Government Makes Province More Attractive to Business

Businesses incorporated in another province or territory no longer have to pay extra provincial registration and renewal fees when they set up shop in Nova Scotia.

The changes come into effect Thursday, Aug. 1.

“We’re pleased and proud to be one of two provinces who chose to waive the extra provincial registration and renewal fees,” said Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services Minister Patricia Arab. “We know every dollar counts and attracting new businesses is important to our economic growth while we continue our work to make it easier for Nova Scotia businesses to incorporate and open their doors for customers.”

Nova Scotia joins Ontario as the only provinces to eliminate the extra provincial registration and renewal fees.

Businesses incorporated federally but registered to do business in Nova Scotia must still pay the fee.

"Removing barriers to trade helps small- and medium-sized businesses succeed,” said Jordi Morgan, vice-president, Atlantic Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “CFIB is pleased Nova Scotia is continuing to show leadership in this area by joining Ontario as the only provinces to stop this unnecessary practice of charging businesses extra to operate outside their home province or territory.

“CFIB welcomes this move and we'll continue our work to encourage other provinces to follow their lead.”

Extra provincial registration and renewal fees are about $274.00

In January 2019, government introduced the lowest incorporation fees in the country to help new Nova Scotia businesses. The amount of time it takes to incorporate was reduced from a five to ten day wait to three days.

Nova Scotia has reduced regulatory burden for businesses by $34.3 million since 2017. The new target for 2020 is to reduce undue burden to businesses by $10 million.