Canada Revenue Agency
www.cra.gc.ca
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Change of legal name
It is important that you notify your tax services office whenever there is a change to the name of your business.
As a sole proprietor the legal name of your business is the same as your legal name as an individual. If your surname is changed by marriage, you must submit a Canadian marriage certificate, a foreign marriage certificate or a Divorce decree. If your name is changed by law, you must submit a Certificate of name change (certificate or court order) or adoption papers.
If one of the partner's surnames is changed by marriage or divorce, you have to provide a Canadian marriage certificate, a foreign marriage certificate, or a Divorce decree. If one of the partners names is changed by law, you have to provide a Certificate of name change (certificate or court order) or adoption papers.
For a corporation, to ask for a name change, you must first contact a provincial, territorial, or federal incorporating authority. After you have the Articles of Amendment or a Certificate of Amendment send a copy along with your Business Number to your tax services office or tax centre.
A registered charity that changes its name must file the documents with the Charities Directorate showing that the name has been legally changed. Examples of such documents are:
- for a corporate entity, a copy of the supplementary letters patent or certificate of amendment bearing the seal, stamp, or signature of the federal or provincial authority approving the new name; and
- for an unincorporated entity (such as an entity established by a constitution or trust deed), a copy of a resolution or written agreement, signed by two directors/trustees of the charity, indicating the new name, and showing the effective date of the change of name.
Send the necessary documentation along with your Business Number to your tax services office or tax centre.
