Canadian business tax & employer accounts. Keep this, since it already works well.

CRA business number & WCB registration. Set up the right accounts.

Register for a CRA business number, GST/HST and payroll accounts, and get workers' compensation coverage with WSIB, WorkSafeBC or your provincial board.

CRA & WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ACCOUNT SETUP

Different obligations. The right accounts.

CRA accounts help businesses manage tax obligations such as GST/HST and payroll deductions. Workers’ compensation accounts support coverage under the rules of the province or territory where work is performed.

These are separate registrations. Your business may need one or both services depending on its activities, taxable revenue, workforce and work locations. Check existing accounts before requesting new ones.

WHY CHOOSE NUANS PRE-SEARCH

Clear options.
Accurate account details.

Tax program accounts and workers’ compensation accounts have different requirements. NUANS Pre-Search offers registration support to help you select the right service and prepare consistent business information.

Questions? Speak with our team

Support for the accounts you need

Choose CRA program registration, provincial workplace coverage registration or both.

Business details prepared clearly

Gather your legal name, business number, activities and relevant payroll or sales information.

Real people, clear answers

Contact our team about service requirements, supporting information or an existing order.

HOW YOUR CRA OR WCB ACCOUNT SETUP WORKS

Your business accounts,
in three simple steps.

Select the registration service, provide your business details and review the account information and responsibilities that follow.

01

Choose your account service

Select CRA accounts or workers’ compensation registration. Identify the program or provincial board and any existing account.

View account services ↗
02

Provide accurate business details

Enter your legal name, structure, activities and contact information. Supply the sales, worker, payroll and start-date details requested.

Requirements depend on the program and jurisdiction
03

Review your account information

Check the confirmation and any further requests from the authority. Note applicable reporting, payment and account-management obligations.

The authority confirms registration and account details
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BEFORE YOU APPLY Check existing accounts.
Prepare the right information.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR CRA & WCB REGISTRATION

Your business account
registration checklist.

Gather these essentials, then follow the instructions for your selected account. Additional information may be needed for non-resident businesses or specific industries.

Business identity

Your legal name, structure, registration documents and existing business number, if available.

Activities & locations

What your business does, where it operates and where workers perform their duties.

Sales, payroll & dates

Relevant taxable sales, worker details, estimated payroll and business or employment start dates.

Contacts & authorization

Business addresses, an authorized contact and the representative authorization requested for the service.

Choose your account service ↗

CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE

Good decisions start
with confidence.

See what customers across Canada say about working with us, then talk to our team about your plans.

NP.
NUANS Search Centre Business registration & corporate services

Your next step. Handled with care.

Read what business owners, founders and organizations say about working with NP, then speak with our team about the right service for you.

Talk to our team
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Based in Brampton, Ontario
info@nuans-presearch.ca 647 424 5523

CRA & WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ACCOUNT GUIDE

Know your accounts.
Understand your obligations.

Understand how business numbers, tax program accounts and provincial workers’ compensation registrations fit together.

01

Business number or CRA program account?

A CRA business number is a nine-digit identifier. Program accounts add identifiers for particular obligations, such as GST/HST or payroll. A business can have several program accounts under the same business number.

Check your existing registration before requesting another number. Registering a program account and setting up online access to manage it are separate steps.

Explore CRA account registration ↗
02

GST/HST registration or payroll setup?

GST/HST registration concerns taxable supplies, while a payroll account concerns deductions and remittances on remuneration. A business may need either or both; employing workers does not by itself determine GST/HST registration.

Review revenue, activities and payroll obligations separately. Quebec businesses must also consider Revenu Québec’s administration of GST/HST, QST and provincial payroll requirements.

Ask about tax program accounts ↗
03

Which workers’ compensation board applies?

Workplace coverage is administered by provincial and territorial bodies, including Ontario’s WSIB, Quebec’s CNESST and WorkSafeBC in British Columbia. Mandatory coverage depends on the applicable rules and your business circumstances.

Use the location and nature of the work to check registration obligations. Businesses working across provincial boundaries may need to deal with more than one board.

Find your provincial registration ↗
04

Registration is only the first step

After account setup, applicable duties can include tax returns, payroll deductions and remittances, earnings reports and workers’ compensation premium payments. Keep supporting records and update the relevant authority when business details change.

Review each authority’s confirmation and deadlines. A registration service does not automatically include ongoing tax filing, payroll administration or workplace coverage reporting.

Discuss your registration needs ↗

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CRA & WCB accounts:
your questions answered.

Practical answers about account eligibility, registration requirements, tax obligations and provincial workers’ compensation coverage.

Still have a question?

Tell our team about your activities, existing accounts and work locations so we can discuss the relevant registration service.

Contact our team ↗
What is the difference between CRA accounts and WCB or WSIB accounts?

CRA program accounts manage tax obligations such as GST/HST and payroll deductions, while WCB or WSIB accounts relate to provincial workers’ compensation coverage. Registering with one authority does not automatically register your business with the other.

Does every Canadian business need a CRA business number?

Not every business needs a CRA business number, but it is required when a business registers for a CRA program account and for certain other registrations. Check whether a number has already been assigned before applying for another one.

Who must register for a GST/HST account in Canada?

Most businesses making taxable supplies in Canada must register once they cease to qualify as small suppliers, generally after worldwide taxable revenue, including associated persons’ revenue, exceeds $30,000 in one calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters. Special rules and exceptions apply, and eligible small suppliers may register voluntarily.

Do I need a CRA payroll account when I hire employees?

You generally need a payroll account when you have obligations to deduct and remit income tax, CPP contributions or EI premiums on remuneration. Confirm the worker’s employment status and applicable rules; Quebec employers also have provincial payroll obligations administered by Revenu Québec.

Which businesses need WCB, WSIB or WorkSafeBC registration?

Mandatory workers’ compensation registration depends on the jurisdiction, industry, business structure and workforce. Check the board where work is performed, such as Ontario’s WSIB or B.C.’s WorkSafeBC, because exemptions, construction rules and voluntary coverage options differ.

Can sole proprietors and company owners get workers’ compensation coverage?

Yes, but an owner’s coverage may be mandatory, optional or subject to a separate application depending on the board, business structure and work performed. Do not assume that opening an employer account automatically covers every proprietor, partner or director.

What documents and information are needed for CRA and WCB registration?

You generally need your legal business name, structure, addresses, existing business number, operating activities and an authorized contact, with registration documents where requested. Depending on the account, prepare taxable-sales information, worker start dates, estimated payroll and details of owners or contractors.

Can non-resident businesses register for Canadian tax and workers’ compensation accounts?

Yes, non-resident businesses can register for applicable Canadian accounts when they meet the relevant requirements or have registration obligations. The CRA uses specific non-resident registration procedures, while workplace coverage depends on the work and jurisdiction involved.

Does one workers’ compensation account cover work in every province?

No, an account in one province does not automatically satisfy every other province’s registration requirements. Businesses sending workers across borders should check each relevant board’s rules for the location, duration and nature of the work.

What happens if I fail to register for required CRA or WCB accounts?

Failing to register or meet related obligations can lead to unpaid tax or premium assessments, interest, penalties and, in some cases, enforcement proceedings. For example, Ontario’s WSIB may assess retroactive premiums and pursue charges for registration non-compliance.

What responsibilities continue after CRA and WCB accounts are opened?

Businesses must meet each account’s applicable filing, reporting, payment and recordkeeping obligations, including tax returns, payroll remittances or workers’ compensation earnings reports. Keep account details current, report workplace injuries where required and follow the relevant authority’s rules when operations change or cease.

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