A Canadian Profit and Loss Statement (also known as an Income Statement or État des résultats in French) is a financial document that summarizes a business's revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period, showing whether the business generated a profit or incurred a loss. This statement is one of the three core financial statements used in Canadian business accounting, alongside the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement.

Under the Income Tax Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.)), all persons carrying on a business in Canada are required to maintain adequate books and records to support their income tax filings (s. 230). The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires businesses to report their income and expenses accurately, and a profit and loss statement provides the organized framework for this reporting. For sole proprietors and partnerships, this information is reported on the T2125 form (Statement of Business or Professional Activities). For corporations, it supports the T2 corporate income tax return.

Canadian accounting standards vary depending on the type of entity. Publicly accountable enterprises must follow International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the Canadian Accounting Standards Board (AcSB). Private enterprises may choose to follow Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE). Not-for-profit organizations follow separate standards. While this template provides a simplified profit and loss statement suitable for small businesses, sole proprietors, and independent contractors, larger businesses may require more detailed statements prepared by a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

A Canadian Profit and Loss Statement is needed for numerous business and regulatory purposes. Annual income tax filing with the CRA requires businesses to report their income and expenses, and a current P&L statement provides the foundation for this reporting. Sole proprietors file the T2125 form, while corporations file the T2 return, both of which require the revenue and expense information contained in the P&L.

Banks and financial institutions in Canada typically require profit and loss statements when businesses apply for loans, lines of credit, mortgages, or other financing. The statement demonstrates the business's ability to generate revenue and manage expenses. Investors and potential business partners also request P&L statements as part of their due diligence process.

Government grant applications, including programs from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), regional development agencies, and provincial economic development programs, often require financial statements including a P&L. Internal management uses the statement for budgeting, financial planning, identifying cost reduction opportunities, and measuring performance against prior periods. Business valuations, whether for sale, merger, or succession planning purposes, also rely heavily on historical profit and loss data.

An effective Canadian Profit and Loss Statement must clearly identify the business by its legal name, CRA Business Number, and address. The reporting period must be specified, typically aligning with the business's fiscal year end. All amounts must be stated in Canadian dollars (CAD).

The revenue section should detail gross sales or service revenue, other income sources, and any returns or allowances that reduce total revenue. The cost of goods sold (COGS) section, applicable to businesses that sell physical goods, should show direct costs including materials, direct labour, and manufacturing overhead. The difference between net revenue and COGS yields the gross profit.

Operating expenses should be itemized by category, including salaries and wages (including employer portions of CPP and EI), rent and occupancy costs, utilities, insurance, marketing and advertising, professional fees, and other operating expenses. Under the Income Tax Act, only expenses incurred for the purpose of earning business income are deductible (s. 18(1)(a)), and certain expenses have specific limitations (e.g., meals and entertainment limited to 50% under s. 67.1). The statement should include a certification by the preparer and should be retained for at least six years as required by Section 230 of the Income Tax Act.