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Step 3 of 12

Get your CRA Business Number

The federal number that your tax accounts attach to.

Time
20–30 minutes
Cost
Free
CRA — business registration ↗

Get your CRA Business Number: step-by-step guide

Screenshots use a made-up example business. Official sites change, so yours may look slightly different.

  1. CRA business registration page with the Register with Business Registration Online link highlighted
    1. On the CRA business registration page, choose Register with Business Registration Online (BRO).
  2. CRA page listing ways to register for a business number and program accounts
    2. This section explains what a business number covers and which program accounts (like GST/HST) you can add to it.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-18. See something different? Report a problem

What it is

The Business Number (BN) is a nine-digit number the Canada Revenue Agency uses to identify your business. Your HST account (step 4) is attached to it.

Not the same as your Ontario number

The nine-digit number from the Ontario Business Registry is a provincial identifier. It does not replace the federal BN, so register with the CRA separately.

How to get it

Register with the CRA using Business Registration Online (BRO).

Sign in with a CRA account

BRO is only available through your CRA account. Sign in first, then complete the registration online. If you don't have a CRA account yet, you can create one from the CRA sign-in page. You will need it later to register for HST, file returns and make payments.

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