What is Canada’s Digital Services Tax? How Google to Apple Will Face Major Losses

On: Friday, July 11, 2025 12:15 PM
What is Canada’s Digital Services Tax? How Google to Apple Will Face Major Losses
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Canada’s Digital Services Tax: U.S. President Donald Trump launched an attack on Canada’s Digital Services Tax on Friday, June 27, saying he is immediately suspending all trade talks with Ottawa. The reason behind this decision is the imposition of the Digital Services Tax (DST) on American tech companies.

Companies like Google and Apple will be hit hard by Canada’s DST policy, as Trump mentioned in a post on Truth Social that he is halting business transactions with Ottawa and will announce new tariff taxes this week.This move has escalated tensions between the two countries, with American tech giants feeling the pinch. Let’s break down what this tax is all about and how it will affect these major players.

What is Canada’s Digital Services Tax?

Canada’s Digital Services Tax (DST) will be implemented through the Digital Services Tax Act, imposing a 3 percent tax on revenue from specific digital services provided to Canadian users. This tax act received royal assent on June 20, 2024, and became effective on June 28, 2024.

It targets companies with a global revenue of €750 million (US$801 million) and annual Canadian digital revenue of C$20 million (US$14.8 million).The tax aims to ensure that big tech companies contribute fairly to the Canadian economy, but it has sparked a backlash from the U.S.

American Tech Companies Will Be Affected

Giant American tech companies like Google and Apple will feel the impact of Canada’s DST. Google, in particular, will bear the brunt because it generates significant online advertising revenue in Canada. This could lead to higher costs for the company, which might eventually be passed on to advertisers or consumers.

Apple’s services, including the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Music, will also fall under this tax because they generate revenue from data licensing in the market. This could affect Apple’s profitability in Canada, especially as it continues to expand its digital offerings.

Amazon Will Also Have to Pay DST

Amazon, known for its online marketplace services in Canada, will not escape the DST either. The company also earns substantial revenue from cloud computing (AWS) in the country.

The tax targets market sales and user data licensing, which are core to Amazon’s business model in Canada.This could mean higher operational costs for Amazon, potentially leading to price adjustments for Canadian customers.

Meta Company Will Also Face Higher Costs

According to Canada’s Digital Services Tax Act, companies earning revenue in Canada will have to pay the tax. Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram, is one such company.

These platforms generate significant revenue from user engagement and targeted advertising in Canada.The DST will be imposed on this revenue, which could squeeze Meta’s profits and force the company to rethink its pricing or investment strategies in the Canadian market.

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