Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

Changes to the rules for deducting Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions.

When to deduct CPP contributions

You have to deduct CPP contributions from an employee's pensionable earnings if that employee meets all of the following conditions:

• The employee is in pensionable employment during the year.
• The employee is not considered to be disabled under the CPP or the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP).
• The employee is 18 to 69 years old even if the employee is receiving a CPP or QPP retirement pension. Exception: do not deduct CPP if the employee is at least 65 years pf age, but under 70, and gives you Form CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election with parts A, B and C completed.

Employment in Quebec

Quebec employers deduct the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) contributions instead of CPP contributions.

The contribution rates for QPP are higher than those for CPP. Although the year’s maximum pensionable earnings ($64,900 for 2022) and annual basic exemption ($3,500) for both plans are the same, an employee paying into the QPP will pay contributions at a higher rate (6.15% for 2022) compared to the rate for an employee who pays into the CPP (5.70% for 2022).

For more information on deducting and remitting the QPP, see Guide TP- 1015.G-V, Guide for Employers: Source Deductions and Contributions, which you can get from Revenu Québec.

You may have a place of business in Quebec and in another province or territory. If you transfer an employee from Quebec to another part of Canada before the end of the year, you must use a formula to reconcile the amounts contributed to the CPP and the QPP to  make sure that enough contributions to the CPP are withheld and future benefits are not affected.

For more information on the new formula, see Guide T4127, Payroll Deductions Formulas.

If you transfer an employee from Quebec to another province or territory, you can take into account the QPP contributions you deducted from that employee throughout the year when calculating the maximum CPP contributions to deduct. In addition to deducting CPP/QPP contributions and EI/QPIP premiums you will also have to prepare two T4 slips. It is important that you calculate and report the proper deductions and insurable/pensionable earnings on both T4 slips. For more information, see Guide RC4120, Employers’ Guide – Filing the T4 Slip and Summary or Guide RL 1.G-V, Guide to Filing the RL-1 Slip: Employment and Other Income.

Services and information

• Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance Rulings
  Information on employment status and how to request a CPP/EI ruling to determine if the employment or earnings are pensionable
• What are the CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions?
• Calculating CPP contributions
• Checking the amount of CPP you deducted
• Changes to the rules for deducting Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions for CPP working beneficiaries
• Starting and stopping CPP deductions
• CPP overpayment and recovering CPP contributions
• The Canada Pension Plan enhancement – Businesses, individuals and self-employed: what it means for you

Forms and publications

• Guide T4001, Employers’ Guide – Payroll Deductions and Remittances
• Guide T4130, Employers’ Guide – Taxable Benefits and Allowances
• Guide T4032, Payroll Deductions Tables
• Guide T4008, Payroll Deductions Supplementary Tables
• Guide T4127, Payroll Deductions Formulas

Related topics

• Canada’s social security agreements with other countries
• Administration of the Canada Pension Plan and the Employment Insurance Act
• Canada Pension Plan – Overview

Multimedia

• Video: A deeper look at the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance | 42:42 min
• Webinar: Enhanced Canada Pension Plan for Business | 30 min
• Webinar: Enhanced CPP & You | 45 min
• Podcast: Canada Pension Plan Enhancement – Introduction | 9:23 min
• Podcast: Canada Pension Plan Enhancement – Planned Phases | 9:26 min