🍁 Resources & Guides
How to Read Your T4 Slip
4 min read · February 15, 2026
What is a T4?
A T4 (Statement of Remuneration Paid) is a tax slip your employer sends you every February. It summarizes everything you earned and everything that was deducted from your pay during the previous year. You need it to file your income tax return.
Your employer must send your T4 by the last day of February. You may receive it by mail or electronically through your payroll system.
The Most Important Boxes
| Box | What it means |
|---|---|
| Box 14 | Employment income — your total gross earnings for the year |
| Box 16 | CPP contributions you paid |
| Box 17 | CPP2 contributions (if applicable) |
| Box 18 | EI premiums you paid |
| Box 22 | Income tax deducted — total federal and provincial tax withheld |
| Box 46 | Charitable donations made through payroll |
| Box 52 | Pension adjustment (if you have a workplace pension) |
Why Box 14 and Box 22 Matter Most
Box 14 is your gross income — the number you report on your tax return as employment income.
Box 22 is how much tax was already withheld from your paycheques. When you file your return, the CRA calculates how much tax you actually owe based on your total income and credits. If Box 22 is higher than what you owe, you get a refund. If it's lower, you owe more.
Common Reasons You Might Owe Tax
- You had multiple employers in the year
- You have other income (rental, freelance, investments)
- Your employer didn't withhold enough based on your TD1 form
- You received taxable benefits not fully reflected in withholding
Common Reasons You Get a Refund
- You made RRSP contributions
- You have significant deductions (union dues, medical expenses)
- Your income was lower than expected mid-year and withholding wasn't adjusted
📄 Simulate your T4
Use our Paycheck Calculator to estimate what your T4 will look like before February.
What to Do With Your T4
- Collect all your T4s (you may have more than one employer)
- Log in to your CRA My Account at canada.ca
- Use NETFILE-certified software (SimpleTax, TurboTax, StudioTax) to file
- Enter the amounts from each box as prompted
- Submit by April 30th to avoid late penalties
Key Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| T4 issued by employer | Last day of February |
| Tax filing deadline | April 30th |
| Self-employed filing deadline | June 15th |
| Balance owing due | April 30th |
🍁 See your estimated T4
Enter your salary in our calculator and click "View T4 Summary" to see a simulated T4 slip.