CRA News for Businesses
Your CRA Account Is Becoming the Only Door In
Every few months the CRA quietly shifts how business owners interact with it, and the June 2026 newsletter is a good example. On their own, the updates look like housekeeping. Together, they point in one clear direction: your CRA account is fast becoming the single way you register, file, pay, and submit anything. Here's what changed and what to do about it.
Registering a business now means signing in first
As of July 14, 2026, Business Registration Online — the tool for getting a business number or setting up program accounts like GST/HST — moves behind your CRA account. No sign-in, no registration.
The CRA's reasoning is identity and fraud protection: confirming who you are before a business gets registered in your name. The practical takeaway is simpler. If you don't have a CRA account, set one up now. It's quickly becoming non-optional.
The drop boxes are gone
As of May 29, 2026, CRA drop boxes are permanently closed nationwide. Paper hand-offs are no longer an option — everything goes through secure online services, mail, or participating banks and Canada Post locations. For clients we already file electronically for, nothing changes. If you've been dropping off paper, let's get you a digital channel instead.
A June deadline that's still live
Self-employed? You — and a self-employed spouse or common-law partner — have until June 15, 2026 to file your 2025 return. Worth remembering: any balance owing was due April 30, so interest is already running on unpaid amounts. If your books aren't closed, let's prioritize them and at least pay down an estimate to stop the interest.
One for the multi-corporation owners
If you control more than one company, the CRA has published new plain-language guidance on how related and associated corporations share the small business deduction and qualify for SR&ED credits. These rules are easy to get wrong and expensive to get wrong — losing the low small-business rate, or missing credits you earned. If your corporate structure shifted this year, it's worth a look before year-end.
The bottom line
None of these changes is dramatic on its own. The pattern is what matters: get your CRA account set up, keep your authorizations current, and treat it as your primary line to the agency. Want us to handle the setup and the deadlines for you? Reach out anytime.