Business Number (BN) Validator
Verify the mathematical format of a 9-digit Canadian Business Number or a full 15-character CRA Program Account (e.g., GST/HST).
Canada Business Number (BN) & GST/HST Format Validator
🏢 CRA Formatting Alert: A base Canadian Business Number (BN) is exactly 9 digits long. However, when dealing with taxes, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) uses a 15-character “Program Account” number. This consists of your 9-digit BN, a 2-letter program identifier (like ‘RT’ for GST/HST), and a 4-digit reference number (usually ‘0001’). Our tool validates both the base 9-digit mathematical format and the 15-character structure.
In Canada, your Business Number (BN) is the cornerstone of your corporate identity. Issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), this unique 9-digit identifier is required for everything from incorporating your company to opening a business bank account. For accountants, bookkeepers, and B2B service providers, entering an invalid BN into payroll or invoicing software can cause massive administrative headaches and tax filing rejections. Our Canada BN Format Validator instantly verifies if a Business Number or GST/HST number passes the strict mathematical checksum algorithms required by the CRA.
How to Validate a CRA Business Number
Avoid invoicing errors and tax filing rejections by following these steps:
- Enter the Base BN (9 Digits): Type in the 9-digit number. Similar to a SIN, a valid BN uses a Modulus 10 (Luhn) mathematical checksum. If the tool rejects it, there is a typo in the digits.
- Validate a 15-Character Program Account: If you are checking a tax number, enter the full 15 characters (e.g., 123456789 RT 0001).
- Check the Program Identifier: The tool will decode the two letters in the middle. RT means it is a GST/HST account, RP is for Payroll deductions, RC is for Corporate Income Tax, and RM is for Import/Export.
- Verify the Reference Number: The final 4 digits indicate how many accounts of that type the business has. Most small businesses will just have “0001”.