Corporate Identification and Other Information

This form is used for the entry of centralized data into various forms (e.g., the corporation’s name, address, and account numbers). It contains most of the information relating to the corporation and generally remains unchanged from year to year.

Internal information for the preparer

One of the things you can do in this section is to activate the profile desired for this particular corporation.

The fields Tax Preparer’s Profile used, Personalized identification number, Client code, Partner, Date needed, Preparer, Delivery method, Reviewer, Assigned to, and Other at the top of the form, are only provided to help you manage tax returns. This is not information required on the paper return or information that will be transmitted with EFILE.

Note that the name in the Partner field is always retained when rolling forward data. However, the names in the Preparer, Reviewer and Assigned to fields will not be retained if the check boxes Keep the reviewer’s name, Keep the preparer’s name and Keep the field “Assigned to” cell have been cleared under Roll Forward/Data Options in the Options and Settings dialog box.

If you are using the staff list from the preparer profile, note that the names on that list will be rolled forward once the preparer profile is converted. This preparer profile must first be rolled forward for the names to be rolled forward in the client file.

Using preparer profiles to create a list of staff members

You may now create an accounting firm staff list to make it easier to manage the Partner, Preparer, Reviewer and Assigned to fields.

The names of the staff members selected for the Partner, Preparer, Reviewer and Assigned to fields will display in these fields.

The identification numbers of the staff members for the Partner, Preparer, Reviewer and Assigned to fields will display in these fields.

Click these buttons to access the list of names or identification numbers of staff members who are assigned the roles of Partner, Preparer, and Reviewer as well as the general list accessible using the “Assigned to” field in the preparer profile used and in the customized list described at point four. You may create separate lists for each of the three roles. As for the list of the Assigned to field, it contains the first and last names of all persons in the accounting firm staff list in the preparer profile and in the customizable list described at point four.

Double-clicking this expand box will allow you to access the Accounting Firm Staff List form. The names of the accounting firm staff entered in the list in the preparer profile will be displayed but cannot be modified. However, if the check box Allow customizing the list of the accounting firm staff using Form Corporate Identification and Other Information has been selected in the preparer profile used, you may add names to the list. Note that the names of staff members added in that section are only accessible in the active client file and are not added to the master list in the preparer profile.

If you entered the names of staff members in the input section of the Accounting Firm Staff List form, but you do not want to roll them forward, clear the Retain these values when rolling forward the file check box at the bottom of the form.

Note: Using the accounting firm staff list in this section of the form will not be possible if no preparer profile has been converted or created.

Time fields relating to the tax-year start or tax-year end

Note: The CRA considers that a day starts at 00:00 (midnight) and ends at 11:59PM.

“Time” fields relating to the dates entered on line 060, Tax year start, and line 061, Tax year-end

The program will automatically default the values 0000 and 2359 in the Time fields related to the dates entered on line 060 and 061 respectively. You can modify the value in these fields only when the corporation is in one of the situations described below. In all other cases, both Time fields must not be modified.

The value in the Time field related to line 061 can be modified only when the tax year end time is different from 11:59PM and the corporation answers Yes to the question on one of the following lines:

  • Line 063, Has there been an acquisition of control resulting in the application of subsection 249(4) since the tax year start on line 060?;
  • Line 066, Is the date on line 061 a deemed tax year-end according to subsection 249(3.1)?; or
  • Line 076, Is this the final tax year before amalgamation?

The value in the Time field related to line 060 can be modified only in one the two following situations:

  1. In the prior tax year, if both:
  1. the answer on one of lines 063, 066 or 076 was Yes; and
  2. a time different from 11:59PM (2359) has been entered in the Time field related to line 061; or
  1. In the current taxation year, if the answer to the question on line 071, Is this the first year of filing after amalgamation? is Yes.

If you enter a value other than 0000 for the tax-year start or 2359 for the tax-year end, this value will be transmitted to the CRA (in the electronic transmission or the bar codes). Note that the default values 0000 and 2359 will never be transmitted, as the CRA does not need them.

