Federal (CBCA) Annual Return: Filed with Corporations Canada in 1 Business Day
Enter your company name, Corporate Access Number, or Business Number to see its status, due date, and file in one step.
Deadline coming up? File your federal (CBCA) annual return in 1 business day → · $159 all-in, filed with Corporations Canada — not your CRA T2 return.
Federal corporations incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) must file an annual return with Corporations Canada every year. This is separate from any provincial or territorial filings and separate from your federal tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Government fee included. Filed within 1 business day. Deadline monitored every year.
What Is a Federal Annual Return?
A federal annual return is a statutory filing that confirms your CBCA corporation is still active and updates Corporations Canada on your current directors, registered office, and principal address. It is one of the most basic ongoing compliance requirements for any federally incorporated corporation.
When Is the Federal Annual Return Due?
Federal annual returns are due within 60 days of the end of your corporation's anniversary month.
The anniversary month is the month in which your corporation was incorporated. For example, if your corporation was incorporated on March 15, your anniversary month is March, and your annual return is due by May 29 (60 days after March 31).
Who Must File?
All corporations incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act must file annually:
- Active CBCA corporations
- Holding companies
- Non-operating and dormant CBCA corporations
- Corporations registered in any province as extra-provincial corporations
What Information Is Required?
The federal annual return requires:
- Full legal name of the corporation
- Federal Corporation Number (starts with a letter, or is numerical)
- Registered office address in Canada
- Principal address (if different from registered office)
- Names, addresses, and occupations of all current directors
- Whether each director is a Canadian resident
Canadian Residency Requirement for Directors
Federal CBCA corporations must have at least 25% of their directors be Canadian residents. For a corporation with only one or two directors, at least one director must be a Canadian resident. This is a standing requirement that must be maintained, not just at incorporation — it applies every year.
How to File
Federal annual returns are filed through the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre at ised.canada.ca.
Steps:
- Visit Corporations Canada's Online Filing Centre
- Log in with your GCKey, Sign-In Partner, or corporation access code
- Select "File Annual Return"
- Confirm or update your corporation's information (directors, registered address)
- Pay the $12 government filing fee (online)
- Receive confirmation of filing
Government Fee
The federal annual return filing fee is $12 — the lowest of any Canadian jurisdiction.
Extra-Provincial Registrations and Annual Filings
Even though your corporation is federally incorporated, if it carries on business in one or more provinces, it must also be registered as an extra-provincial corporation in each of those provinces. Most provinces require separate annual filings for extra-provincial corporations.
This means a federal corporation operating in Ontario and British Columbia, for example, must file:
- A federal annual return with Corporations Canada
- An Ontario extra-provincial annual return
- A BC annual report
CRS manages all of these filings as part of a bundled annual compliance service.
Consequences of Not Filing
If the federal annual return is not filed within the 60-day window after the anniversary month:
- Corporations Canada sends a reminder notice
- If still not filed, a notice of intent to dissolve is issued
- After a further waiting period, Corporations Canada can dissolve the corporation by administrative action
- Dissolution means the corporation ceases to exist legally; revival is possible but involves additional cost and processing
File Your CBCA Annual Return Without Building a Corporations Canada Login
CRS files CBCA annual returns directly with Corporations Canada on your behalf. You don't need a GCKey, Sign-In Partner, or corporation access code — we handle the Online Filing Centre, submit the return before your 60-day deadline, and email you the Corporations Canada confirmation for your records.
Turnaround: 1 business day from order. Price: $159 + applicable tax — all-in, including the $12 government fee.
We'll pull your registry record, confirm what's changed, and file. No lawyer needed.