T4 (Statement of Remuneration Paid)
The T4 slip is issued by employers to employees by the last day of February each year. It reports total employment income, income tax deducted at source, CPP contributions, EI premiums, and any other deductions or taxable benefits for the previous calendar year.
Key boxes on the T4 include: Box 14 (employment income), Box 16 (CPP pensionable earnings), Box 22 (income tax deducted), Box 24 (EI insurable earnings), and Box 52 (pension adjustment, if applicable). You use these figures to complete your T1 income tax return.
If you have multiple employers during the year, you'll receive a T4 from each. Other income types have their own slips: T4A (pension, self-employment commission), T4E (EI benefits), T3 (trust income), T5 (investment income), and T5007 (social assistance or workers' compensation). All slips are available electronically through CRA My Account.
How it works
Your employer must issue your T4 by the last day of February each year, covering the previous calendar year's employment income and deductions. If you worked for more than one employer during the year, you'll receive a separate T4 from each one, and you need every one of them to complete your T1 return accurately.
The boxes on your T4 feed directly into different parts of your tax return: Box 14 is your total employment income, Box 16 is your CPP pensionable earnings, Box 22 is the income tax already deducted at source, and Box 24 is your EI insurable earnings. Box 52, the pension adjustment, doesn't affect this year's return directly - instead it reduces your RRSP contribution room for the following year if you belong to a workplace pension plan.
Other types of income arrive on different slips rather than a T4: T4A covers pension income and self-employment commissions, T4E covers EI benefits, T3 covers trust income, T5 covers investment income, and T5007 covers social assistance or workers' compensation. All of these slips are available electronically through CRA My Account, which is a good way to double-check you haven't missed one before you file.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I haven't received a T4 by the deadline?
Check CRA My Account first, since many employers file electronically and the slip may already be posted there, and if it's still missing, contact your employer directly to request a copy.
What's the difference between a T4 and a T4A?
A T4 reports employment income from a regular employer, while a T4A covers other income like pension payments or self-employment commissions, so you may receive both if you had more than one income type in a year.
Does the pension adjustment on my T4 affect this year's taxes?
Not directly - Box 52's pension adjustment instead reduces your RRSP contribution room for the following year, to prevent double tax-sheltering the same pension-covered income.
Related Terms
T1 (General Income Tax Return)
The T1 is the standard personal income tax return that Canadian residents file annually with the CRA.
CPP (Canada Pension Plan)
CPP is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
EI (Employment Insurance)
Employment Insurance provides temporary income support to Canadian workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, are sick, are pregnant, or are caring for a newborn or adopted child.
Pension Adjustment (PA)
If you belong to a Registered Pension Plan (RPP) or Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP) through your employer, your employer reports a Pension Adjustment (PA) on your T4 slip.