T4 Slip Guide — Every Box Explained

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 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 42 — Employment commissions

Commission income portion of your Box 14 total — important if you want to claim commission-employee expenses on Form T2200/T777.

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 16A — Employee's second CPP contributions (CPP2)

CPP2 contributions on pensionable earnings between the YMPE and the YAMPE — introduced in 2024 for higher earners, at a flat rate specified in the CRA CPP enhancement schedule.

Box 17 — Employee's QPP contributions

Quebec Pension Plan contributions — the QPP equivalent of CPP Box 16, shown on T4 slips for Quebec residents.

Box 26 — CPP/QPP pensionable earnings

Your total earnings subject to CPP or QPP during the year — typically Box 14 up to the YMPE (and up to the YAMPE if Box 16A CPP2 contributions apply).

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 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 55 — Employee's PPIP (QPIP) premiums

Quebec Parental Insurance Plan premiums withheld from Quebec employees — provides maternity, paternity and parental benefits.

Box 56 — PPIP insurable earnings

The portion of Quebec employment income subject to QPIP premiums — capped at the annual QPIP ceiling (set by Revenu Québec).

Box 20 — Registered Pension Plan (RPP) contributions

Contributions you made to a registered pension plan through payroll deduction — fully deductible against employment income.

Box 52 — Pension adjustment (PA)

The dollar value the CRA uses to reduce your RRSP contribution room next year when you belong to an employer pension plan.

Box 44 — Union dues

Annual union or professional-association dues paid through payroll deduction — fully deductible from employment income.

Box 46 — Charitable donations

Charitable donations made through payroll deduction — claim them as part of your charitable donation tax credit.

Box 40 — Other taxable allowances and benefits

Total dollar value of non-cash taxable benefits your employer provided — company car, medical insurance, gift cards, stock options, uniform allowance, travel allowance, etc. Already included in Box 14.

Box 28 — Exempt (CPP/QPP, EI, PPIP)

Indicates whether you were exempt from CPP/QPP, EI, or PPIP contributions during the year — flagged with letters.

Code 30 — Board and lodging

Taxable value of employer-provided meals and accommodation — already included in Box 14 via Box 40.

Code 31 — Special work site (board & lodging exempted)

Value of board and lodging at a qualifying special work site — reported for reference, not taxable.

Code 32 — Travel in a prescribed zone

Employer-paid travel benefits for workers in Northern or Intermediate prescribed zones — needed to claim the Northern Residents travel deduction.

Code 34 — Personal use of employer's automobile

Taxable benefit from a company vehicle — standby charge + operating benefit — already included in Box 14.

Code 36 — Interest-free or low-interest loan

Imputed interest benefit from an employer loan below the CRA prescribed rate — taxable, already in Box 14.

Code 38 — Security option benefits

Taxable benefit from exercising employee stock options — full amount in Box 14; may pair with deductions in Code 39 or 41.

Code 39 — Security options deduction (50%) — §110(1)(d)

Deduction equal to 50% of the Code 38 stock-option benefit for qualifying options — claimed on Line 24900.

Code 66 — Eligible retiring allowance

Severance eligible for transfer to an RRSP without RRSP room — limited to $2,000 per year of pre-1996 service.

Code 67 — Non-eligible retiring allowance

Severance portion not eligible for direct RRSP transfer — fully taxable, but may still use regular RRSP room.

Code 71 — Indian (exempt income) — employment

Employment income exempt from tax under §87 of the Indian Act — reported for information only, not added to taxable income.

Code 77 — Workers' compensation benefits repaid to the employer

WCB top-up you repaid to your employer — creates an offsetting deduction at Line 22900.

Code 81 — Placement or employment agency — gross earnings

Gross pay for agency workers where the agency did NOT withhold income tax — you owe tax on the whole amount.

Code 82 — Driver of taxis or passenger-carrying vehicles — gross earnings

Gross taxi / passenger-driver earnings where the employer did not withhold tax — reported on Line 10400.

Code 85 — Employee-paid premiums for private health services plan

PHSP premiums you paid through payroll — eligible as medical expenses on Schedule 1 / Line 33099.

Code 87 — Volunteer firefighter / search & rescue exempt amount

Up to $1,000 of honoraria from volunteer emergency services — exempt from tax; excess counts as employment income.