NEQ (Quebec business number)

• A ten-digit code issued when you officially register your business with the Registraire des entreprises of Quebec
• Different from the federal business number (the one issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, the CRA)
• Public: Anyone can view it in the online registry
• Stay up to date: submit a short statement each year to remain in good standing
• If you fail to file the update report for two consecutive years, the Registrar may cancel your registration

Think of the NEQ as a person’s Social Security number, but for your business: its ten digits follow your company throughout its entire existence. Without it, it’s difficult to open a business bank account, sign certain contracts, or prove that your company actually exists. In practice, a bank that’s hesitant to open an account for you will first check your NEQ in the registry. The catch: every year, you have to file with the Registraire des entreprises A short update filing (to confirm your officers and address). If you fail to file it, you risk penalties, and after two consecutive years without filing it, the Registrar may cancel your registration, which would suspend your contracts overnight. Every company has its own NEQ: a management company (Gesco) has a separate one from your operating company, just like the structure of share capital is unique to each business. Bankeo provides you with a vetted accountant for free who keeps these obligations up to date, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

What exactly is the NEQ?

It’s your business’s official identification number in Quebec: a ten-digit number assigned by the government (the Registraire des entreprises) when you register your business. You’ll find it on your official documents, and people use it to confirm that your business actually exists. Keep it up to date: if you fail to file the annual update declaration for two consecutive years, the Registrar may cancel your registration.

Who needs to register and obtain a NEQ?

Companies (corporations) incorporated in Quebec receive one automatically. The following must also register: self-employed individuals who use a business name different from their own, most partnerships, and companies from other jurisdictions that do business in Quebec.

Does the NEQ replace my tax ID numbers?

No. The NEQ is used to identify you in the Quebec registry. Your tax accounts (the GST, a 5% federal tax, and the QST, a 9.975% Quebec tax), your payroll withholdings, and your federal number with the Canada Revenue Agency are separate numbers, each with its own registration. Bankeo connects you, for free, with a vetted accountant who will sort out all these numbers for you, at no cost, and we’ll be there for you every step of the way.