Canada’s Cannabis Industry Faces a Growing Tax Debt Crisis
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has made the startling announcement that the cannabis industry in Canada is expected to owe over $300 million in unpaid taxes by the end of 2023. The huge tax burden points to a worrying pattern in the nation’s tax issues. This number has gone up by an astounding 72% from the previous year. The taxes owned reflect the extreme financial struggles that manufacturers are facing.
Industry insiders caution that if cannabis companies don’t pay their taxes, a sizable portion of them face imminent closure.
Approximately 259 licensed producers were found to be behind on their tax payments as of the end of December. Back taxes have become a significant yoke that the industry is struggling with and there is no easy solution on the horizon.
Excise taxes, sales taxes, payroll levies, and corporate income taxes are some of the charges that are included in the breakdown of past-due taxes. There have been an alarming number of delinquent taxpayers in recent years—more than 200 by March 2023, up from just 12 in March 2019.
The CRA increased its collection efforts in response to this increase in overdue taxes. According to recent reports, the agency has directed some government-owned cannabis distributors in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec to stop paying producers who don’t comply, which will have a significant effect on a large part of the market.
Despite the CRA’s tight-lipped stance on the specifics of these actions due to confidentiality rules, the move signifies a serious crackdown on tax evasion in the industry.
Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram Holdings, calls for a reduced excise tax rate to alleviate some of the financial burdens on producers but emphasizes the need for fairness to foster a healthy, competitive market.
Amid these challenges, industry observers have mixed reactions. While some view the CRA’s stepped-up collections as harsh, others believe the burgeoning number of cannabis firms is untenable under the current tax and fee structure. Owen Bennett from Jefferies Group highlights that relentless competition and price wars are partly to blame for the fiscal strains causing many to lag in tax payments.
Bennett also points out the potential industry shifts if the CRA’s collection strategies succeed, possibly leading to fewer competitors and lessened price pressure.
Regionally, Ontario experienced the most significant jump in tax arrears, with debt doubling over the year. Western Canada also saw notable increases, while smaller yet significant rises occurred in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, painting a nationwide picture of a sector grappling with financial compliance amid growth and competition.
