How do you start contributing to the CPP again?

If you elected to stop contributing to the CPP in a previous year and you want to start contributing to the CPP again, you need to revoke your election.

You cannot revoke an election in the same calendar year that you elected to stop contributing to the CPP. For example, if you elected to stop contributing to the CPP in 2016, you cannot revoke this election before 2017.

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

How to revoke your election to stop paying CPP contributions?

Employee

If you are an employee, who earned employment income in a province or territory other than Quebec, you can revoke your election 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 revocation 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 revocation 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 the form CPT30, Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election, to revoke your election. (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, a revocation that begins in 2016 must be filed on or before June 15, 2018.

Employee and self-employed

If you have both employment and self-employment income, you can revoke your election 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 revocation 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 revocation will take effect on July 1, 2017.

However, if you want to revoke an election made in a prior year to stop contributing to 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. To be valid, a revocation that begins in 2016 must be filed on or before June 15, 2018.

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 Overpayments 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