Alberta Incorporation
General Overview
An Alberta Corporation is a business entity legally registered and incorporated in the province of Alberta, Canada. Incorporation creates a separate legal entity distinct from its owners, providing several benefits such as limited liability, potential tax advantages, and enhanced business credibility. Here’s a brief overview of key aspects of an Alberta Corporation:
Legal Entity: An Alberta Corporation is a legal person that can enter into contracts, own property, and be liable for debts independently of its shareholders.
Limited Liability: Shareholders of the corporation have limited liability, meaning their personal assets are generally protected from business debts and liabilities.
Corporate Structure: An Alberta Corporation is typically managed by a board of directors and officers, while shareholders own the corporation through their shares.
Regulations and Compliance: Corporations must comply with various regulations, including maintaining corporate records, holding annual meetings, and filing annual returns with the Alberta Corporate Registry.
Taxation: Corporations are subject to federal and provincial taxes but may benefit from tax advantages compared to other business structures.
In its capacity as a “person,” a corporation has the ability to:
It’s important to note that even small businesses with a single owner can choose to register as a corporation. If you’re uncertain about whether a corporation is the most suitable business structure for your needs, seeking legal advice is strongly recommended.
Should I incorporate or register a Sole Proprietorship / Partnership?
While we recommend seeking legal advice from your accountant or lawyer, the following information might also aid your decision-making:
Incorporation
Sole Proprietorship
How to Apply for Your New Alberta Corporation
Step 1:
Choose a business name and get an Alberta NUANS Report
For a numbered corporation, a NUANS report is not required. Please proceed to Step 2
An Alberta corporation name consists of 3 elements.
‘ABC Building Supplies Ltd.’ is an example of a corporation name that contains all 3 elements.
‘ABC’ is the distinctive element.
‘Building Supplies’ is the descriptive element.
‘Ltd.’ is the legal element.
Acceptable Legal Elements – The followings are some of the common legal elements permitted by the Business Corporations Act:
Your corporation can also use a ‘number’ name, such as ‘785843 Alberta Inc.’
For more information, please visit https://www.alberta.ca/incorporate-alberta-corporation.aspx
Alberta NUANS Report
After you choose your business name, you need to get an Alberta NUANS report and review it to make sure there is no other corporation with an identical name or a name that is too similar to your proposed corporation name. Unlike business names, identically named corporations are not allowed.
The NUANS report reserves the proposed name for 90 days. The complete report must be submitted with the incorporation application and must be less than 91 days old.
You can request for a NUANS report at our office. It would only take about 5-10 minutes for us to retrieve the result for you. If you are submitting your request online, the NUANS search is included as part of your incorporation request. (Only one search is included, additional fee applies if multiple searches are required)
Please Note
A NUANS report is not required when the proposed name will be a ‘number name’ assigned by Corporate Registry (for example, 9999999 Alberta Ltd.).
Step 2:
Complete all the required application forms
1. Articles of Incorporation
Record all the necessary information needed for the incorporation including
Important Information
If you need more space on the form, please save your schedules into plain text format and email it to info@registryexpressinc.ca
Effective January 2019, email address is not longer optional. A valid email address must be provided.
2. Notice of Address
The registered office needs to be a physical location in Alberta, so that the corporation can get legal documents delivered. The records address, if not the same as the registered office, also needs to be physically located in Alberta. You will need a mailing address in Alberta for the corporation if you do not have mail delivered to the registered office
3. Notice of Directors
Elect or appoint at least one director for your corporation and record that information on the Notice of Directors. Directors must be adults and at least one quarter of the board must be Canadian residents
4. Notice of Agent for Service/Change of Agent for Service for an Alberta or Extra-Provincial Corporation
This requirement applies to all incorporations and amalgamations for Alberta corporations and all extra-provincial corporations continued into Alberta on or after March 29, 2021.
An agent for service is an individual located in Alberta who can accept notices and documents in person or by mail on behalf of the corporation. The agent for service does not need to be a lawyer.
Step 3:
Submit your application (In-person)
You need to take your forms to our office along with the following documents:
Submit your application (Online)
You can also send in your request by filling out the form below. Ensure to attach all the required forms and any supporting documents. Our corporate specialist will review the application and send out the electronic invoice. Once payment is processed, our specialist will complete your request within 2 business days.
Numbered Corporation – $450.00
Named Corporation – $495.00