Determine if a benefit is taxable

Before you calculate, determine if a benefit is taxable and if you need to deduct CPP, EI and income tax.

Overview: What is a taxable benefit.

Type of benefits and category
Type of benefits	Category
Automobile provided by the employer	Travel
Automobile or motor vehicle benefits – Allowances or reimbursements provided to an employee for the use of their own vehicle	Travel
Motor vehicle provided by the employer	Travel
Board, lodging, housing and utilities expenses Includes: free or subsidized board and lodging allowance or reimbursement for housing or utilities provided to an employee who is a participant or member of a sports team or recreational program	Board, lodging, housing and utilities Travel
Travel expenses Includes: employee works part-time employee is a salesperson, an agent selling property or negotiating contracts, or a member of the clergy employee is a member of the Canadian Forces and it is for separation allowances under service regulations employee is travelling outside of your municipality or metropolitan area employee is travelling within your municipality or metropolitan area employee is travelling on a business trip employee’s spouse or common-law partner travelling on a business trip Employee acts as host of an incentive award trip	Travel
Meal expenses Includes: free meals overtime meals subsidized meals meals part of a collective agreement	Board, lodging, housing and utilities Travel
Housing and utilities expenses – Provided to a member of the clergy or of a religious order	Board, lodging, housing and utilities Travel
Board, lodging and travel expenses – Provided to an employee in remote locations	Board, lodging, housing and utilities Travel
Board, lodging, housing, utilities and travel expenses – Provided to an employee in special work sites, including prescribed zones	Board, lodging, housing and utilities Travel
Moving and relocation expenses	Board, lodging, housing and utilities
Parking	Transportation
Transportation and airline passes	Transportation
Child care expenses	Personal and family needs
Cell phone and internet services	Work-related expenses
Counselling services and tax preparation	Personal and family needs
Benefits provided to an employee who has a severe or prolonged impairment (disability)	Personal and family needs
Educational assistance Includes: scholarships, bursaries, tuition, and training research grants subsidized school services educational allowances for children	Work-related expenses
Security (stock) options	Personal and family needs
Gifts, awards, and long-service awards	Work-related expenses
Loans and employee debt	Work-related benefits
Loyalty or other points programs	Work-related expenses
Medical expenses	Personal and family needs
Merchandise discounts and commissions from personal purchases	Work-related expenses
Employee benefit plans Includes: amounts contributed by the employee or a deceased employee of whom the individual is an heir or legal representative death benefit or an amount that would be a death benefit but for the deduction defined in subsection 248(1) flexible benefit plans premiums paid to Wage loss replacement plan supplementary unemployment benefit plans	Plans
Insurance plans Includes: premium for group life insurance premium for provincial hospitalization or medical care insurance, or federal hospitalization or medical care insurance for government of Canada employees and their dependants serving outside of Canada premium or contribution paid to income maintenance, sickness, accident, or disability insurance plans premium paid to private health services plan premium rebate for employment insurance top-up disability payment	Plans
Contributions to savings and pension plans Includes: pooled registered pension plan (PRPP) registered pension plan (RPP) registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) retirement compensation arrangement (RCA) tax-free savings account (TFSA)	Plans
Professional membership dues	Work-related expenses
Recreational facilities and club dues	Work-related expenses
Social events and hospitality functions	Work-related expenses
Event tickets	Work-related expenses
Tool reimbursements, allowances and rental payments Keywords: power saws tree trimmers forestry apprentice mechanics tradesperson	Work-related expenses
Uniforms and protective clothing	Work-related expenses

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Date modified:: 2023-09-05