How do you stop contributing to the CPP?

As a CPP working beneficiary, you have to pay CPP contributions. If you are at least 65 years of age, but under 70, you can elect to stop contributing to the CPP.

The method to stop contributing to the CPP is different if you are an employee, only self-employed, or if you are both an employee and self-employed.

Employee

If you are an employee, who earned employment income in a province or territory other than Quebec, you can elect to stop contributing to the CPP by completing Form CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election. Give a copy of Form CPT30 to all your employers, and send the original to the Canada Revenue Agency.

The election takes effect on the first day of the month following the date you give a copy of the completed Form CPT30 to your employer. For example, if you give Form CPT30 to your employer in June 2017, the election will take effect on July 1, 2017.

Only self-employed

If you are only self-employed (in a province or territory other than Quebec), do not use Form CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election, to stop contributing to the CPP. (For residents of Quebec self-employment is subject to the Quebec Pension Plan rules.)

Instead, complete the applicable section of Schedule 8, Canada Pension Plan Contributions and Overpayment for 2016, and file it with your Income Tax and Benefit Return. To be valid, an election that begins in 2016 must be filed on or before June 15, 2018.

You cannot elect to stop contributing to the CPP until you are at least 65 years of age. The earliest month an election can take effect is the month you turn 65. For example, if you turn 65 in July 2017 the earliest month an election can take effect is July 2017.

If you start receiving employment income (other than employment income earned in Quebec) in a future year, you will have to complete Form CPT30 in that year for your election to remain valid.

Employee and self-employed

If you have both employment and self-employment income, you can elect to stop contributing to the CPP on any employment income earned outside Quebec by completing Form CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election. Give a copy of Form CPT30 to all your employers, and send the original to the Canada Revenue Agency.

The election takes effect on the first day of the month following the date you give a copy of the completed Form CPT30 to your employer. This date will apply to both your employment earned outside Quebec, and self-employment income if you were not a resident of Quebec. If you were a residents of Quebec, this date will only apply to your employment income earned outside Quebec. For example, if you give Form CPT30 to your employer in June 2017, the election will take effect on July 1, 2017.

However, if you want to elect to stop contributing to the CPP on your self-employment earnings (this only applies if you are resident in a province or territory other than Quebec) on an earlier date in 2016 than the effective date of the CPT30, also complete Schedule 8 or Form RC381, Inter-Provincial Calculation for CPP and QPP Contributions and Overpayments for 2016, whichever applies.

Forms and publications

• CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election
• Schedule 8 - Canada Pension Plan Contributions and Overpayment for 2016
• RC381, Inter-Provincial Calculation for CPP and QPP Contributions and Overpayments for 2016

Government partners

• Service Canada
• Employment and Social Development Canada

Date modified:

2017-01-04