Canada Corporations Canada Fees FAQ 2026

Federal incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA, RSC 1985, c. C-44) is administered by Corporations Canada, the federal regulator. The official 2026 fee schedule is at:

• https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/fees-services-rendered

This FAQ answers the questions founders ask most often about what filings cost, when fees apply, and how Corporations Canada fees compare to provincial alternatives in Ontario and British Columbia.

Q1. What does it cost to incorporate federally under the CBCA?

A. CAD 200 for online filing through the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre, or CAD 250 for paper filing by mail. The online route is faster (1 business day) and cheaper, and is the Scrib🐮 default. The Online Filing Centre is at:

• https://corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs01035.html

The fee covers the filing of articles of incorporation under CBCA s.6 and the issue of the Certificate of Incorporation under CBCA s.8.

Q2. What’s the cost of a NUANS name search?

A. A federal NUANS report — required for a named CBCA corporation — costs CAD 13.80 when ordered from a registered NUANS member. The report is valid for 90 days from the search date. Numbered companies (e.g., “1234567 Canada Inc.”) skip NUANS entirely and save the fee. Numbered names are issued automatically by Corporations Canada as part of the incorporation filing.

Q3. What’s the annual return fee?

A. CAD 20 when filed online through the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre, or CAD 40 by mail. The annual return is mandatory under CBCA s.263 and must be filed within 60 days of the corporation’s anniversary date.

Failure to file annual returns for one year beyond the deadline can lead to administrative dissolution under CBCA s.212. Revival under CBCA s.209 costs CAD 200 plus all unpaid annual return fees.

Q4. What are the costs for amendments and special filings?

A. Common federal filing fees:

Fees verified against the Corporations Canada published schedule:

• https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/fees-services-rendered

Q5. Is the ISC register filing extra?

A. No. The Individuals with Significant Control (ISC) register, mandatory under CBCA s.21.1 since 22 January 2024, is filed at no additional cost as part of the incorporation and annual return processes. Corporations Canada built the public ISC system into the existing online filing flow rather than charging a separate fee.

Updates to ISC information when changes occur (within 30 days of becoming aware) are also filed without a separate fee.

Q6. Are there filing fees for a Unanimous Shareholder Agreement?

A. No. A Unanimous Shareholder Agreement (USA) under CBCA s.146 is a private contract held at the corporation’s records office. It is not filed with Corporations Canada and there is no government fee. Drafting fees through a professional service or law firm are separate.

Q7. How does CBCA pricing compare to OBCA (Ontario)?

A. Ontario incorporation is more expensive at the front end:

Ontario’s “free” annual return is integrated with the corporate tax return through the Canada Revenue Agency’s joint filing system. The Ontario Business Registry — where most OBCA filings go — is at:

• https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry

The Ontario statute is at:

• https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90b16

For a single-province operation in Ontario, OBCA is often the more economical choice over five years despite the higher initial fee.

Q8. What about BCBCA (British Columbia)?

A. BC has the highest initial filing fee but reasonable ongoing costs:

Since 1 October 2025, BC private companies must file the Transparency Register under BCBCA Part 4.1 with the BC Registry. The filing is free but mandatory.

The BC statute is at:

• https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02057_02

The BC Registry is at:

• https://www.bcregistry.gov.bc.ca/

Q9. Are there hidden fees?

A. A few that founders sometimes miss:

• Registered office — if the founder uses a commercial registered agent, expect CAD 250–500/year. Self-serving as the registered office is free but requires a real address willing to receive service of process during business hours.
• Extra-provincial registration — a CBCA corporation operating in a province must register extra-provincially. Fees vary: BC charges CAD 350; Alberta charges CAD 250 plus authorised-agent fees; Ontario currently charges no separate fee (filed through OBR).
• Tax accounts — CRA Business Number, GST/HST account, and payroll account are free to register but require time.
• Bank account — Canadian banks typically charge no opening fee but require directors’ resolutions, certificate of incorporation, and EIN-equivalent (Business Number).

Q10. Are there discounts or fee waivers?

A. Corporations Canada does not offer general discounts. Some provincial regimes have small-business or non-profit reductions, but federal CBCA fees are flat.

The one workflow choice that meaningfully reduces total cost is online filing over paper filing — savings of CAD 50 on incorporation, CAD 20 on annual returns, and faster processing.

Q11. What’s the typical first-year total cost?

A. For a CBCA corporation incorporated online with a single-class share structure and one Canadian-resident founder:

• Incorporation filing: CAD 200
• NUANS report: CAD 13.80 (named) or CAD 0 (numbered)
• Registered office (commercial agent, if used): CAD 250–500
• ISC filing: CAD 0
• Year 1 annual return: CAD 20

Subtotal: CAD 233.80–733.80 plus the cost of any document preparation service, legal review, or accounting setup.

For a single-province Ontario operation, the OBCA equivalent is approximately CAD 313.80 in filing fees plus registered office.

Q12. Where do I verify current fees?

A. Always check the official Corporations Canada fee schedule before quoting fees to a client:

• https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/fees-services-rendered

For provincial fees, use the relevant provincial registry:

• Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry
• BC: https://www.bcregistry.gov.bc.ca/

Fees are reviewed periodically; this FAQ reflects the schedule as verified on 2 May 2026.

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Disclaimer

Legal information, not legal advice. MmowW Scrib🐮 is operated by a licensed Gyoseishoshi (行政書士) office in Japan. We are not Canadian lawyers, paralegals, or notaries. For Canadian legal opinions, retain a lawyer admitted in the relevant province.

Sources

1. Corporations Canada fee schedule — https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/fees-services-rendered
2. CBCA full text — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-44/fulltext.html
3. Online Filing Centre — https://corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs01035.html
4. Ontario Business Registry — https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry
5. BC Registry — https://www.bcregistry.gov.bc.ca/