By L.Kenway BComm CPB Retired
Updated January 29, 2024 | Originally Published on Bookkeeping-Essentials.com in 2010
Answers to common questions asked about the T4 slip boxes 24 and 26. Find a tip you want to read BEFORE you prepare your T4 slips.
It is important to remember that for the purpose of tax filing deadlines, income is reported in the calendar year it was paid not when the income was earned.
This applies to your payroll source deduction remittances as well as the preparation of the T4 slips.
Do not confuse this with GAAP / ASPE reporting where you accrue unpaid but earned wage income in the year the wage was earned.
If you are using an accounting software program like QuickBooks Online, it knows the rules and will correctly prepare the T4s provided you have entered your payroll correctly.
The easiest way to meet your T4 slip tax filing deadline is to file your T4 Summary and slips online.
To use T4 Web Forms, you need an access code. Your Web access code used to be at the top of your personalized T4 Summary. As CRA keeps expanding their online services, I'm not sure if it still gets mailed out.
That said, you no longer need a Web access code if you sign in and file through My Business Account or Represent a Client.
The T4 deadline is the last day of February. If the last day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline moves to Monday.
A good practice to save administration nightmares is to confirm with employees in December that you have their correct address on file.
If you are an employee and haven't received your T4 slip by March 15, call your employer. They may have an incorrect address for you. This is why it is so important to let your employer know when you move.
You can submit up to 100 T4 slips using the T4 Web Forms online. I could not figure out how to get to it following their page or MENU drop down boxes because the it's nested under Digital Services and there is not link to it on the CRA home page, or on the Taxes home page. The easiest way I found to get to it is to google "CRA T4 Web Forms file a return". Once you arrive on the page, bookmark it for future use.
If you still want to file by paper (available only if you have less than 50 slips), go to the Businesses tab on the CRA website and select Payroll> Filing payroll information returns (slips and summaries)> T4 slip - Information for employers. You will find fillable forms here. Don't forget you will to complete and submit the T4 Summary as well.
CRA says yes you can send an electronic T4 Slip to your employees "if you have received the employee's consent in writing or electronic format".
Keep the response to the written consent permission in the employee's file in case you are ever challenged on the issue.
This strategy definitely takes money out of your pocket and does not help you achieve your goal of putting more money in your pocket.
$100 minimum penalty - $7500 maximum penalty ... OUCH! Penalties apply for errors, failure to file, or failing to file using the required method. See the sliding scale applied below.
If you can't meet your payroll tax filing deadlines, you absolutely need to consider hiring a bookkeeper to do your payroll.
Effective January 1, 2012
Source: CRA Employers' Guide – Filing the T4 Slip and Summary
Generally most information returns are due by the last day of February.
The penalty for filing past the due date is the greater of $100 or as determined in the table below for the NR4, T4, T4A, T4E, T4A-NR, T5 and T5018 ... (and RRSP, T10, T215, T3, T4A-NR, T4A-RCA, T4PS, T4RIF, T4RSP, T5007, T5008, TFSA):
Number of Slips | Penalty / Day | Maximum Penalty |
---|---|---|
1-5 | N/A | $100 flat penalty |
6-10 | $5 | $500 |
11-50 | $10 | $1000 |
51 to 500 | $15 | $1500 |
501-2,500 | $25 | $2500 |
2,501-10,000 | $50 | $5000 |
Greater than 10,001 | $75 | $7500 |
Following are the most common questions asked about the T4 slip.
T4 Preparation Questions:
Employee T4 Questions
Bookkeeper / Payroll Clerk Question
Continue reading for the answers to these questions.
T4 Slip Preparation Question
Can the T4 slip boxes 24 and 26 be blank?
I've been asked whether the same number in box 14 needs to be entered into box 24 (EI insurable earnings) and box 26 (CPP/QPP Pensionable earnings) or can they be left blank when preparing the T4 slip.
CRA introduced new rules for completing a T4 slip as a result of the changes to CPP. Boxes 24 and 26 must ALWAYS be completed now. Prior to 2012, it was acceptable and normal to have boxes 24 and 26 on the T4 slip blank when they matched box 14. That is no longer an acceptable practice due to the changes in CPP that came into effect in 2012.
These days, for each box, you need to enter the total amount up to the maximums for the year OR zero if exempt. If there are no insurable and/or pensionable earnings, you need to enter "0" in the field.
Examples of amounts to exclude in Box 24 - EI insurable earnings, "Do not report in box 24 amounts paid to your employee for employment, benefits, or other payments that should not have EI premiums deducted ... or the unpaid portion of any earnings from insurable employment that you did not pay because of your bankruptcy, receivership, or non-payment of remuneration for which the employee has filed a complaint with the federal, provincial, or territorial labour authorities."
