
Google kills ad fee implemented in response to digital services tax
OTTAWA — Google is eliminating a surcharge on ads it previously implemented in response to Ottawa’s now-defunct digital services tax.
A year ago, Google said it would put in place a 2.5 per cent surcharge for ads displayed in Canada in response to the tax, effective October 2024.
A Google spokesperson says the company has now stopped charging the fee, and will refund previously collected funds once the federal government officially repeals legislation that implemented the tax.
The digital services tax would have imposed a three per cent levy on tech giants that generate revenue from Canadian users.