Federal government departments and agencies

Industry Canada

Once the federal incorporation is approved by Industry Canada, businesses receive a Business Number (BN) for their corporate income tax program account. They will not need to register separately with the CRA for these purposes. However, after receiving the confirmation of their BN, clients with federally incorporated businesses can apply through the CRA for other program accounts they require, such as GST/HST, payroll and import/export.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)

The CRA and Business Access Canada, a partnership of 29 federal government departments and agencies (managed by PWGSC), are making it easier to supply goods and services to federal departments and agencies.

Businesses can register themselves in Business Access Canada's Supplier Registration Information (SRI) database as potential suppliers of goods and services. They will receive a 15-digit Procurement Business Number (PBN), based on their BN, which Business Access Canada obtains from the CRA and emails to the vendor. However, the business must first obtain a BN from the CRA.

The SRI database can be used as an electronic directory by federal government buyers across Canada to find sources of supply. In the future, the database will be used as a central registration point that other government purchasing systems can access. This reduces the need for businesses to provide basic business information (e.g., PBN, business name, business address) to these other purchasing systems.