A T4 slip is a summary of everything you've been paid by your employer for the past year. It also includes the taxes that were withheld for you and the amounts you contributed to CPP, EI, employer pension plans, and more.
Your T4 is mostly used for tax purposes, since it has all the numbers you need to calculate your income from that employer. Here's everything you need to know about your T4 as a Canadian employee, including how to read the document, where to locate it, and what to do if any problems arise.
Key Takeaways
- A T4 is a slip issued by your employer, reporting on all your income and deductions for the calendar year.
- Your T4 is sent to you by your employer before the end of February. You can also find it in your CRA My Account.
- You’ll need your T4 and other related slips (if applicable) to file your tax return.
- Box 14 is your employment income for the year and box 22 is the income tax you paid.
- If you lose your T4 or find a typo or mistake on it, contact your employer.
What is a T4 slip?
A T4 slip – also called a Statement of Remuneration Paid – is a document you receive from your employer that summarizes all the money they've paid you over the previous year. Your T4 also includes important information about any deductions for things like Employment Insurance (EI) or Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
You use your T4 to fill in your income tax return, so the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can properly calculate the amount of taxes you need to pay or are owed for that year (minus any deductions).
There are a few variations of the T4 slip, including the following:
- T4A: Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income
- T4A(OAS): Old Age Security (OAS)
- T4A(P): Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits
- T4E: Employment Insurance (EI) and other benefits
- T4FHSA: First Home Savings Account (FHSA) funds
- T4RIF: Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) income
- T4RSP: Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) income
That said, you’ll only receive the T4 slips that are relevant for you – so if you aren’t participating in OAS yet, for example, you don’t have to worry about the T4A(OAS).
What is a T4 summary?
A T4 summary is filled out by employers. It includes all the amounts from the employee T4s, encompassing all of these types of income:
- Employment income
- CPP contributions
- EI contributions
- Income tax paid by employees
How to get your T4 slip
Most of the time, your employer will mail your T4 slip or send it to you electronically. If you work multiple jobs, you’ll get a separate T4 slip from each one.
If you don’t receive an email or notice about it, try logging into the portal you see your paycheques in, if you have one. If that doesn’t work, reach out to your company’s financial or HR department so they can point you in the right direction.
How to get your T4 online
Alternatively, you can get your T4 slip directly through your CRA My Account. All you have to do is:
- Sign in
- Go to "Tax information slips (T4 and more)" in the right sidebar
- Select the year from the drop down menu
- Select which form you'd like to see
- Click "View"
You’ll be able to download every slip you’ve been issued for that year on the next screen.
To access any past slips, just select the year you’re looking for in the drop down menu and follow the same steps.
How to read your T4 slip
Now that you have your T4 slip and know what to use it for, how do you start understanding what all the numbers mean?
First thing to note is that only the boxes that are filled in are relevant to you. A blank box doesn’t necessarily mean there was a mistake or missing info – it could just mean that you don’t qualify for that deduction or payment.
Here’s what you need to know about the main boxes on your T4 slip:
| T4 box number | What it means | Relevant line on your tax return |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | The province where you were employed | N/A |
| 12 | Social insurance number | N/A |
| 14 | How much you made that year | Line 10100 |
| 16 | Amount of CPP contributions deducted that year (non-Quebec residents) | Lines 30800 and 22215 |
| 17 | Amount of QPP contributions deducted that year (for residents of Quebec) | Lines 30800 and 22215 |
| 18 | Amount of EI contributions deducted that year | Line 31200 |
| 20 | Amount of RPP contributions deducted that year | Line 20700 |
| 22 | How much income tax you paid that year | Line 43700 |
| 24 | EI insurable earnings | N/A |
| 46 | Charitable donations | Line 34900 |
| 52 | Pension adjustment | Line 20600 |
| 85 | Premiums you paid for private health insurance | Line 33099 |
Addressing problems with your T4
While it’s meant to be a fairly simple process, sometimes issues with your T4 can arise – but the good news is you’re definitely not the first person to come across difficulties.
Let’s take a look at the 2 main issues you may come across.
If you lost your T4
If your employer sends a physical version of your T4, it can be pretty easy for a piece of paper to get lost sometime between the send date and the day you file your taxes.
The first thing you can do is let your employer know that the T4 slip is lost. They may be able to send you an electronic copy or a new physical version.
But also keep in mind you can always access your T4s through your CRA My Account, which we’ve described above.
If your T4 is wrong
If you’ve found errors on your T4 slip, there isn’t really much you can do as an employee. You just need to contact your employer and let them know what’s wrong. They’ll have to verify the mistake and amend the slip.
Amending T4s can be done over the internet or on paper. It’s a pretty easy process that involves redoing the T4 slip and changing only the incorrect information.
So don't be scared to let your employer know of mistakes. It could help remove headaches (and maybe save money) from both of you down the road.
FAQ
What is a T4?
A T4 is a tax document you receive from your employer(s) that summarizes how much money you made that year, plus all the deductions you paid. Your T4 slip is instrumental in filling out your income tax every year.
What is pension adjustment on T4?
If your employer has a registered pension plan (RPP), you'll see the value of those benefits in box 52 on your T4 slip. This value can be entered on line 20600 of your tax return.
What is line 10100 on my tax return?
Line 10100 or box 14 is your total employment income for the tax year. This line/box includes your salary, commissions, and bonuses. It refers to the gross amount, meaning the pre-tax amount you’ve earned.
Do I need to understand my T4 to do my taxes?
It’s wise to understand your T4 and the amounts listed within it so you can be informed about your earnings and deductions. Understanding this can also help you spot possible errors on your tax return.
Is T4 my tax return?
Your T4 isn’t your tax return, but you do need it to complete your tax return. You’ll get a separate T4 from every employer you worked for during the year stating the total income you received, along with any deductions.
What does a T4 stand for?
The term "T4" refers to the number of the form. Sometimes it's also called a Statement of Remuneration Paid and it lists any earnings and deductions you received over the course of a single year.
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