T4 Slip: What It Is and How to Read It
A T4 is the single most common Canadian tax slip — almost every employee gets at least one every year. Here is what it covers, when your employer has to send it, the boxes worth checking first, and what to do if it hasn't shown up.
Issued by
Every employer you worked for during the calendar year — one T4 per employer, not one per year.
Deadline
Last day of February following the year the slip covers, moving to the next business day when that date is a weekend or holiday.
Boxes to check first
A T4 has dozens of possible boxes, but most employees only need to reconcile a handful of them against their final pay stub. For every box — including the CPP2, EI/QPIP, and "Other Information" codes — see the full T4 box guide.
Box 14 — Employment income
Your total gross employment income for the year before any deductions — salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, taxable benefits and most other pay.
Box 16 — Employee's CPP contributions
The total CPP (Canada Pension Plan) contributions deducted from your pay during the year — base plus enhancement rate applied to pensionable earnings between the basic exemption and the YMPE.
Box 18 — Employee's EI premiums
Employment Insurance premiums withheld from your pay — applied at the CEIC-set annual rate on insurable earnings up to the annual Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE).
Box 22 — Income tax deducted
The total federal and provincial income tax your employer withheld and remitted to the CRA on your behalf during the year.
Box 24 — EI insurable earnings
The portion of your employment income that was subject to EI premiums during the year — capped at the annual Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE).
Box 40 — Other taxable allowances and benefits
Taxable benefits and allowances that have no T4 code of their own — group term life insurance, car allowances, taxable gifts. Already included in Box 14.
What to do if your T4 hasn't arrived
- Ask the employer first. Most slips are sent by the end of February, and the issuer is legally required to provide a replacement if you never received one or lost it.
- Check CRA My Account. The CRA cannot give you a copy until the issuer has sent the slip to them, but once that happens it is often viewable online even if your personal copy went astray.
- Don't wait past the filing deadline. If the slip still isn't available, estimate the income from pay stubs or year-end statements, file on time, and attach a note naming the employer, the type of income, and what you're doing to get the slip.
Reconcile your numbers. Use the payroll deductions calculator to check that your CPP, EI and tax withholding match expectations, then the income tax calculator to estimate your refund or balance owing.
Filing for a business? Employers reconcile every T4 slip they issue on one T4 Summary — the annual return that totals CPP, EI and tax withheld across all employees. RRSP withdrawals arrive on a different slip — see the T4RSP slip guide for what each of its boxes means.
Frequently asked questions
What is a T4 slip?
A T4 (Statement of Remuneration Paid) is the tax slip your employer issues reporting your employment income, CPP and EI deductions, income tax withheld, and taxable benefits for the calendar year. You use it to complete your T1 income tax return. If you had more than one employer during the year, you receive a separate T4 from each.
When do I get my T4?
Employers must give employees their T4 slip and file their T4 return with the CRA by the T4 filing due date — the last day of February following the calendar year the slip covers. If that date falls on a weekend or CRA-recognized holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day (for example, the 2025 T4 due date is March 2, 2026, because February 28, 2026 is a Saturday).
What if I never received my T4?
First ask your employer or their payroll provider for a replacement — they are legally required to give you one. If they can't help, check CRA My Account: once the issuer sends the slip to the CRA, it often appears there even if your own copy went missing. If you still can't get it in time to file, estimate your income from pay stubs or year-end statements and attach a note to your return naming the employer, the type of income, and what you're doing to get the slip.
Why doesn't Box 14 match my salary?
Box 14 is gross employment income, not base salary — it adds bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, and taxable benefits (Box 40 items like a company car or group life premiums) on top of salary. It can also be lower than expected if part of your pay was a retiring allowance, which is reported separately rather than in Box 14.
Does every job give me a T4?
Employment income does. Other kinds of Canadian income arrive on different slips — pension and self-employment commission income on a T4A, EI benefits on a T4E, trust income on a T3, and investment income on a T5. RRSP withdrawals arrive on a T4RSP.
Sources
Related Calculators
T4 Box Guide
Every T4 box explained — CPP, EI, RPP, benefits, and the Other Information codes.
T4 Summary Guide
How employers reconcile every T4 slip on one annual return.
T4A Slip Guide
Pension, commission, scholarship and other-income boxes explained.
Payroll Deductions Calculator
Check your CPP, EI and tax withholding against your T4.
Income Tax Calculator
Federal and provincial brackets, BPA, marginal rates.