CRA My Business Account is the business side of your CRA account, where owners manage GST/HST, employer accounts, corporation income tax and other program accounts online. To use it for the first time, your Social Insurance Number (SIN) must be linked to your business number (BN). Then you sign in to your CRA account, select Add account, then Business account, and enter your 9-digit BN.
The SIN-to-BN link is the step that blocks most people. If the CRA can't match you to the business, you can't add the BN, however many times you try. And since 14 July 2026, registering a new BN also happens inside your CRA account, so getting this set up matters more than it used to.
Here's who can use it, the setup steps, and fixes for the sign-in problems people hit most.
Who can use My Business Account
| You are | Use |
|---|---|
| A business owner, partner, director or officer | My Business Account |
| An accountant, bookkeeper or employee acting for a business | Represent a Client |
| Self-employed, reporting business income on your personal return | My Account |
The CRA is firm on the second row: if you act on behalf of a business, you must be registered with Represent a Client, not signed in as the owner. And if you sign in for a friend or family member, you must use Represent a Client too.
How to add your BN for the first time
- Sign in to your CRA account.
- On the Welcome page, select Add account, then Business account.
- Choose Add an existing business number. If you don't have a BN yet, choose Register a Business Online instead, then come back.
- Accept the My Business Account terms and conditions if prompted.
- Enter your 9-digit BN. Don't use a 10-digit Quebec Enterprise Number or an Ontario Business Identification Number, which are different numbers.
- If your SIN is already linked, submit and the BN is added once it's validated.
If your SIN isn't linked to your BN yet
You'll be asked whether you've filed a GST/HST return or a T2 corporation income tax return. If you answer yes, you enter details from your assessed return. If you answer no, there's a catch: you can only link your SIN this way if your BN was registered within the last 28 days. Outside that window, use the CRA's Maintain your business options to update your SIN on the account first.
Registering a new business number
As of 14 July 2026, Business Registration Online (BRO) is only available through your CRA account. You sign in, select Add account, then Business account, then Register a business. The CRA says you get your BN and program accounts instantly, and can add the new BN to your account straight away.
BRO doesn't work for every case. You can't use it to reactivate a closed program account, register a business owned by another business, register when the owner or director has died, or register a Canadian business with only non-resident owners. If you've never filed taxes, or haven't filed in the last two years, the CRA points you to Form RC1 instead, though people in Alberta or British Columbia may still register through a provincial partner. Our guide to the CRA business number explains what the BN is for.
Your sign-in options
- A CRA user ID and password.
- A Sign-In Partner, which lets you sign in with your online banking details from a participating bank or credit union.
- A provincial partner, for people in British Columbia or Alberta.
One warning straight from the CRA: don't use autofill on a shared device when signing in with banking details. If you register with someone else's banking login by mistake, that person could see your tax information.
Registering the business itself is covered in registering a business in Ontario.
Fixing common sign-in problems
| Problem | What the CRA says to do |
|---|---|
| Forgot your user ID | Select Forgot your user ID and give your SIN, date of birth and a figure from a recent return, then answer your security questions |
| One-time passcode not arriving | Resend it, use Call me instead of Text me if you're on a VoIP line, or use your passcode grid or authenticator app |
| Too many wrong passcodes | You're locked out for 30 minutes. If it happens 3 times, you're locked permanently and must contact the CRA |
| CRA security code not arrived after 10 business days | Use the document verification service instead, or ask for a new code by mail |
| Locked out because you forgot your details | Go through registration again to get new credentials, without needing to call |
The CRA now asks everyone to add a backup multi-factor option. Do it: a second method, such as an authenticator app, is what keeps you in when your phone number changes. If you're choosing one, see the best authenticator apps.
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Check your online mail
Here's a detail that catches business owners out: most CRA correspondence for businesses is only available online in My Business Account by default, unless you've switched to paper. Register for email notifications so you know when new mail arrives, otherwise a notice can sit unread. The CRA also now emails you when your SIN is added to or changed on a business account.
My advice: set up My Business Account the week you get your BN, verify your identity with the document verification service instead of waiting for a mailed code, and add a backup sign-in method. It saves a stressful scramble when your tax deadline comes round.
Frequently asked questions
How do I access CRA My Business Account?
Sign in to your CRA account, select Add account, then Business account, and enter your 9-digit BN. Your SIN must be linked to the BN first.
Why can't I add my business number to my CRA account?
Usually because your SIN isn't linked to the BN. If you haven't filed a GST/HST or T2 return, you can only link online if the BN was registered in the last 28 days.
Can my accountant use My Business Account?
No. Accountants, bookkeepers and employees use Represent a Client to act for a business.
How long are you locked out of your CRA account?
Too many wrong one-time passcodes locks you out for 30 minutes. Three lockouts means a permanent lock until you contact the CRA.
How do I register a new business number?
Since 14 July 2026, through Business Registration Online inside your CRA account: Add account, then Business account, then Register a business.