Time field relating to the date of acquisition of control (line 065)

A value can be entered in the Time field related to line 065 only when the answer to the question on line 063, Has there been an acquisition of control resulting in the application of subsection 249(4) since the tax year start on line 060?, is Yes and the corporation’s tax year end time is different from 11:59PM (2359).

In all other cases, this Time field must be left blank. If you enter 2359, this value will not be transmitted to the CRA (in the electronic transmission or the bar codes).

Amended tax return

The term amended return is not defined in the Income Tax Act. There is only one filing of the return, which is what the CRA refers to as an Initial Assessment (IAS). Any subsequent filing is a Request for Reassessment even though this is often referred to as an amended return.

The requirement to electronically file a return only applies to the initial assessment. There is no requirement that a request for reassessment (i.e. amended return) be electronically filed and no penalties will be assessed if it is paper-filed.

Question used to specify whether there is an adjustment request concerning a federal tax return

Line 997, Is this an amended federal tax return?

If the corporation is filing an amended federal tax return, answer Yes to the question on line 997.

When the answer to this question is Yes, a detailed description of the changes must be provided on line 996. An expand allows you to directly access the new Form Line 996, Amended Tax Return – Description of Changes.

The amended return includes all forms and schedules as if it were an original return, and not only the amended forms and schedules. All schedules included in the amended return are considered as being amended and the data contained in the schedules will replace all data initially submitted to the CRA in the original return.

Exceptions provided for by the CRA

EFILE (or Form T2-Bar Codes) cannot be used to amend the information on the following lines:

- Line 010 (change in head office address)

- Line 020 (change in mailing address)

- Line 030 (change in location of books and records)

- Line 990 (language of correspondence)

If a corporation files an amended return, any change of address or language of correspondence will not be taken into account by the CRA. Such changes must be made, prior to filing, online or by phone with the Business Enquiries line.

Electronic filing

When the answer to the question on line 997 is Yes, the return’s EFILE status will be changed from Accepted to Eligible, if the return satisfies the EFILE requirements, or Not Eligible if it does not. When the value of the EFILE status is Eligible, you can retransmit the return using the same procedure as for the original transmission.

If you are electronically transmitting a second amended return for the same year end, you must temporarily change the answer to question 997 to No and then back to Yes. This will cause the program to change the EFILE status from Accepted to either Eligible or Not Eligible as applicable.

Possible Error Messages

If you transmit an amended return prior to filing the original return, or while an assessment is in progress or an appeal is under review, you would receive an error message as shown below.

Description

Error Code

Error Message

TYE already assessed, possible amended?

387

CRA cannot process the return transmitted since we have already assessed this tax year. If you are submitting an amended return you must indicate this in your software. Otherwise, contact CRA’s Corporation Internet Filing Helpdesk at 1-800-959-2803 for assistance.

No previous assessment

521

According to CRA’s records, this tax year has not been assessed therefore an amendment cannot be processed. For assistance, contact CRA’s corporation Internet Filing Helpdesk at 1-800-959-2803.

(Re)assessment or Appeal in progress

522

CRA is unable to process this amendment as a (re)assessment is currently in progress or you have an Appeal under review for this tax year. For assistance, contact CRA’s Corporation Internet Filing Helpdesk at 1-800-959-2803.

Note that you must indicate that a return is an amended return on line 997 to be able to transmit it. Otherwise, the CRA will assume that it is a duplicate transmission and you will receive the error message 387.

Question used to specify whether there is an adjustment request concerning an Alberta tax return

Is this an amended Alberta tax return?

If the corporation wants to file an amended Alberta tax return, answer Yes to this question.

When the answer to this question is Yes, and the answer to the question Do you want to electronically file this tax return with Alberta Tax and Revenue Administration? of Form RSI, Electronic Filing and Bar Codes Control Workchart (Jump Code: RSI-EFILE-BAR CODES) is Yes, provide a description of the changes on line 073 of Form AT1 EDI Schedule - Alberta Electronic Data Interchange (Jump Code: AEDI). An expand allows you to directly access line 073.

In addition, when the answer to this question is Yes, the return EFILE status automatically changes from Accepted to Eligible, if the return complies with the EFILE requirements, or Not Eligible, if it does not. When the value of the EFILE status is Eligible, you can retransmit the return using the same procedure as for the original transmission.

