Ontario Annual Return Filing for Corporations

The Ontario Annual Return is due within six months of the corporation's fiscal year end. The exact date depends on the fiscal year end set by the directors or the corporation's tax accountant. For most corporations with a December 31 fiscal year end, the deadline is June 30 of the following year.

Yes. Filing the Annual Return is mandatory for every active Ontario corporation, including both Profit and Non-Profit corporations. Failure to file can result in the corporation being administratively dissolved by the Province of Ontario for non-compliance under the Ontario Business Corporations Act.

The Ontario Annual Return has no government filing fee. The Ontario Business Central cost is $45.10 service fee plus $55.00 data extract fee and $55.00 draft fee, for a subtotal of $155.10. With $20.16 HST, the total is $175.26. There is no separate fee charged by the Province of Ontario for the Annual Return filing.

No. Historically, the Annual Return was filed alongside the T2 corporate income tax return through the Canada Revenue Agency. Since May 2021, the Province of Ontario collects the Annual Return directly through the Ontario Business Registry, separate from the T2 filing. You must now file the Annual Return on its own each year.

If the Annual Return is not filed, the Province of Ontario can place the corporation in default and ultimately cancel the corporation for non-compliance. A cancelled corporation loses its legal status, name protection, and ability to operate or enter into contracts. Restoring a cancelled corporation requires a separate revival filing and additional fees, so timely filing is far less expensive than recovery.

Yes. Non-Profit corporations governed by the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) are required to file an Annual Return each year, the same as for-profit corporations. The filing confirms the corporate record is current and the organization remains in good standing with the Province.

Yes. The Ontario Annual Return allows you to update your corporate address, director addresses, the addition or removal of directors, officer positions, business activity (NAICS code), and email address all in the same filing. Combining updates with the Annual Return is more efficient than filing a separate Notice of Change.

The Company Key is a 9-digit security code introduced October 19, 2021 with the launch of the Ontario Business Registry. It acts like a password and is mandatory to authorize the Annual Return. Without a Company Key, the Ontario Business Registry will not process the filing. Ontario Business Central can retrieve your Company Key on your behalf if you do not have it.

A director, officer, or authorized representative of the corporation can authorize the Annual Return filing. The authorizing individual confirms that the information being filed is accurate and submitted with the corporation's authority. Ontario Business Central records the authorizing person's name and role at the time of filing.

NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. It is a 6-digit code used by Statistics Canada and the CRA to classify the industry your corporation operates in. The Ontario Annual Return requires you to confirm or update your NAICS code each year. Ontario Business Central selects the appropriate code based on your business activity description so you do not need to look it up yourself.

Most Ontario Annual Return filings are processed the same business day. Once you approve the draft, Ontario Business Central submits the filing electronically to the Ontario Business Registry and the filing is recorded instantly. You receive an email confirmation as soon as the Annual Return is accepted.