The Ontario government has recently launched an online Ontario Business Registry (“OBR”) portal for businesses and not-for-profits registered, incorporated, or licensed to carry on business in Ontario. There are over 90 different online services available through the portal, including Annual Return filings, registering a new business or dissolving an existing one.
In order to access the OBR, you must first obtain your entity’s unique “Company Key” and create a ‘ONe-Key’ ID for its Service Ontario account. Once access to the Registry is established, registrants should review and update the entity’s profile and provide its ‘official email’ as is required. This email is needed to access or receive future correspondence and documents from the province and must be kept current.
Once set up, Ontario corporations may easily file their mandatory Annual Return on-line with the OBR. Annual Returns are due within 6 months of the corporation’s year-end. The Annual Return was previously filed with Canada Revenue Agency as a schedule within the corporation’s income tax return. This former filing method was discontinued earlier this year. Corporations that had an Annual Return due from May 15th through October 18th this year are exempt from filing for 2021 only. Annual Returns due after October 18, 2021 must now be filed with the OBR when due.
It is important to note that some identifying information will be available to the public who may access the OBR free of charge. The entity’s name, corporation number, incorporation date, (in)active status, and city of its registered head office in Ontario will be listed. The street address, official email, contact name and phone number will not be on the public record.
The OBR website is comprehensive and should be your first source of information. Should you require further assistance please contact us.
