Important dates for payroll

Service dates

• Electronic filing options are available starting January 10, 2022.
• Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC) is usually updated January 1 and July 1.

When hiring employees

You will have to:

• Register for a payroll program account if you don't already have one. You will need a program account to remit your source deductions and file your information return. It is best to register for your payroll program account as soon as you hire employees.
• Get your employees' social insurance number within three days of when they start to work for you.
• Ask your employees to fill out a TD1 form within seven days of when they start to work for you.

When to remit source deductions

When you have to remit depends on what type of remitter you are and when you pay your employees. In most cases, you have to remit your source deductions by the 15th of the month after you pay or give remuneration to your employees. Remuneration includes taxable benefits and allowances. If you are a new small employer, different rules may apply.

For more information, see:

• Remitting source deductions
• Summary of remitter types

When to file a T4/T4A return

You have to file a T4 or T4A information return, as applicable, and send information slips to your employees each year by the last day of February of the following calendar year that the information return applies to.

When the owner or sole proprietor dies

When the owner of a sole proprietorship dies, a final personal income tax and benefit return has to be filed by a certain date. The due date will depend on the type of return.

It may also be necessary to close all CRA business accounts and the business number after all final returns are processed and all amounts owing are paid.

When a current business stops operating

You will have to:

• Send all CPP contributions, EI premiums, and income tax deductions to your tax centre within seven days of the day your business ends.
• Calculate the pension adjustment that applies to your former employees.
• Meet provincial or territorial labour standards.
• Issue a Record of Employment (ROE) for each former employee, generally within five calendar days after the end of the pay period.
• Fill out and file all information returns within 30 days from the date your business ends. You should also give copies of the slips to your former employees.
• Close the business number and CRA business accounts after all the final returns and all the amounts owing have been processed.

For more information, go to Changes to your business and Canada Revenue Agency program accounts.

Related topics

• Payroll