What’s Changing
As of July 14, 2026, access to Business Registration Online (BRO) is being restricted: all existing and new business registrations—whether obtaining a new Business Number (BN) or adding CRA program accounts like GST/HST or payroll—must be done through your CRA account using either:
- CRA credentials
- A Sign-In Partner
- Provincial partner (British Columbia or Alberta)
These rules exclude certain situations (e.g., reactivating a closed program account, or businesses with non-resident owners where the entity cannot meet identity verification requirements).(canada.ca)
Who Needs to Take Action
- New businesses establishing their BN and CRA program accounts.
- Existing businesses needing to add new program accounts to their BN.
- Non-resident businesses owners must verify whether they can meet CRA’s sign-in requirements. If not, they’ll need to use alternate means like Form RC1.(canada.ca)
Why It’s Important
- Enhances security and fraud prevention by using verified accounts and identity proofing.
- Speeds up service delivery and automates confirmation. Instant BN issuance through BRO when registering.
- Helps consolidate CRA service access and reduce paperwork.(canada.ca)
How to Prepare
- Ensure you have an active CRA account—if you don’t have one, set it up ASAP.
- Verify your identity using the Document Verification Service rather than relying on physical codes or slower processes.(canada.ca)
- If locked out or credentials lost, go through CRA’s account recovery options online rather than waiting for client calls. The new process allows streamlined access recovery.(canada.ca)
- Determine whether your entity meets exception criteria—if so, plan ahead using Form RC1 and ensure you apply within required timelines.
Example Scenario
A digital marketing agency in Alberta needs to register for a GST/HST account on August 1, 2026. Under the new rules, they must:
- Sign into CRA using their CRA account OR Alberta sign-in partner.
- Access BRO through their CRA account to add the GST/HST program account.
- Verify identity formally if they haven’t done so. Failure to do this may prevent registration until the manual RC1 process is used.
Compliance and Troubleshooting Tips
- Make sure your entity directors or owners listed on your CRA account match legal names to avoid issues with verification.
- Keep your email address and contact information up to date—critical for account and program account communications.
- Document any registrations done through RC1 in case of exceptions; retain correspondence confirming CRA-accepted registrations.
Takeaway: The July 14th deadlines tighten access significantly. Preparing ahead of time means smoother registrations, faster access to tax accounts, and less risk of delays or security issues.