time to register for your Company Key. Once you have this information, you can proceed to file an Annual Return directly with the Ontario Business Registry (The Registry). 

How do I get a Company Key?

A Company Key can be requested directly from The Registry and will be Mailed to the head office of the business within 10-15 business days. If Ontario has an email account in their records, the company key could be sent to you via email. For more information, please contact Ontario Business Registry at 416-314 880.

Click here to request your company key.

How can I set up my Ontario Account?

My Ontario Account is a unique electronic credential that allows you to communicate securely with online Government services. You will be required to Set up a USER ID and a Password. 

You can click here to set up your My Ontario Account.

BRITISH COLUMBIA ANNUAL REPORT

Filing a BC Annual Report

Every corporation that was incorporated under the British Columbia Jurisdiction, which includes an Unlimited Liability Company, must file an annual report. An annual report tells the Corporate Registry that the company is still active.  

Do I have to File an Annual Report and when is the filing deadline?

Yes, you must file an annual report within two months of its anniversary date of incorporation.  The annual report filing reminds the company to promptly file any change to the information shown in the Corporate Register.  

What happens if I am late Filing or if I don’t File my Annual Report?

If a company does not file its annual report within two months of its anniversary date it will not be in good standing.

The registrar may dissolve a company if the company fails to file in each of two consecutive years an Annual Report required by the Business Corporations Act .

How do I file an annual report for my BC corporation on my own?

To file an Annual report for your BC Corporation, you will require to have a Corporate Online Account. There is a government fee for filing the annual report.

For more information on BC Annual Reports filing, visit their website OR Call BC Help Desk at 1-800-663-6102 or 1-877-526-1526

Alberta Annual Report

Filing an Alberta Annual Report

Every corporation that was incorporated under the Alberta Jurisdiction, requires to file an annual return to inform the Government that the corporation is active and in good standing.

Do I have to File an Annual Report and when is the filing deadline?

You must submit an annual return to an authorized Corporate Registry service provider. A reminder will be sent to your corporation’s registered office one month before the anniversary of incorporation.

What happens if I am late Filing or if I don’t File my Annual Report?

If you do not file the annual return, your corporation may be dissolved.

How do I file an annual return for my Alberta corporation?

You need to take your form to an authorized Alberta service provider. You will need to take:

  • your annual return
  • valid ID
  • fee payment

If your information meets requirements, the service provider will enter it into the Corporate Registry computer system.

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Pay Less Tax

A great small business tax accountant does more than just measure value, they create it. At CPA4IT our goal is to save you substantially more than it costs you for our services. Over the last 30 years we have developed tax strategies designed to help you keep more of your hard earned money. If you would like to learn how we can help you pay less tax, simply download our FREE Guide to Pay Less Tax.