Corporations Canada Rule to confirm

Federal corporation annual return

Within 60 days of the anniversary of incorporation. Federal corporations only.

This rule could not be verified. The Revenu Québec, Enterprise Registrar and CNESST sites refuse automated access: the rule above reflects my understanding without having been checked against an official text. Confirm it with Corporations Canada before relying on it.

Who it applies to

Corporations incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act. A Quebec corporation that is not federal is not covered: it falls under the annual updating declaration with the Enterprise Registrar.

Due dates

Deadline by anniversary of incorporation (2027)
Anniversary of incorporationDue date
January 15, 2027March 16, 2027
April 15, 2027June 14, 2027
July 15, 2027September 13, 2027
October 15, 2027December 14, 2027

Sixty days after the anniversary, rolled to the next business day.

If you miss the date

No direct monetary penalty, but repeated failure leads to administrative dissolution of the corporation. A more serious consequence than a fine.

File with Corporations Canada

Frequently asked questions

Is this an income tax return?
No, and the confusion is common. It is a declaration of existence and corporate information filed with Corporations Canada, unrelated to the T2 filed with the CRA.
What is the risk of not filing it?
There is no direct monetary penalty, but repeated failure leads to administrative dissolution. The consequence is more serious than a fine: the legal person ceases to exist.

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