What is an annual return and does my Ontario corporation have to file one?

An annual return is a filing that every Ontario corporation must submit each year to confirm that its information on the Ontario Business Registry is current. It is separate from your corporate income tax return filed with the Canada Revenue Agency.

The annual return captures basic information: your corporation's legal name, registered office address, and the names and addresses of directors. It must be filed within 60 days of your corporation's anniversary date (the anniversary of the date your articles were issued). Filing is done through the Ontario Business Registry, and a fee applies.

If you miss your annual return filing, the province can note your corporation as not in good standing, which can affect your ability to do business or access registry services. Persistent non-filing can ultimately lead to dissolution — meaning the province cancels your corporation's existence.

Many small business owners confuse the annual return with the corporate tax return. They are separate obligations to separate governments. Your accountant handles the tax return; the annual return is a separate corporate maintenance task that you or your lawyer can file. Tracking your anniversary date and filing on time is a simple but important part of keeping your corporation alive and in good standing.