| Ontario Certificates of Status are issued by the | | | | to file your federal returns. |
| Ontario government for Ontario companies. | | | | It is very expensive to revive a company and the |
| Sometimes these are called Certificates of Good | | | | Ontario government puts the onus on the companies |
| Standing or Certificates of Compliance and all | | | | themselves to follow the statute requirements. It will |
| companies registered in all jurisdictions in Canada and | | | | not remind you that you have not filed your Ontario |
| for that matter all countries can obtain these | | | | annual returns. Any reputable Canadian search |
| certificates when needed. They are called Certificates | | | | house will be able to check for you to see that your |
| of Status in Ontario. | | | | annual returns have been filed but there is a cost for |
| Certificates of Status are issued when you need to | | | | this. You will need to order what is called an Ontario |
| provide some institution or person with confirmation | | | | List of Documents for your company. If it is |
| that your Ontario company is in good standing. | | | | determined that you need to file annual returns this can |
| When a Certificate of Status is issued it will say on it | | | | be done easily by a legal search house and then a |
| whether the company is or is not in good standing. | | | | favourable Certificate of Status can be issued. |
| Since the Ontario annual return filing is normally done at | | | | The government does not refund the money if the |
| the same time as the tax returns are filed in a section | | | | Certificate of Status cannot be issued. Basically it will |
| of the form, if you are behind in filing your tax returns | | | | issue a Certificate of Status that indicates the Ontario |
| you will also be behind in filing your Ontario annual | | | | company is not in compliance and you will then need to |
| returns. | | | | file any outstanding returns and order a new |
| The Certificate of Status for an Ontario company will | | | | Certificate of Status. A Certificate of Status is not |
| provide the name of the company, the Ontario | | | | cheap so if you know in advance you have not made |
| corporation number issued by the Ministry of | | | | your filings you should at the least ensure all Ontario |
| Government Services and its status whether it is or is | | | | annual returns are filed before ordering your Certificate |
| not in good standing. | | | | of Status. If you have some outstanding tax returns |
| Ontario companies must file federal tax returns each | | | | but have not been dissolved then you will still receive a |
| year and if those returns are not filed for many | | | | favourable Certificate of Status as long as your annual |
| years the federal government will eventually dissolve | | | | returns have been filed with the Ontario Companies |
| the Ontario company. If the registered office address | | | | Branch. Basically if too many years go by without |
| of the Company is current on file you will be provided | | | | filing your federal tax returns the Canada Revenue |
| with warning from them that tax returns are due. | | | | Agency requests the Ontario Companies Branch to |
| Ontario companies must file Ontario annual returns | | | | dissolve your company. |
| each year and if those returns are not filed for a | | | | A Certificate of Status is not an Ontario corporate |
| number of years the company will be dissolved. | | | | search. If you are trying to determine information |
| You can file your Ontario annual returns separately | | | | about an Ontario company you should have an |
| just to ensure that your record is up-to-date so that | | | | Ontario Corporate Profile search done rather than |
| you will not be dissolved by the Companies Branch for | | | | ordering a Certificate of Status. |
| non-filing if you feel that you need more time in order | | | | |