Starting a business in Canada is an exciting milestone—until you hit the bureaucracy. If you’ve recently registered for GST and received a prompt from the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) to check your business account, but find yourself stuck in a login loop, you’re not alone. Dozens of users have experienced the same frustrating experience trying to register their CRA My Business Account after already having a personal My Account.

Here’s a breakdown of the confusion—and how to (hopefully) work around it.

The Problem: “I Already Have a CRA Login… So Why Can’t I Register for My Business?”

A Reddit user recently summed it up:

“When I try to register for a business account with my SIN, DOB and Line 15000, I get an error about already having a CRA user ID. But I don’t see anywhere in my personal account to register for a business account. What am I doing wrong?”

They’re not alone. Many small business owners encounter this issue right after surpassing the $30,000 threshold and registering for GST/HST.

The Quick Answer

If you already have a CRA login—for your personal taxes—you don’t need to create a new one. In fact, trying to do so will trigger error messages.

Use your existing CRA login credentials to access My Business Account.
Once you’re in, enter your 9-digit business number (BN)—this is the number you received when you registered for GST.
Tip: The BN is the first 9 digits of your GST number (before “RT0001”).

Step-by-Step: How to Access Your CRA Business Account

  1. Go to: CRA My Business Account Sign-In Page
  2. Click “Sign in with CRA User ID” (the same one you use for your personal account).
  3. Log in with your CRA credentials.
  4. You should be prompted to enter your business number (BN).
  5. If your BN is already linked to your SIN as the business owner, you should get access.

What If It Doesn’t Work?

Unfortunately, many users reported problems like:

  • Being redirected back to their personal account with no option to add a business.
  • Getting looped in menus asking them to “select default business,” with no progress.
  • Repeated error messages when trying to enter business credentials.

Real User Workarounds

💡 Try Incognito Mode:
Logging in via a private browser or incognito window has helped some users bypass glitches.

💡 Use a Different Email/Login Tab:
One user managed to access their business account by logging in through another tab or email address—apparently avoiding cookies or session conflicts.

💡 Check CRA Updates:
Some of these issues stemmed from CRA platform updates that caused system bugs. In the words of one user:

“Looks like this is a known issue that occurred after CRA updated their platform.”

💡 Call the CRA:
If you can’t connect your BN to your SIN, call the CRA Business Enquiries line. You may need to manually have your SIN linked to your business account.

Still Stuck? You’re Not Alone

Dozens of users expressed shared frustration:

  • “I thought I was the problem.”
  • “It’s absolutely ridiculous. No option to input my business number.”
  • “I might just take the $100 fine this year while they fix the issue.”

Final Advice

If you’re running into issues, remember:

  • Don’t try to register a new CRA ID—you already have one.
  • Use your existing CRA login, and go directly to the My Business Account portal.
  • Be prepared to call CRA if your SIN and BN aren’t properly linked.
  • Try logging in via incognito, or using a different browser or device.

TL;DR

You’re not doing anything wrong—it’s just a confusing and glitch-prone process. The CRA’s system assumes a single sign-in handles both personal and business access, but it often doesn’t guide users clearly. Use your existing CRA login, enter your 9-digit business number, and if it still doesn’t work—call them.

Want to avoid future frustrations? Set calendar reminders for your filing deadlines, keep your BN and login info organized, and don’t hesitate to escalate technical issues with CRA support early.

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