How to Update Corporate Information in Ontario (Without the Confusion)
- Natalie Paquette
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 15
If you’re running a corporation in Ontario, you’ll eventually need to update your corporate information. Maybe you moved, brought on a new business partner, or just realized the government still has your old home address on file from when you first incorporated (it happens).
The good news: updating your corporate information isn’t as complicated as it sounds. The key is knowing what needs to be updated, where to update it, and what documents are involved.
Let’s break it down clearly and simply.
When Do You Need to Update Your Corporation Information?
Here are the most common reasons changes come up:
You have new or departing directors
Your registered office address has changed
The official email address has changed
The business activity has changed
You need to correct mistakes from the original incorporation
Any time something in your corporation’s director or officer listing, address or contact details changes, the government needs to know — and it needs to be recorded officially.
Updating Directors
If you’re adding a new director, removing one, changing the officer titles for someone, or someone changes their address, this must be filed with the Ontario Business Registry.
Do all directors have to be Canadian residents?
No. Ontario corporations don’t require Canadian-residency directors (unlike some other provinces).
Can one person be the only director?
Absolutely — many small corporations start this way.
Changing the Registered Office Address
Your registered office address is legal address listed for your corporation. It can be listed as any physical address, so if you don’t have a separate business address you can list a home address. The only restrictions are that it has to be in Ontario and it can’t be a P.O. Box. This address must be kept up-to-date, even if your business moves across the street.
Do I need to show proof of the new address?
No proof is required, but it must be a real, physical address in Ontario — not just a PO Box.
What happens if I don’t update it?
Government notices may not reach you, including tax or compliance letters.
Changing the Business Activity
Most business corporations in Ontario do not have restrictions on business activities, but Ontario still asks that you list a primary business activity for statistical purposes.
They use the NAICS coding system for this - North American Industry Classification System.
Basically, this is a listing of different business activities that can be used for your corporation. Only one code can be listed, so you’ll just want to provide the primary business activity - that is, the thing your business focuses on the most.
How do I know which NAICS code to use?
There are thousands of NAICS codes to choose from. Don’t know which code to use? No problem, you can either search the NAICS system or just give us an idea of what your business does, and we’ll search for you.
Changing the Registered Office Address
Your registered office address is legal address listed for your corporation. It can be listed as any physical address, so if you don’t have a separate business address you can list a home address. The only restrictions are that it has to be in Ontario and it can’t be a P.O. Box. This address must be kept up-to-date, even if your business moves across the street.
Do I need to show proof of the new address?
No proof is required, but it must be a real, physical address in Ontario — not just a PO Box.
What happens if I don’t update it?
Government notices may not reach you, including tax or compliance letters.
Do I Get Any Documents After Filing Updates?
Yes — once changes are filed, you receive:
Confirmation of filing by email
Updated Profile Report (if included)
Always save these in your digital (or physical) corporate minute book.
Do I Get An Updated Copy of my Articles of Incorporation?
No - no matter what changes you make to the information for your corporation, your Articles of Incorporation don’t change. Instead, you’ll get the confirmation of filing to show the changes, and if needed, you can request a Profile Report to show the updated information on file for your corporation.
How Long Does It Take?
Most updates process same-day or within a few business days, depending on the type of change. At Launch A Business, we want to make sure all of the changes you need are done with your filing. That’s why we’ll send you a draft of the changes you’ve asked for before we complete the filing.
Once you’ve confirmed that everything looks good, we file your changes, and they are effective immediately.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Not always.
You generally don’t need a lawyer to:
Add/remove directors
Update addresses
Update email address or business activity
But you should probably consult a lawyer or accountant when:
Changing share structure wording
Transferring ownership stakes
Creating new share classes
Bottom Line
Keeping your corporate information current is part of maintaining your corporation in good standing. And doing it sooner rather than later avoids penalties, confusion, or missed government notices.
If you’d like help filing updates through Launch a Business, we can handle:
✅ Director changes
✅ Address updates
✅ Email address update
✅ Business activity update
All done in plain language, with support along the way.
Need more help with getting your changes filed? Are you trying to file changes that aren’t listed above? No worries, give us a call or book a quick consult and we’ll help answer all of your questions!
