Budget 2023 – Quarterly Filing and Remitting for Cannabis Licensees

Excise Duty Notice EDN88

July 2024

This version replaces the one dated May 2023. This notice has been updated to reflect recent amendments to the Excise Act, 2001.

Except as otherwise noted, all statutory references in this publication are to the provisions of the Excise Act, 2001. The information in this publication does not replace the law found in the Act and its regulations.

If this information does not completely address your particular situation, you may refer to the Act or relevant regulation, or contact your CRA regional excise office for additional information. The offices are listed at Contact Information – Excise and Specialty Tax Directorate.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Quarterly filing and remitting for authorized cannabis licensees
• Authorization for quarterly filing and remitting
• Applying for quarterly reporting periods
• Revocation of the authorization for quarterly filing and remitting

Overview

On March 28, 2023, the Minister of Finance tabled Budget 2023, which included an announcement to allow all cannabis licensees to remit excise duties on a quarterly rather than monthly basis. Based on this announcement, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) permits cannabis licensees to report and remit excise duties on a quarterly rather than monthly basis, starting from the quarter that began on April 1, 2023, if the licensee requests and receives authorization to do so. Amendments to the Excise Act, 2001 were included in Bill C-59, Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, which received royal assent on June 20, 2024.  

Quarterly filing and remitting for authorized cannabis licensees

Section 160 states that every person that is licensed under the Act is required to file an excise duty return for each reporting period and to calculate and remit any duty payable not later than the last day of the month following each reporting period.

Starting from the fiscal quarter that began on April 1, 2023, all cannabis licensees that are authorized must file returns and remit excise duties payable on a quarterly basis.

The fiscal quarters are based on calendar months, not a licensee's fiscal year. All authorized licensees must file four returns annually, and the return periods are as follows:

• January 1 to March 31
• April 1 to June 30
• July 1 to September 30
• October 1 to December 31

Form B300, Cannabis Duty and Information Return under the Excise Act, 2001, along with the remittance of all amounts payable, is due on the last day of the first month following the reporting period.

Authorization for quarterly filing and remitting

A cannabis licensee may be authorized to file returns and remit excise duties payable on a quarterly basis, provided that they are compliant with the Act.

Applying for quarterly reporting periods

A cannabis licensee that wishes to file and remit on a quarterly basis must submit a letter requesting authorization to their regional excise office.

Contact information for the regional excise offices for submitting a request is available at Contact Information – Excise and Specialty Tax Directorate. For more information on quarterly reporting periods, call 1‑866‑330‑3304.

Revocation of the authorization for quarterly filing and remitting

An authorization for quarterly filing and remitting will be revoked if any of the following occurs:

• the licensee requests in writing that the CRA revoke the authorization
• the licensee fails to comply with any conditions of the Act
• the CRA considers that the authorization is no longer required

In these circumstances, the CRA will send the licensee a notice in writing of the revocation and will specify the reporting period for which the revocation becomes effective.

Further information