A T4 slip is a statement of remuneration paid that your employer must provide by the end of February each year. It shows your total income, tax deducted, CPP contributions, EI premiums, and other deductions from the previous calendar year. You need this document to file your personal income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and your employer is legally required to send you one if you earned employment income. The T4 is one of the most important documents you'll receive as an employee. Here's why: - CRA already has a copy. Your employer submits the same information to the CRA, so the numbers must match what you report on your tax return. - It's your proof of income. Banks, landlords, and lenders often ask for your T4 when you apply for mortgages, loans, or rental applications. - It shows deductions already made. The T4 lists CPP, EI, and income tax your employer withheld, which affects your refund or balance owing. - You cannot file without it. While you can file late, you technically need your T4 to complete a full and accurate return. T4 slips contain numbered boxes, each with a specific purpose.
Your employer must mail or deliver your T4 by February 28 (or the last day of February in a leap year). If you don't have it by early March, contact your employer's payroll department or request a copy from the CRA.
Technically you can file without it if you know your income amounts, but it's risky because the CRA already has the same information from your employer. Mismatches can trigger CRA reviews or delay your refund.
Contact your employer immediately to request an amended T4 (a corrected version). Never change the numbers yourself. Your employer will file the corrected version with the CRA.
Yes, you must report income from every T4 on your return. The CRA sees all of them anyway. If too little tax was deducted overall, you'll owe the balance when you file.
No. A pay stub shows what happened in that specific paycheck. A T4 is an annual summary of all paychecks combined for the entire year. You need the T4, not pay stubs, to file your tax return.