How to Read Your T4 Slip Canada: Every Box Explained

Learning how to read your T4 slip Canada is one of those tasks that feels more complicated than it should be. Every February, millions of Canadian employees receive this single-page document from their employer, stare at dozens of boxes filled with numbers, and wonder which ones actually matter for their tax return. The good news? Once you understand what each box means, filing your taxes becomes dramatically easier. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what every T4 box number represents, why certain amounts might look different than expected, and how to spot errors before they cause problems with the CRA.

Quick Answer:

• Box 14 shows your total employment income before deductions — this is the main number you report on your tax return (Line 10100)
• Boxes 16, 18, and 22 show deductions your employer already withheld (CPP, EI, income tax), which reduce what you owe at tax time
• Box 26 shows your pensionable earnings for CPP calculations, which may differ from Box 14
• The “Other Information” section contains codes for taxable benefits, union dues, and other amounts that affect your return

What Is a T4 Slip and Why Does Every Canadian Employee Need One?

A T4 slip is the official Statement of Remuneration Paid that every Canadian employer must provide to employees who earned employment income during the tax year. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, your employer must issue your T4 by the last day of February following the tax year. So for your 2025 income, you should receive your T4 by February 28, 2026.

Your T4 slip contains critical information including your name, Social Insurance Number (SIN), how much you were paid during the year, and the amount of taxes already withheld from your paycheques. This document serves as the foundation of your tax return — without it, you cannot accurately report your employment income or claim credit for taxes you’ve already paid.

Who Issues T4 Slips?

Your employer is responsible for issuing your T4. If you worked for multiple employers during the year, you’ll receive a separate T4 from each one. Contract workers and freelancers don’t receive T4s — they get T4A slips instead, which have different box numbers and rules.

How to Access Your T4 Slip

Most employers provide T4 slips through one of three methods: mailed paper copies, electronic delivery through payroll systems like ADP or Ceridian, or direct upload to CRA My Account. If you haven’t received your T4 by mid-March, contact your employer’s payroll department first. You can also log into CRA My Account where employers often submit T4 data electronically — it may appear there before your paper copy arrives.

Breaking Down Every T4 Box Number

Understanding T4 box numbers is essential for accurate tax filing. The T4 slip is divided into several sections: employer information at the top, employee information below that, and the numbered boxes containing your income and deduction amounts.

Boxes 10–12: Employer Information

These boxes identify your employer. Box 10 contains your employer’s province or territory of employment, Box 11 shows their CRA payroll account number, and Box 12 displays their legal name. You’ll need this information if you ever need to contact the CRA about discrepancies.

Box 14: Employment Income

This is the most important box on your T4. Box 14 shows your total employment income before any deductions — your gross pay for the year. This amount includes your regular salary or wages, overtime pay, vacation pay, bonuses, commissions, and most taxable benefits. When you file your tax return, this is the number you report on Line 10100 (formerly Line 101).

Important note: Box 14 shows income from this specific employer only. If you had multiple jobs, you’ll add Box 14 from all your T4 slips together.

Box 16: Employee’s CPP Contributions

This box shows how much you contributed to the Canada Pension Plan through payroll deductions. For 2026, employees contribute 5.95% of their pensionable earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) of $68,900. That works out to a maximum base contribution of $4,230.45 for the year.

If you report an amount in Box 16, your employer must also report pensionable earnings in Box 26. Understanding your CPP contributions matters because the maximum CPP retirement benefit at age 65 for 2026 is $1,507.65 per month — and your lifetime contributions determine how close you get to that maximum.

Box 17: Employee’s QPP Contributions

If you worked in Quebec, Box 17 shows your Quebec Pension Plan contributions instead of CPP. The rates and maximum amounts are similar but administered separately by Revenu Québec.

Box 18: Employee’s EI Premiums

Employment Insurance premiums withheld from your pay appear here. For 2026, employees pay 1.63% of insurable earnings up to the maximum insurable earnings of $68,900 — a maximum annual premium of $1,123.07. EI provides temporary income if you lose your job, take parental leave, or need compassionate care benefits.

Box 22: Income Tax Deducted

This crucial box shows the total federal and provincial income tax your employer withheld from your paycheques throughout the year. When you file your return, this amount gets credited against your total tax owing on Line 43700. If Box 22 shows more tax withheld than you actually owe, you’ll receive a refund. If it shows less, you’ll owe the difference.

Box 24: EI Insurable Earnings

This shows the portion of your income that was subject to EI premiums. It’s usually similar to Box 14, but some types of income (like certain benefits) aren’t EI-insurable.

