In line with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements, CMRRA has launched a Tax ID Update program to collect Business identification information, or, where applicable, personal tax identification information. This requirement applies to T5 and/or NR4 statements issued for royalty income reporting purposes. Below please find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to this program.
► If my information has changed or was entered in error, how do I update my information via the Tax ID form on your website?
To amend your TaxID info, complete and submit a new form for each CMRRA Payment Account requiring an update. If there error was in the CMRRA Payment Account Number field, please email CMRRA.
► Why are you collecting this information?
CMRRA is required by the Canada Revenue Agency to prepare and send annual income tax statements to music publishers to report the total royalty income earned by that music publisher during the fiscal year, if the total royalty amount is greater than $50. In order to be completed, these tax statements require a tax identification number and entity type for the payee.
Note: If you are a songwriter signed up with CMRRA to collect your royalties directly with CMRRA, we consider you a music publisher.
► What information is required?
Both T5 and NR4 slips require your tax identification number and entity type. On a T5, your tax identification number is entered in Box 22 and your entity type in Box 23. On an NR4, your tax identification number is entered in Box 13 and your entity type in Box 11. NR4 slips also require your country code, which is entered into Box 12.
► How will this information be used?
In line with the Government of Canada’s Social Insurance Number Code of Practice Section 4, collection of your tax identification number will solely be used for royalty income reporting required for your annual T5 or NR4 slip.
► Is there a deadline by which you need this information?
We request that you to submit the required information before December 31th so that we can be prepared for the tax season.
► How can I securely transmit the information to you?
We take the protection of your information very seriously. Our website uses a secure HTTPS protocol and the data entered via the form is submitted securely via OAuth2.0, immediately encrypted and hosted in a secure server environment that uses a firewall and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Customer Data is stored on a primary database server with multiple active clusters for higher availability and stored on highly redundant carrier-class disk storage and multiple data paths to ensure reliability and performance.
Access to this information is restricted to a limited authorized team within CMRRA’s Finance group.
► Is there an alternate way of submitting the information?
You must complete our secure online form to submit your tax ID information to CMRRA. This will enable us to quickly and efficiently collect these details, and support proper storage and encryption standards required for this information. If you still have questions for us, please e-mail us and we can arrange a call-back meeting. Alternately, you can dial our main line at +1-416-926-1966, ext. 401.
► What happens if I don’t provide you with this information?
Since we prepare T5 and NR4 tax statements annually, CMRRA has a duty to collect the necessary information required from the recipients that will receive the statements. We will continue to follow up to request this information from you as long as any information remains missing.
► Which number do you need me to submit if I am a solo person and also run a business?
Please provide the number that relates to the entity that is currently receiving royalty payments from CMRRA. If you have an incorporated business, then the associated Business Number is what you should submit. If you are a sole proprietor, then your SIN or SSN number that you use for tax filing purposes is what you should submit. If you need further clarification, please reach out to email us and we will verify this information for you.
► I have both a Social Insurance Number (SIN) / Social Security Number (SSN) and a Business number, which one do you need?
Please provide the number that relates to the entity that is currently receiving royalty payments from CMRRA. If you have an incorporated business, then the associated Business Number is what you should submit. If you are a sole proprietor, then your SIN or SSN number that you use for tax filing purposes is what you should submit. If you need further clarification, please email us and we will verify this information for you.
► Where do I find my CMRRA Payment Account Name?
Please refer to our email/letter communication for a list of your registered payment Account Names or your My Home landing page on CMRRA Direct. If you are unsure of this information, please email CMRRA. Please note: A form must be completed for each individual payment account. If you have multiple payment accounts registered with CMRRA, you must complete and submit this form for each one separately.
► Where do I find my CMRRA Payment Account Number?
Please refer to our email/letter communication for a list of your registered payment Account Numbers. These can also be located on your My Home landing page on CMRRA Direct. If you are unsure of this information, please email CMRRA.
► Where do I find my tax ID number?
Your tax ID number is the number you use to file your entity’s tax reporting each year, whether you are filing taxes for an individual, a corporation, or any other entity type. If your entity is new and you have not yet filed taxes, your tax ID number would be included in your incorporation documents.
If you currently file taxes as an individual and do not have a Business number, then your tax ID number would be your Social Insurance Number (in Canada) or equivalent country-specific tax ID number such as a Social Security Number.
► Who will have access to the information?
We take the protection of your information very seriously. Our website uses a secure HTTPS protocol and the data entered via the form is submitted securely via OAuth2.0, immediately encrypted and hosted in a secure server environment that uses a firewall and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Customer Data is stored on a primary database server with multiple active clusters for higher availability and stored on highly redundant carrier-class disk storage and multiple data paths to ensure reliability and performance.
Access to this information is restricted to a limited authorized team within CMRRA’s Finance group.
