Frequently Asked Questions

The SBN Project represents a first step in establishing a more seamless and streamlined way of delivering online services to businesses in British Columbia. This project will enable businesses to use their federal Business Number (BN) as a single identifying number with various government agencies. The project also provides a single window through which information can be simultaneously registered with multiple levels of government.

How will having a common business identifier, the BN, assist business?

The BN will provide British Columbia businesses with a simple and efficient way to interact with multiple government agencies and will reduce red tape and duplicated effort.

How does adopting the BN cut red tape?

Having a BN makes interacting with government simpler, easier, and more convenient. With the BN, it is possible to provide basic business information, such as business name and address, only once when registering for two or more related government services. The information provided during the first registration will be seamlessly transferred to the second registration without re-keying. Online business services will be grouped together logically, according to business needs, even if they are from different departments or levels of government. Finally, service is available during extended hours from the convenience of home or office.

Partners in various parts of the British Columbia government and at different levels of government are working to offer their shared clients integrated business processes. These government bodies are responding to the requests of the business community for enhanced services and more efficient government programs.

What is a BN? What does it look like?

A BN is the common identifier to be used by all participating programs in the Single Business Number project. It allows businesses to access services using one number.

The BN is assigned by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) as a unique business identifier. It contains 15 characters: the first nine digits identify the business, the next two letters identify the specific government program the business is registered with, and the last four digits identify a specific account.

Example of Business Number program account: 81234 5679 RT 0001

What are the anticipated benefits of the Single Business Number project?

For business:

Improved customer service with less red tape and single-window access to government transactions;

Simplified online registration that lets users know about requirements as they register; and

Government services grouped together logically and according to business needs.

For government:

Greater government efficiency through partnerships that serve common clients;

Increased compliance with government policies and procedures - which will increase government revenues and consumer protection while leveling the playing field for all British Columbia businesses; and

Reduced data collection and keying errors through customer self-service.

Is there legislation that enables the adoption of the BN as a common business identifier in British Columbia?

The new Business Number Act (BN Act) enables the adoption of the BN as the common business identifier for British Columbia businesses based on a unique number issued by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. It also establishes the information system of the Single Business initiative, the BC Hub.

The BN Act authorizes present and future partners of the SBN initiative to collect, distribute, and, exchange among initiative partners the information required to request and maintain a BN.

How is the project funded?

The Single Business Number project is primarily funded by project partners and through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA), a federal/provincial cost-sharing agreement.

Are any other jurisdictions using a common business identifier?

The Business Number is used as a common business identifier in selected programs in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Manitoba is currently developing a common business identifier project using the federal Business Number.

Several other provinces are in discussion with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency about adopting the Business Number as a common business identifier.

Other federal government departments, such as Industry Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada, use the BN.

Implications for business

How does a business obtain a BN?

A BN will be assigned the first time a business registers with a participating program in British Columbia, with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), or with another province’s program that has adopted the BN as an identifier. In British Columbia, participating agencies and program areas include:

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency: GST/HST, payroll deductions, import/export and corporate income tax account;

Consumer Taxation Branch, Ministry of Provincial Revenue: Social Service Tax (PST) and the Hotel Room Tax;

Corporate and Personal Properties Registries (CTB), Ministry of Finance: registering a corporate entity, for example, a company or society; and

Workers’ Compensation Board: registering for WCB coverage.

Businesses that have already registered with the CCRA will have a BN. They will be asked to provide their BN when they register with participating programs.

Does every business in British Columbia need to have a BN?

Businesses in British Columbia that register with a federal or provincial program partner (in British Columbia with Corporate Registries, Consumer Taxation Branch, Workers’ Compensation Board, or federally with the CCRA will receive a Business Number. A business that registers with a program in another province that has adopted the BN as a common identifier will also receive a BN.

A business may already have a BN if they are registered with CCRA, a participating program in British Columbia or in another province that has adopted the BN as an identifier.

What information is required to establish and maintain a BN?

The business information required to request a BN includes:

Common business information such as, business name and business address;

Contact-related information such as business contact/owner name, title, and contact information; and

For incorporated companies, publicly available corporate information.

The business information to be retained in British Columbia’s Business Number Index (BNI) to maintain a BN:

Will include common business information such as such as BN program account number, business name and business address; and, for incorporated companies, publicly available business information.

Will not include contact-related information such as business contact/owner name, title, and contact information.

The business information required to request and maintain a BN can be exchanged only among authorized federal and provincial partners of the SBN project. Project partners adhere to strict privacy legislation.

Where is the information required to create a BN stored?

The business information required for requesting and maintaining a BN is stored in the Business Number Index (BNI) of the BCBN Hub.

Who has access to the information stored in the BNI?

Only authorized personnel of participating program partners will be permitted access to the information stored in the BNI.

Will the information required to create a BN be shared across government?

No, the partners of the SBN initiative adhere to strict privacy legislation.

The BN Act has been established to ensure that the information required for requesting and maintaining a BN can only be collected, distributed and exchanged among the designated federal and provincial partners of the SBN initiative.

What safety measures are in place to insure the security of the information stored in the BNI?

Provincial departments and agencies have introduced stringent systems and processes to ensure the security of all information stored in the Business Number Index. The systems will take full advantage of the secure networks and access protocols of the BC government, including Business Authentication (BCeID) and BC Employee Authentication (iDir).

Is this project part of a move towards harmonizing federal and provincial taxes?

No.

When will the SBN project begin operations?

The project is targeted to begin in the fall 2003.