Box 26: CPP/QPP Pensionable Earnings

If your employer reports an amount in Box 16, they must also report your pensionable earnings in Box 26. This amount may differ from Box 14 because some forms of compensation aren’t pensionable. Understanding this box helps when you’re checking whether you’re on track for retirement and projecting your future CPP benefits.

The “Other Information” Section: Common Codes

The bottom portion of your T4 contains boxes with codes and amounts relating to specific types of income, benefits, or deductions. Each code has a specific meaning.

Code 30 – Board and Lodging: If your employer provided housing or meals as part of your compensation, the taxable value appears here.

Code 32 – Travel in a Prescribed Zone: Taxable travel benefits for employees in northern or remote areas.

Code 34 – Personal Use of Employer’s Automobile: If you had access to a company car for personal use, the taxable standby charge and operating benefit appear here.

Code 36 – Interest-Free or Low-Interest Loans: If your employer provided a loan at below-market interest rates, the taxable benefit is calculated and reported.

Code 38 – Security Options Benefits: Stock option benefits from employment, which have complex tax rules.

Code 40 – Other Taxable Allowances and Benefits: A catch-all for various taxable benefits not covered by other codes.

Code 42 – Employment Commissions: If you earned commissions, this code shows the commission portion of your income (which is also included in Box 14).

Code 44 – Union Dues: Amount you paid in union dues, which is deductible on Line 21200.

Code 46 – Charitable Donations: Donations made through payroll deduction.

Code 52 – Pension Adjustment: If you belong to a registered pension plan or your employer contributed to a DPSP, this affects your RRSP contribution room for the following year.

Key T4 Boxes at a Glance

How to Verify Your T4 Information Is Correct

Errors on T4 slips happen more often than you’d think. A misplaced decimal, incorrect pension adjustment, or missing taxable benefit can cause problems ranging from delayed refunds to CRA reassessments.

Step 1: Compare Box 14 to Your Pay Stubs

Add up the gross pay from all your pay stubs for the year. This total should match or be very close to Box 14. A small difference (under $100) might be due to timing of the final pay period, but a large discrepancy signals a problem. If you received a year-end bonus, make sure it’s included.

Step 2: Verify Your Deductions Match

Your final pay stub of the year usually shows year-to-date totals for CPP, EI, and income tax deducted. These should match Boxes 16, 18, and 22 respectively. If Box 22 seems low compared to your pay stubs, double-check that all pay periods were captured.

A quick sanity check: if you earned at or above $68,900 in 2026, Box 16 should show approximately $4,230.45 and Box 18 approximately $1,123.07 — the annual maximums.

Step 3: Check for Missing Taxable Benefits

Did you receive a company car, employer-paid parking, group term life insurance over $25,000, or other benefits? These should appear in the “Other Information” section. Some employers accidentally omit taxable benefits, which can lead to CRA reassessments later. If you know you received benefits that aren’t showing, contact your payroll department.

Step 4: Confirm Your Pension Adjustment

If you participate in a workplace pension plan, Code 52 should show a pension adjustment. This amount reduces your RRSP contribution room for the following year. If you’re planning a large RRSP contribution, verify this number is accurate — an inflated pension adjustment could cause an RRSP overcontribution.

Common T4 Slip Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Incorrect Personal Information

A misspelled name or wrong SIN can cause your tax return to be rejected or mismatched. If you spot these errors, request a corrected T4 from your employer immediately. For SIN errors especially, don’t file until it’s corrected — an incorrect SIN can affect your CPP credits and create years of complications.

Missing or Double-Counted Income

If you changed jobs mid-year, make sure you receive T4s from all employers. Sometimes a short-term job gets missed. Conversely, if you see income you didn’t earn, contact that employer — you may have received someone else’s T4 by mistake.

Taxable Benefits Not Reported

Some employers, particularly smaller businesses, struggle with properly calculating and reporting taxable benefits. If you know you should have a standby charge (Code 34) or other benefit reported but don’t see it, you still must report the income. The CRA can audit both you and your employer if benefits go unreported.

Wrong Province of Employment

Box 10 indicates your province of employment, which affects your provincial tax rate. If you relocated during the year, verify this is correct. Your province of residence on December 31st typically determines which provincial tax rates apply.

How Your T4 Connects to Your Overall Tax Return

Reporting Employment Income

Box 14 from all your T4 slips gets added together and reported on Line 10100. This becomes part of your total income, which determines your tax bracket and the taxes you owe.

