UPDATE: Ontario Annual Information Returns & Business Registry

Annual Information Return

Last month we let you know about a change to the RC232 Annual Return. The return is no longer available from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and won’t be filed through CRA.

The additional update for you is that until further notice, Ontario corporations are temporarily exempt from the Corporations Information Act annual return filing requirement if the return is due during this period.

You can sign up here for email updates from the Ontario Business Registry on when the temporary exemption will end and other related topics

New Ontario Business Registry

Ontario is working on a new digital business registry system. Businesses and not-for-profits will use the system for registration, filing and other transactions. It is intended to be simpler, faster and more convenient. Every business and not-for-profit that is registered, incorporated or licensed to carry on business in Ontario will have an online profile in the new registry.

Right now, the government is inviting some users to participate in trial sessions of the registry. Interested in participating in these pre-launch user-trial sessions? Although the sessions have started, they will continue until at least July 2^nd, with a possible extension through to July 30^th.

You can indicate your interest by going to Ontario.ca/BusinessRegistry and clicking on “Register for user trials.” You’ll need to provide:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your company name (if applicable)
• Phone number

The registry will be launched later this year.