Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

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

You have to deduct CPP contributions from an employee's pensionable earnings if that employee:

• is in pensionable employment during the year; and
• is not considered to be disabled under the CPP or the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP); and
• is 18 to 70 years old even if the employee is receiving a CPP or QPP retirement pension. Exception: do not deduct CPP if the employee is 65 to 70 years old, 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 ($54,900 for 2016) 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 (5.325% for 2016) compared to the rate for an employee who pays into the CPP (4.95% for 2016).

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 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.

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 for Computer Programs
• Other publications for Canada Pension Plan and employment insurance (CPP/EI)

Related topics

• Canada's social security agreements with other countries
• Administration of the Canada Pension Plan and the Employment Insurance Act
• Employment and Social Development Canada - Canada Pension Plan

Multimedia

• Video: Changes to the Canada Pension Plan effective January 1, 2012 | 63:13 min.
• Video: Deducting Canada Pension Plan contributions, and employment insurance premiums | 9:18 min.
• Video: Calculating CPP contributions, EI premiums, and income tax deductions | 5:54 min.
• Webinar: A deeper look at the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance | 42:42 min.

Changes to the Canada Pension Plan effective January 1, 2012

Deducting Canada Pension Plan contributions, and employment insurance premiums

Calculating CPP contributions, EI premiums, and income tax deductions

Video: A deeper look at the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance

Date modified:

2017-05-02