Claiming Deductions

CPP contributions from Box 16 become a deduction on Line 30800. EI premiums from Box 18 go on Line 31200. Union dues from Code 44 reduce your income on Line 21200. These deductions directly lower your taxable income.

Crediting Taxes Paid

The income tax your employer already withheld (Box 22) gets credited against your total tax liability on Line 43700. If you had $12,000 withheld and your calculated tax owing is $11,500, you’d receive a $500 refund. If your calculated tax is $13,000, you’d owe $1,000.

Impact on Future Contribution Room

Your T4 earnings affect next year’s RRSP contribution room. The basic calculation is 18% of your earned income, up to a maximum of $33,810 for 2026 contributions (an increase from $32,490 for 2025) — see CRA’s official RRSP deduction page for the current rules. However, if you have a pension adjustment (Code 52), that amount reduces your room.

For 2026, the cumulative TFSA limit sits at approximately $109,000 for those who were 18 or older when the program started — but this isn’t affected by your T4.

What to Do If Your Employer Won’t Fix T4 Errors

Most employers promptly correct T4 mistakes. But if your employer refuses, has gone out of business, or can’t be reached, you have options.

Document everything. Keep copies of your pay stubs, employment contract, and any correspondence with your employer. You’ll need this evidence if the CRA questions your reported income.

Report correct amounts anyway. If you’re confident about the correct figures, report them on your tax return even if your T4 shows different amounts. Include a note explaining the discrepancy and attach supporting documents.

Contact the CRA. If an employer consistently fails to issue T4s or issues incorrect ones, you can report this to the CRA. They have enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant employers and can help resolve disputes.

Key Takeaways

• Box 14 is your most important T4 number — it shows total employment income and goes directly on Line 10100
• Always verify Box 22 (income tax deducted) against your pay stubs; this amount determines whether you get a refund or owe more
• For 2026, maximum employee contributions are $4,230.45 for CPP (5.95% rate) and $1,123.07 for EI (1.63% rate), both based on maximum earnings of $68,900
• Code 52 (pension adjustment) reduces your RRSP room for the following year — check it if you’re planning large RRSP contributions
• You should receive your T4 by February 28 following the tax year; if it’s late, check CRA My Account or contact your employer
• For 2026, maximum CPP benefits at age 65 reach $1,507.65 monthly — your Box 16 contributions build toward this
• The 2026 RRSP contribution limit is $33,810 (18% of earned income, whichever is less)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Box 14 on my T4 and why is it different from my salary?

Box 14 shows your total employment income, which includes more than just your base salary. It encompasses overtime pay, vacation pay, bonuses, commissions, and taxable benefits like company car usage or employer-paid parking. If your Box 14 is higher than your stated annual salary, these additions explain the difference. Conversely, if you started mid-year or took unpaid leave, Box 14 will be lower than your full annual salary rate.

Why does my T4 show less income than I actually earned?

Your T4 shows gross income before deductions, not your take-home pay — so it should actually show more than what you received in your bank account. If Box 14 shows less than your expected gross earnings, possible explanations include: you’re looking at a single T4 but worked multiple jobs, some income was paid in January and will appear on next year’s T4, or there’s an error requiring correction. Check your pay stubs to verify the total matches.

How much should Box 16 and Box 18 show if I hit the maximums?

For 2026, if your earnings reached or exceeded $68,900, Box 16 (CPP) should show approximately $4,230.45 — that’s 5.95% of the $65,400 in pensionable earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the $68,900 maximum. Box 18 (EI) should show approximately $1,123.07 — 1.63% of $68,900 in insurable earnings. If your amounts are meaningfully different and you earned above these thresholds, check with your payroll department.

What do I do if my T4 has an error?

Contact your employer’s payroll department immediately and request a corrected T4 (called a T4-Amended). Provide specific details about the error and supporting documentation like pay stubs. If your employer corrects it, they’ll issue a new T4 with accurate figures. If they refuse or the business has closed, you can still file your taxes using the correct amounts — attach documentation explaining the discrepancy, and consider contacting the CRA for guidance.

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Knowing how to read your T4 slip Canada properly transforms tax season from a source of confusion into a straightforward process. By understanding what each box number represents and how to verify your information, you can file confidently, catch errors early, and ensure you’re receiving every credit and deduction you deserve. Your T4 isn’t just a tax form — it’s a complete record of your employment income and the taxes you’ve already contributed. Take time to review it carefully, and explore more Canadian personal finance guides on Getwealthy.