Ontario company key: what it is and how to get one
Anyone who runs an Ontario business through the Ontario Business Registry will be asked for a company key sooner or later. This page explains what the key is, where to get it and when you need it.
Get your key from the registry
The registry hands out keys through its own company key request toolSource. What it takes: Free; no login neededSource. You do not need to pay anyone to get a key for you.
What a company key is
A company key is a 9-digit code, and each registered business has its own.Source Think of it as a password for the business's record: it shows the registry that whoever is filing has the right to change that record.
How the key reaches you
- If the registry holds an email address for the business, the key is emailed straight away; if not, it is posted to the registered or head office address, which takes several days.Source
- If the address on file is out of date, answering verification questions can get the key emailed within several business days.Source
Ask for it well before a filing deadline, in case it comes by post.
When you need it
Every filing for an existing business needs its company key, even when an intermediary files for you.Source So it comes up whenever you update a business that is already registered, for example a change of address or directors, or an annual return.
If an accountant, lawyer or filing service handles your filings, they will ask you for the key. Share it only with someone you trust to file for you.
Not to be confused with
The company key is separate from the business's registration number. The 9-digit Ontario Business Identification Number is not the same as the CRA Business Number.Source Neither one is the key, and the key is not something you print on invoices or give to customers.