This province follows the general Canadian framework: you can incorporate provincially under its own statute or federally under the CBCA. Corporate tax combines a federal and a provincial rate, GST/HST applies once you cross the CAD 30,000 threshold, and the company files a T2 return. Director-residency rules vary by province, so confirm before you file.
Canada
IncorporationProvincial or federal (CBCA)
Corporate taxFederal + provincial rate
Sales taxGST/HST (province-dependent)
ReturnT2 corporate income tax
In brief
Nova Scotia at a glance
What it takes
What you provide, and what we handle.
What you will need
- Directors’ details — check the province’s residency rule
- A Canadian registered office address
- A corporate name and NUANS report, or a numbered company
- Your share structure and shareholder details
How StartEase helps
- Advising on federal vs provincial and director-residency options
- Incorporating and preparing your minute book
- Business Number and GST/HST registration
- T2 corporate tax and annual return filing
Step by step
How setup works in Canada.
The path is broadly the same across Canada — Nova Scotia follows this route.
- 01
Federal or provincial
Decide between federal (CBCA) incorporation and the province, based on where you operate and each option’s director-residency rules.
- 02
Name & NUANS
Choose a corporate name and run a NUANS name search, or opt for a numbered company to move faster.
- 03
Incorporate
File articles of incorporation with the chosen registry and set up your directors and share structure.
- 04
Registrations
Obtain a Business Number and register for GST/HST, payroll and any provincial accounts you need.
- 05
First filings
Set up your minute book and diarise the annual return and the T2 corporate income tax return.
Costs depend on federal vs provincial filing, the name search, and whether you need a resident-director solution. We provide a transparent, all-in estimate before filing.
A considered first step.
Request a consultationPlanning Nova Scotia? Let’s scope it.
Share your business activity and where you’re starting from.
We’ll help define what comes next.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Service scope and provider responsibilities are agreed before engagement. Government decisions, banking approvals and completion dates are not guaranteed.