Short Answer
The RL-1 is Quebec’s provincial employment income slip — issued alongside the federal T4. Quebec residents file both a T1 (federal) using the T4 and a TP-1 (provincial) using the RL-1. The RL-1 captures Quebec-specific deductions like QPP contributions and QPIP premiums that do not appear on a standard federal T4.
RL-1 Boxes and What They Mean
| Box | Description | Federal T4 equivalent | TP-1 line |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Employment income | Box 14 | Line 101 |
| B | QPP contributions (employee) | Box 16 (CPP) | Line 248 |
| C | EI premiums | Box 18 (EI) | Line 249 |
| D | PRPP employer contributions | N/A | — |
| E | Quebec income tax withheld | Box 22 (federal tax) | Line 451 |
| F | Union dues | Box 44 | Line 214 |
| G | QPP pensionable earnings | Box 26 (CPP earnings) | — |
| H | QPIP premiums | No T4 equivalent | Line 250 |
| I | QPIP insurable earnings | No T4 equivalent | — |
| J | Employer dental contributions | No T4 equivalent | — |
| K | Tips | Special Quebec rules | Line 101 |
| L | Other taxable benefits (Quebec) | Box 40 (taxable benefits) | Line 101 |
| M | Commissions | Box 42 | Line 101 |
| N | Charitable donations deducted | Box 46 | — |
| P | Deferred profit sharing (DPSP) | Box 52 | — |
| Q | Pension adjustment | Box 52 | — |
| R | Housing value (clergy) | Box 30 | Line 101 |
| S | Volunteer firefighter allowance | No direct equivalent | — |
| T | RPP employer contributions | Box 50 | — |
| U | QPP contributions on self-employment | — | Schedule N |
| V | Benefits from employee benefit plan | — | — |
| W | Net commissions (self-employment) | No equivalent | — |
| O | Other income (code-based) | Various | Depends on code |
Key Differences: RL-1 vs T4
| Item | T4 (Federal) | RL-1 (Quebec) |
|---|---|---|
| Pension plan | CPP (Box 16) | QPP (Box B) — slightly different calculation |
| Parental insurance | EI (Box 18) — includes parental component | QPIP (Box H) — separate from EI |
| EI premiums (Quebec) | Reduced rate vs rest of Canada | Still shown on T4 Box 18 (Quebec-reduced rate) |
| Employer dental/health benefits | Box 40 taxable benefits | May appear in Box J or L |
| Charitable donations | Box 46 | Box N |
QPP vs CPP: Quebec-Specific Pension Contributions
| Feature | CPP (all other provinces) | QPP (Quebec) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 employee contribution rate | 5.95% | 6.40% |
| Enhanced (CPP2/QPP2) rate | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| Maximum pensionable earnings (first ceiling) | $68,500 | $68,500 |
| Maximum employee contribution (base) | ~$3,867 | ~$4,160 |
| Portability with CPP | ✅ Fully portable | ✅ Fully portable |
Quebec workers contribute slightly more to QPP per dollar earned compared to CPP in other provinces.
QPIP: Quebec’s Parental Insurance Premium
| Feature | Federal EI (parental component) | QPIP |
|---|---|---|
| Who administers | Service Canada | Revenu Québec |
| 2025 employee premium rate | 1.049% (Quebec reduced) | 0.497% |
| What it insures | Regular EI only (parental EI sent to QPIP) | Maternity, paternity, parental, adoption |
| Benefit rate | 55–33% of insurable earnings | 70–75% |
| