
FAQ
Q1: What is "Extra-Provincial Registration" for a company?
"Extra-Provincial Registration" typically refers to the process a company needs to undertake when operating in a province other than the one where it was originally incorporated.
Extra-Provincial Registration
For example:
- A company incorporated in Ontario
- Starts doing business in BC or Alberta
Then it usually needs to complete Extra-Provincial Registration in BC or Alberta.
Q2: When is Extra-Provincial Registration required?
It may typically be required under the following circumstances:
- Having an office in the local province
- Having employees
- Having long-term business operations
- Having a physical store
- Having a warehouse
- Signing long-term contracts locally
- Conducting continuous commercial activities locally
May not be required if:
- Only has online customers
- Receives occasional orders
- No physical operations
- No local employees
Q3: Does a federal company not need Extra-Provincial Registration?
No.
Many people misunderstand: "Federal companies can operate across Canada, so they don't need Extra-Provincial Registration."
In reality: Federal incorporation ≠ automatic qualification to operate in all provinces.
Federal companies still need to complete Extra-Provincial Registration in the provinces where they actually operate.
Q4: Is Extra-Provincial Registration required just for e-commerce selling to other provinces?
In many cases, no.
For example:
- Shopify
- Amazon
- Etsy
- Website sales
As long as:
- There is no local office
- There are no employees
- There are no physical operations
Extra-Provincial Registration is usually not required.
Q5: Is Extra-Provincial Registration the same as registering for GST/HST?
Completely different.
GST/HST is a tax account.
Extra-Provincial Registration is a business registration under corporate law.
There is no direct substitution between the two.
Q6: Will Extra-Provincial Registration result in additional taxes?
Not necessarily.
But it may lead to:
- Local corporate tax filing
- Payroll
- PST/QST
- WCB
- Local annual reports
For example, operating in BC may involve:
- BC PST
- BC Employer Health Tax
Q7: Will the company become two companies after Extra-Provincial Registration?
No. It remains the same company.
It simply: obtains the qualification to legally operate in another province.