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Payroll Tax Calculator Canada 2026 | Employer Costs Guide

Updated

Employer Payroll Costs Summary

Contribution Employer Rate 2025 Maximum
CPP 5.95% ~$4,034
CPP2 (enhanced) 4% ~$396
EI ~4.1% ~$1,335
Provincial Health Tax 0-4.26% Varies
QPIP (Quebec) 0.692% ~$500

CPP Contributions

2025 CPP Rates

Component Rate Maximum
Basic exemption - $3,500
YMPE - $71,300
CPP rate (employer) 5.95% $4,034.10
YAMPE - $81,200
CPP2 rate (employer) 4% $396

CPP Calculation

Step Formula
CPP earnings Salary - $3,500 (to YMPE)
CPP contribution Earnings × 5.95%
CPP2 earnings Earnings between YMPE and YAMPE
CPP2 contribution CPP2 earnings × 4%

Example ($75,000 Salary)

Item Amount
CPP earnings $71,300 - $3,500 = $67,800
CPP contribution $67,800 × 5.95% = $4,034
CPP2 earnings $75,000 - $71,300 = $3,700
CPP2 contribution $3,700 × 4% = $148
Total CPP (employer) $4,182

EI Premiums

2025 EI Rates

Item Value
Employee rate 1.64% (outside Quebec)
Employer rate Employee × 1.4 = 2.30%
Maximum insurable earnings $65,700
Max employee premium $1,077.48
Max employer premium $1,508.47

Quebec EI Rates

Item Value
Employee rate 1.31%
Employer rate 1.31% × 1.4 = 1.83%

Example ($75,000 Salary)

Item Amount
Insurable earnings $65,700 (capped)
Employer premium $65,700 × 2.30% = $1,508

Quebec-Specific Deductions

QPIP (Quebec Parental Insurance)

Party Rate Maximum Earnings
Employee 0.494% $98,000
Employer 0.692% $98,000

Example

Item Amount
QPIP earnings $75,000
Employer QPIP $75,000 × 0.692% = $519

Provincial Health Taxes

Ontario Employer Health Tax (EHT)

Payroll Size Rate
$0 - $490,000 0.98% (exemption for small)
$490,001 - $980,000 1.101% - 1.829%
Over $980,000 1.95%

Eligible employers with <$5M payroll get exemption on first $490K.

Quebec Health Services Fund (HSF)

Payroll Size Rate
$0 - $1M 1.25% - 4.26%
$1M - $7M Graduated
Over $7M Up to 4.26%

Manitoba Health and Education Levy

Payroll Size Rate
$0 - $2.25M Exempt
$2.25M - $4.5M 4.3% on excess
Over $4.5M 2.15%

BC Employer Health Tax

Payroll Size Rate
$0 - $500,000 Exempt
$500,001 - $1.5M 2.925% on excess
Over $1.5M 1.95%

Total Employer Cost Calculator

Example: $75,000 Employee (Ontario)

Item Amount
Salary $75,000.00
CPP (employer) $4,034.10
CPP2 (employer) $148.00
EI (employer) $1,508.47
EHT (if applicable) $735.00
Total Employer Cost $81,425.57
Overhead % 8.6%

Example: $75,000 Employee (Quebec)

Item Amount
Salary $75,000.00
QPP (employer) $4,034.10
QPP2 (employer) $148.00
EI (employer) $1,208.00
QPIP (employer) $519.00
HSF $937.50
Total Employer Cost $81,846.60
Overhead % 9.1%

Employer Cost by Salary

Ontario (Small Employer)

Salary CPP+CPP2 EI Total Overhead %
$50,000 $2,764 $1,150 $3,914 7.8%
$75,000 $4,182 $1,508 $5,690 7.6%
$100,000 $4,430 $1,508 $5,938 5.9%
$150,000 $4,430 $1,508 $5,938 4.0%

Excludes EHT for small employers.

With EHT (Larger Employer)

Salary CPP+CPP2 EI EHT Total %
$50,000 $2,764 $1,150 $975 $4,889 9.8%
$75,000 $4,182 $1,508 $1,463 $7,153 9.5%
$100,000 $4,430 $1,508 $1,950 $7,888 7.9%

WSIB/WCB Premiums

Workers’ Compensation

Province Rate Range
Ontario (WSIB) $0.14 - $15+ per $100 payroll
BC (WorkSafeBC) $0.15 - $10+ per $100
Alberta (WCB) $0.15 - $8+ per $100

Rates vary by industry classification.

Example (Office Work)

Item Rate
Typical office rate $0.20 per $100
$75,000 salary $150/year

Vacation Pay

Minimum Requirements

Province Minimum After Years
Ontario 4% 0-5 years
Ontario 6% 5+ years
BC 4% 0-5 years
BC 6% 5+ years
Alberta 4% 0-5 years
Alberta 6% 5+ years

Vacation Pay Cost

Salary 4% Vacation 6% Vacation
$50,000 $2,000 $3,000
$75,000 $3,000 $4,500
$100,000 $4,000 $6,000

True Cost of an Employee

All-In Cost Example ($75,000)

Item Amount
Base salary $75,000
CPP/QPP (employer) $4,182
EI (employer) $1,508
Provincial health tax $735
WSIB/WCB $150
Vacation pay (4%) $3,000
Benefits (estimated) $3,000
Total Cost $87,575
Overhead 16.8%

Payroll Calendar

Key Dates

Date Action
15th (monthly) Remit payroll deductions
End of February T4/T4A slips to employees
End of February T4 Summary to CRA
Year-end True-up premiums

Remittance Frequency

Employer Type Frequency
Small (<$25K remittances) Quarterly
Regular Monthly
Large (>$50K) Twice monthly
Very large Weekly