Provincial Government Business Name
All limited companies are required to be incorporated provincially. This includes corporations without share capital. Before choosing a company name, you should first check with the Registrar of Companies to ensure it is unique and not prohibited.
There is a procedure to reserve the name once it is approved. Note: There is a fee to incorporate your company and an annual maintenance fee.
Contact:
Service NL
Commercial Registrations Division
Registry of Deeds & Companies
Ground Floor, East Block
Confederation Building
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Phone: (709) 729-3317
E-Mail: gsinfo@gov.nl.ca
www.gov.nl.ca/gs/cca
Retail Sales Tax
In Newfoundland & Labrador, taxable goods are subject to provincial sales tax. Any person or firm who, in the ordinary course of business, sells tangible goods to a purchaser for use or provides an eligible service, must register with the Department of Finance, Tax Administration Branch. This branch provides a sales tax registration number and remittance forms.
Contact:
Department of Finance
Tax Administration Branch
Retail Sales Tax Division
Third Floor, East Block
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8720
St. John's, NL A1B 4K1
Ph: 709-729-6297
Fax: 709 729-2856
www.fin.gov.nl.ca
Licensing Authorities
The Government Service Centre (GSC) is a branch of Service NL. It provides a coordinated and consolidated approach to the administration of government services.
This Service Centre processes applications for Crown Land, Food Establishment Licenses, Liquor Licenses, Building Accessibility, Electrical Installations, Fire & Life Safety, Waste Disposal sites plus a large number of other activities. The Service Centre conducts the inspections relating to most of these applications and others such as inspecting Public Buildings, Meat & Milk Quality and Special Care Homes.
Contact:
Government Service Centre
5 Mews Place
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Ph: 709-724-2239
Fax: 709-729-2071
E-Mail: gsinfo@gov.nl.ca
www.gs.gov.nl.ca
Workplace Health & Safety
All businesses with one or more employees must register with the Workplace Health & Safety Commission (WHSCC). The WHCC operates a work injury insurance program which provides benefits to injured workers and protects employers from most law suits by injured workers or their dependents. The program is funded completely by employers in the Province. The amount of premium payable varies according to the type of business - the higher the risk of injury, the higher the premium.
Contact:
Workplace Health and Safety and Compensation Commission
146-148 Forest Road
P.O. Box 9000, Station "C"
St. John's, NL A1A 3B8
Phone: (709) 778-1000
Ph: 1-800-563-9000
Fax: 709-738-1714
E-Mail: general.inquiries@whscc.nl.ca
www.whscc.nl.ca
Labour Standards
You should contact the Department of Advanced Education and Skills to obtain the minimum wage orders and labour standards.
Contact:
Dept. of Advanced Education and Skills
Market Information
2nd Floor, West Block Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Ph: 709-729-2742
Fax: 709-729-3528
www.lmiworks.nl.ca
EDGE Legislation
As part of the government's goal to diversify the economy and stimulate private sector job creation, they are offering substantial tax holidays and start-up assistance to new businesses. These incentives supplement a wide range of other support programs already available in the Province.
Businesses meeting the established criteria can obtain designation as an Economic Diversification and Growth Enterprise (EDGE) corporation and obtain incentives such as: a 10-year holiday from provincial corporate income tax, post-secondary education and health (payroll) tax, and retail sales tax, followed by a 5-year phase in of these taxes.
To obtain EDGE designation, an applicant must meet certain criteria. Further information about this program can be obtained from the Department of Innovation, Business & Rural Development. Decisions on all applications are made within 30 days.
For information on applications for the EDGE progrm through the Mount Pearl City Council, see our Application Information.
Contact:
Department of Innovation, Business & Rural Development
Marketing & Investment Division
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Ph: 709- 729-2781
Fax: 709- 729-7609
Toll Free: 1-800-563-2299
www.ibrd.gov.nl.ca