If you are electronically transmitting a second amended return for a taxation year, you must temporarily change the answer to the question on the line Is this an amended Alberta tax return? to No, then set it back to Yes. As a result, the program will change the EFILE status from Accepted to either Eligible or Not Eligible, as applicable.

The amended return includes all schedules as if it were an original return, and not only the amended schedules. All schedules included in the amended return are considered as being amended and the data contained in the schedules will replace all data initially submitted to the TRA in the original return.

Question used to specify whether there is an adjustment request concerning a Québec tax return

Is this an amended Québec tax return?

If the corporation is filing an adjustment request for a Québec tax return for the current taxation year, answer Yes to this question.

However, when the adjustment request covers a prior taxation year, the answer to this question must be No.

If you answer Yes to the question, the program will answer Yes to the question on line 24 of the CO-17 return.

There are two ways of filing a corporation’s amended income tax return that has already been filed with Revenu Québec, i.e.:

  1. You can complete a separate copy of Form CO-17.R, Request for an Adjustment to a Corporation Income Tax Return or to an Information and Income Tax Return for Non-Profit Corporations (Jump Code: QJR), for each taxation year for which you are requesting an adjustment. To do so you must:
  • enclose a copy of Form CO-17, Corporation Income Tax Return (Jump Code: QJ) or Form CO-17.SP, Information and Income Tax Return for Non-Profit Corporations (Jump Code: QJSP), making the desired corrections and specifying that it is an amended return on line 24;
  • enclose any documents justifying the adjustment request (related forms, adjusted financial statements, schedules, etc.);
  • place your documents in the order specified in Section 3.2 of the Summary of Filing Requirements for Returns – Québec help topic; and
  • mail the return and other documents to Revenu Québec.

An expand will allow you to directly access Form CO-17.R. You will be able to complete the form automatically or manually. For more details, consult the following help topic Request for an Adjustment to a Corporation Income Tax Return or to an Information and Income Tax Return for Non-Profit Corporations.

 

  1. You can retransmit the CO-17 or CO-17.SP return electronically.
  • The program will transmit a complete amended CO-17 or CO-17.SP return with the desired changes. However, it is recommended to file the CO-17.R form with the CO-17 or CO-17.SP return. As with an original return, if you transmit the amended return using the NetFile Québec service, make sure that you have a copy Form CO-1000.TE duly signed by the client allowing you to electronically transmit the amended return.

  • The process to prepare an amended CO-17 or CO-17.SP return is similar to the process already in place for the automatic preparation of an adjustment request. We recommend that you use a copy of the original tax return when you prepare an amended tax return. Answer Yes to the question Is this an amended Québec tax return? in Form Identification (Jump Code : ID) and make the amendments in the Québec return.

  • When you answer Yes to the question Is this an amended Québec tax return? in Form Identification, a copy of Form CO-17.R will be created and the EFILE CO-17 status will no longer be Accepted; you will then be able to amend the return to make the desired changes.
  • Once the transmission is accepted by Revenu Québec, the confirmation number and the date the transmission is accepted will be saved in Forms CO-17.R and EFILE INFO, EFILE Information (Jump Code: TED INFO).

  • If you had answered Yes to both questions Is this an amended Québec tax return? in Form Identification and Do you want to electronically file this tax return with Revenu Québec? in Form RSI-EFILE Bar codes, RSI, Electronic Filing and Bar Codes Control Workchart (Jump Code: RSI-EFILE-BAR CODES), a copy of Form CO-17.R was created. In addition, the program will answer Yes to the question Do you want to electronically retransmit the amended CO-17 or CO-17.SP return instead of mailing a CO-17.R form?, the EFILE CO 17 status will no longer be Accepted, and you will then be able to amend the return and make the desired changes.
  • If you would still like the amendments made to the return to display in Form CO-17.R.

