Registering a business in Quebec — REQ and NEQ guide
What the REQ and the NEQ are, who must register, how to file and keep the registration up to date
The Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) is the Quebec enterprise register. The NEQ (Numéro d’entreprise du Québec) is the ten-digit number it assigns to every enterprise that registers. In short: the REQ is the register, the NEQ is your number in it. This guide explains who must register, how the registration works, what you must file every year and what to do next with Revenu Québec. Sources: quebec.ca pages of the Registraire and Revenu Québec, consulted on 23/10/2026.
REQ vs NEQ: what is the difference?
The REQ is the register kept by the Registraire des entreprises. The NEQ is a ten-digit identifier assigned to each enterprise that registers in it. The NEQ and the enterprise information are published online for free on the Registraire website. The NEQ is used in dealings with Quebec government bodies; the quebec.ca page lists the CNESST, Revenu Québec, Emploi-Québec and the SAAQ among those that accept it. A natural person operating a sole proprietorship may not hold more than one NEQ. The federal Business Number is a different identifier issued by the Canada Revenue Agency. Source: quebec.ca, Quebec enterprise number (NEQ), consulted on 23/10/2026.
Who must register with the REQ
Most enterprises must file a declaration of registration as soon as they are created. This includes: sole proprietors who operate under a name that does not include their first and last names; sole proprietors running a tobacco retail outlet or a tanning salon, whatever name they use; general and limited partnerships constituted in Québec; partnerships and certain legal persons not constituted in Québec that have a domicile or carry on an activity in Québec; syndicates of co-ownership; certain trusts operating a commercial enterprise. A legal person constituted in Québec (for example a Quebec corporation) does not file a declaration: the Registraire registers it automatically when its articles are filed. A sole proprietor who uses their own first and last names is not required to register, but may do so voluntarily and then has the same obligations as a required enterprise. Source: quebec.ca, About the registration of an enterprise, consulted on 23/10/2026.
How to register
1) Check whether you are in one of the cases above. 2) Choose a name that complies with the rules below. 3) File the declaration of registration with the Registraire des entreprises (registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca). 4) Receive your NEQ. The registration fees are set in the Registraire fee schedule, which is indexed and published in French on its site; we do not reproduce amounts here because they change, so check the current schedule before you file. A construction contractor based outside Quebec with no Quebec address must use a paper form.
Business name rules
An enterprise name must respect the Charter of the French language and therefore be in French. For a legal person constituted in Québec, a French name is a prerequisite for obtaining legal personality. If the constituting documents have no French version, a French name must be declared in the “Autres noms utilisés au Québec” section of the register. A name must not be likely to be confused with a name used by another person, corporation or group in Québec, and must not falsely suggest a link to another. The Registraire may verify the real use of other declared names. For the search and reservation steps, the Registraire refers to its document IN-531 “Les noms d’entreprises au Québec” (French only). Source: quebec.ca, Enterprise name rules, consulted on 23/10/2026.
Annual updating declaration and deadlines
Every registered enterprise must file an annual updating declaration, even if nothing changed, online through My Office (“Gestion de l’entreprise”). Filing period: sole proprietorships and partnerships, 1 January to 15 June; corporations and other legal persons, 15 May to 15 November. Joint filing with the tax return is possible when the register information is already correct: a sole proprietor pays the annual fee by 30 April and files by 15 June; a corporation pays within two months and files within six months after its fiscal year-end. A current declaration is due within 30 days of any change during the year. A late declaration must include the late filing fee. Failing to file two consecutive annual declarations can lead to cancellation of the registration by the Registraire; for a Quebec corporation this means dissolution. Sources: quebec.ca, Annual updating declaration, and Legal obligations stemming from registration, consulted on 23/10/2026.
After the REQ: Revenu Québec, GST and QST
Registering with Revenu Québec is a separate step from the REQ. You must register for the GST and QST once your worldwide taxable supplies, including those of your associates, exceed $30,000 in a calendar quarter or in the four preceding calendar quarters. Below that, small suppliers may register voluntarily to claim input tax credits, but must then collect tax and stay registered at least one year. Some businesses, such as taxi operators, must register whatever their sales. Registration is done online with Revenu Québec (Register a New Business, or My Account if you are already registered). Source: Revenu Québec, Small suppliers and Registering for the GST and QST, consulted on 23/10/2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between REQ and NEQ?
The REQ (Registraire des entreprises du Québec) is the Quebec enterprise register. The NEQ is the ten-digit number it assigns to each enterprise that registers. The federal Business Number is issued by the CRA and is a different identifier.
Do I need to register my business name or get a NEQ in Quebec?
If you are a sole proprietor using a name that does not include your first and last names, yes. Partnerships constituted in Québec must register, and a Quebec corporation is registered automatically when its articles are filed. A sole proprietor operating under their own first and last names may register voluntarily.
How do I register an enterprise in Quebec?
File a declaration of registration with the Registraire des entreprises (registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca). The Registraire then assigns your NEQ. Check the current fee schedule on its site before filing.
Does a federal corporation need the REQ?
A legal person not constituted in Québec that has a domicile or carries on an activity in Québec must register with the Registraire.
When is the annual updating declaration due?
Sole proprietorships and partnerships: 1 January to 15 June. Corporations and other legal persons: 15 May to 15 November. With joint filing, a sole proprietor pays by 30 April and files by 15 June. Check the “Dates des mises à jour” section of your statement of information for your exact dates.
Does a Quebec business name have to be in French?
Yes. An enterprise name must respect the Charter of the French language and be in French. If your constituting documents have no French version, declare a French name in the register.
Is a name reservation processing time published?
We could not confirm an official processing time for name reservation, so none is given here. Contact the Registraire or see its document IN-531.
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