Business Number: One Business, One Number
You will be asked to provide your BN to identify your business when accessing many programs within government, including Nova Scotia's online service.
Your Nova Scotia BN is 15 characters and follows this formula:
- 9-digit number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- 2 letters (NS)
- 4 digits
Since the BN is unique to each business, it eliminates the need for a different number for every government program and service.
If you already have a BN, the province will confirm that number with the CRA and assign a NS identifier to your newly registered business.
You need your BN to:
- access your business information using Nova Scotia's online services
- apply for and renew many provincial licences, permits and registrations online, including your annual registration renewal with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies
One Business - One Number
Your BN can help simplify the way you interact with government. The One Business–One Number approach means:
- fewer numbers to remember
- less need to enter basic company information over and over
- simpler, more convenient access to government services
Right now, the BN is being used for various government services in Nova Scotia. In addition to many provincial licences, permits, registrations, your BN may also be used to register with the Workers Compensation Board and to open Payroll, GST/HST, Import/Export or other program accounts you may need with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You will be asked to provide or confirm your BN when applying or renewing with participating programs.
As our use of the BN is expanded, it will replace many numbers currently used by different government programs to identify the same business. The BN is also used in other participating Canadian provinces as a business identifier, so if you register your business in another province you may be able to use your BN.
Contact information
Telephone:
902-424-7770
Toll-Free: (within Canada)
1-800-225-8227
Hours of Operation: (except holidays)
Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Atlantic Standard Time
Fax:
902-424-4633
Mailing Address:
Registry of Joint Stock Companies
P.O. Box 1529
Halifax, NS
B3J 2Y4
Email:
Locations:
Head Office
9th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax
Access Nova Scotia Centre
144 Robert Angus Drive
Amherst
Access Nova Scotia Centre
149 Church Street
Antigonish Mall Annex, Suite 3
Antigonish
Access Nova Scotia Centre
81 Logan Road
Bridgewater
Access Nova Scotia Centre
250 Baker Drive, Suite 134
Dartmouth
Access Nova Scotia Centre
300 Horseshoe Lake Drive
Bayers Lake Business Park
Halifax
Access Nova Scotia Centre
5 Shylah Drive
Kentville
Access Nova Scotia Centre
486 Sackville Drive
Lower Sackville
Access Nova Scotia Centre
218 MacSween Street, Suite 22
Port Hawkesbury
Access Nova Scotia Centre
94 Lawrence Boulevard
Access Nova Scotia Centre
380 King's Road
Moxham Centre
Sydney
Access Nova Scotia Centre
15 Alderbrook Drive
Truro Heights
Access Nova Scotia Centre
10 Starrs Road, Suite 127
Yarmouth
Legislation and regulations
Your Business Number (BN) is used to identify your business for various licensing, permitting, registration, and certification programs in accordance with the Business Electronic Filing Act.
The Business Electronic Filing Act and associated Business Registry Regulations provide the legislative authority to share basic business information between participating programs.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the BN. Find out more about the CRA's BN programs.