    • If you want to prepare a summary of amendments made in the return, select the check boxes Select this check box to prepare an automatic CO 17.R form and Print this form in Form CO-17.R before amending the return. The lines that were modified in the tax return display in Form CO-17.R, as well as the change to the refund or balance due. However, the authorized representative does not have to sign the form.
  • If you are electronically transmitting a second amended return for a given taxation year, you must temporarily modify the answer to the question on the line Is this an amended Québec tax return? to No, then set it back to Yes. As a result, the program will change the EFILE status from Accepted to either Eligible, or Not Eligible, as applicable, and a new copy of Form CO-17.R will be created.

Questions in the General information section

Here are the calculations performed by the program for each question in the General information section.

Additional information

Instalment paid

Amount used to determine the answer to the question on line 896 of the T2 return

The amounts entered on the lines Taxable income of prior taxation year and Reduced business limit of prior taxation year in the General information section of Schedule 9 WORKCHART, Related and Associated Corporations Workchart (Jump Code: 9 WORKCHART) allow the program to correctly answer the question on line 896.

On these lines, enter respectively the corporation’s taxable income and the reduced business limit for the prior taxation year. If the corporation has more than one taxation year ending in the same current or previous taxation year, enter the taxable income and the total reduced business limit for the taxation year ending in the calendar year preceding the taxation year covered.

One of the rules relating to the extension of the 2-month statutory time limit to pay the balance due stipulates that the corporation’s total taxable income must be equal to or less than its reduced business limit for the previous taxation year and that, where the corporation is associated with other corporations, the total taxable income of the corporations in the group must be equal to or less than the total of the reduced business limits for the previous year of those same corporations.

When the corporation is associated with other corporations, to determine whether the time limit can be extended or not, the program first adds the taxable income for the preceding taxation year of all associated corporations listed in Schedule 23. Then, the program adds all reduced business limits for the preceding taxation year of all these corporations. When the total taxable income does not exceed the total business limits, the eligible CCPC will qualify for the three-month delay based on this rule.

To qualify for the extension of the 2-month statutory time limit to pay the balance due, the corporation must also meet the following two criteria:

  • It must have been a CCPC throughout the year.
  • An amount must have been deducted under section 125 of the ITA in computing the corporation’s tax payable for the current or previous taxation year.

Certification

Telephone number of the authorized signing officer (line 956)

If the telephone number is not from Canada or the USA, enter it as per the following examples that were provided to us by the CRA:

Example 1:

Sydney, Australia

Telephone number = 12345678

City code = 2

Country code = 61

Enter the telephone number in the field of line 956 as follows: 61212345678

Note that a dummy zero is used as the tenth digit.

Example 2:

Cambridge, G.B.

Telephone number = 123 45678

City code = 1223

Country code = 44

Enter the telephone number in the field of line 956 as follows: 44122312345678

Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) E-mail Notification for My Business Account

This section allows you to submit an e-mail address to receive e-mail notification for the corporation’s account on the CRA’s My Business Account portal. Corporations that submit their e-mail address must register for and then sign in to the My Business Account portal in order to access and manage the documents related to e-mail notifications.

Note that the registration for the e-mail notification is only possible through initial returns that are electronically transmitted to the CRA; therefore, an amended return cannot be used to register for this service.

If the corporation registers for this service, the CRA will send an e-mail notification to the corporation when changes to their account have been made, or when eligible notices, letters, or statements are available for viewing in their My Business Account portal. All CRA mail available in My Business Account will be presumed to have been received on the date that the email notification is sent. Any mail that is eligible for electronic delivery will no longer be printed and mailed to the corporation.

For more information, please consult the following CRA Web pages: Terms of use for email notifications, Access to information and privacy at the Canada Revenue Agency and Email notifications from the CRA – Businesses.

Filing information

Was the return prepared by a tax preparer for a fee?

When the answer to this custom question is Yes, the EFILE number entered by the program on line 920 of Schedule 200 is:

  • the electronic filer number indicated in Form T183, when this form has been modified using an override (whether or not the form is applicable); or
  • the EFILE number indicated in the options and settings under Electronic Services/Identification/Federal.

For more information, consult the CRA Web page, Mandatory electronic filing for tax preparers.

See Also

Section 261 – Election to report in a functional currency

Tax Preparer’s Profile