Any business incorporated, amalgamated, or continued in Ontario, including foreign entities that carry on business in the province, are required to file an annual return with the government of Ontario within six months after the end of each tax year (the “Annual Return”).
What is an Annual Return?
An Annual Return is NOT A Tax Return. An Annual Return for an Ontario Corporation is additional to Filing a Corporate Tax Return for a Corporation and must be filed even if the Corporation has Not generated any income during the year. This 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 incorporated 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.
Previously, Annual Returns were filed with the Canada Revenue Agency in Schedule 546 which was a schedule included in the Corporate Tax Return of the Corporation; however as of May 15, 2021, the process has changed and the Canada Revenue Agency stopped accepting corporations’ annual returns on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD).
From May 15, 2021 through October 18, 2021, corporations whose annual returns were due during that period were exempt, meaning these corporations did not have to file an annual return for 2021.
Corporations who have an annual return due after October 18, 2021 must file their annual returns, which they can now do directly through the Ontario Business Registry (the “Registry”) or through a Service Provider for an Additional Cost.
Request CPA4IT to File my Ontario Annual Return
If you would like CPA4IT to process an expedited annual filing through our government service provider on your behalf, the turnaround time is 7 business days. Please click on the link to File my Ontario Annual Return.
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 and My Ontario Account. 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 you Do Not have a Company Key, use the following link to request one register for a 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.
Use the following link to set up your My Ontario Account
