The Ontario Business Registry (OBR) was launched on October 19th, 2021. If your organization is registered, incorporated, or licensed to do business in Ontario, here is what you need to know:
Overview
The OBR allows businesses and not-for-profit corporations to instantly complete over 90 transactions online—including registering or incorporating a new business, dissolving an existing business, updating business information and filing the annual return. If your business was registered or incorporated in Ontario before October 19th, 2021, your information has already been moved over from the old system and you will have a profile in the new registry.
Company Key
A company key is required to access your OBR profile and make filings. The company key is a unique passcode assigned specifically to your organization,similar to a banking PIN. You can Request Your Company Key on the Ontario Business Registry website.
Note: Organizations created or registered on or after October 19, 2021 will receive their company key as part of their registration.
This key should be treated as confidential, as you will be responsible for all filings authorized by your company key with respect to your business. Do not share your company key unless it is being provided to a trusted intermediary—like S+C Partners—to make filings on your behalf. More information is available on this notice that describes the requirements for the use of a company key for filings under the specified business statutes.
Note: Intermediaries such as CPA firms and law firms are still able to complete transactions on your behalf via email and mail.
Ontario Corporations Information Act annual returns
Annual information returns for Ontario corporations must be filed within six months after the end of each tax year. The CRA stopped accepting these returns on May 15, 2021. Businesses whose information returns were due during the transition period—May 15, 2021 through October 18, 2021—were granted a temporary exemption and don’t need to file an annual return for 2021. Businesses with a year-end on or after April 18, 2021 will need to file their annual information return directly on the OBR platform. To file your return, you will need to access your business profile on the new registry using your company key.
Note: If you require S+C Partners to make this filing on behalf of your business, you will need to provide us with your company key.
S+C Partners is committed to helping you
Need help navigating the new Ontario Business Registry (OBR) platform? Our dedicated client service team is here to support you. Please call us at 905-821-9215 or email us at info@scpllp.com if you have any questions or require any assistance.