For more details on how to complete Box 24 google "CRA Filling Out The T4 Slip".
Box 26 Examples - CPP pensionable earnings, "If you provide pensionable taxable benefits (non-cash) and no other remuneration is paid in a tax year (for example, an employee is on an unpaid leave of absence and the employer continues to provide benefits during the leave), enter "0" in box 26. For security option benefits, report the amount of the benefit in box 26 at all times. Do not code the slip CPP-exempt in box 28, since the employee may want to elect to pay CPP on the amount."
See the next question for excluded amounts for CPP purposes.
The CRA website details the types of box 14 employment income that must be subtracted and not included in box 26. In many cases, box 14 and 26 will be the same.
For more details on how to complete Box 26 google "CRA Filling Out The T4 Slip".
There is also a bit more information about T4 slip boxes 24 and 26 in the next Q&A.
T4 Slip Preparation Question
If I override and remove the number in the T4 slip boxes 24 and 26 that comes up automatically on the tax return, I get a larger refund. Could you please explain to me why this happens? Is that way acceptable?
As a general rule, if you are overriding any calculations in your tax program ... you are doing it wrong.
Tax software has generally paid computer programmers to code in all the tax rules. When an override is necessary ... the deduction is usually optional or an advanced tax calculation.
Box 24 represents the amount of insurable earnings subject to the maximum limit used to calculate the employee's EI premiums. This means it is box 14 less any earnings that are not subject to EI premiums. (See above for exclusion examples.)
There is no age limit to deducting EI premiums. However, the following employment is not insurable:
Box 26 represents the pensionable earnings subject to the maximum limit. This means it is box 14 less any earnings that are not subject to CPP contributions.
So what are some of the exceptions? Some examples for CPP contributions when the income is not pensionable are:
For most people, boxes 24 and 26 will match box 14. Prior to 2012, if the amounts did match box 14, they were generally left blank. That is no longer an acceptable practice due to the changes in CPP that came into effect in 2012.
Employee T4 Slip Question
What if my employer put an amount in BOX 24 and 26 and left BOX 14 blank? Can I assume that it's the same?
I believe box 14 should be blank if there is an employment code in box 29 of :
11 - Placement or employment agency workers
12 - Taxi-drivers or drivers of other passenger-carrying vehicles
13 - Barbers or hairdressers
17 - Fishers - Self-employed
These tax individuals are special situations with separate rules. Check out CRA's site at Businesses> Payroll> Completing Returns> T4> Special situations.
You should see your gross earnings listed under other information with the appropriate code for your industry. These industries get to claim additional deductions if they received Form T2200 Declaration of Conditions of Employment from their employer.
Employee T4 Slip Question
My box 26 is about $20 higher than what I actually earned and is written in box 14. What does this mean exactly, and what should I do?
Your best bet is to contact your employer and/or payroll department and ask them how it was calculated. It is likely the amount is from a taxable benefit you received from your employer.
Employee T4 Slip Question
Who can I speak to when a company has not released my T4s yet? It's March. And what can I do about it?
First thing I would do is sign onto your CRA My Account. Check to see if your T4 information has been shared with CRA yet by looking at the tax slip information section. Employers are fined by CRA if they have not submitted their T4 information to CRA by the end of February.
If it's not there, you have two other options.
(1) Phone your Payroll Department (or talk to your boss) ... or whoever handles payroll in your company ... to see if they can give you a time estimate as to when you will be receiving your T4.
(2) If neither of those work options work, you can still file your tax return using the information from your last year-to-date pay stub from the previous year (currently 2023). Most of the information on your last pay stub for the year will match the T4 slip that will be issued. The only amounts that may not be right will likely be related to employee taxable benefits.
While it is stressful to have not received your T4 yet ... and it is really great that you are actually following up ... don't stress out too much yet. There is still time. Remember you have until April 30 to file your income tax return.
I hope this response helps you out.
Bookkeeper / Payroll Clerk Question
What needs to happen to payroll slips if the owner of a business dies?
When the owner of a business dies, it is classified as a special situation with regards T4 and T4A slips.
The payroll information return(s) must be filed within 90 days of the death if the owner of the business dies.
Don't forget that you will have to close all CRA accounts after all final returns have been processed and paid.
Bookkeeper / Payroll Clerk Question
What needs to happen to payroll slips if a business owner declares bankruptcy?
When the owner of a business declares bankruptcy, it is classified as a special situation with regards T4 and T4A slips.
The payroll information return(s) must be filed within 30 days from the date the business ceases to operate.
Note: Payroll source deductions must be remitted within 7 days from the date the business ceases.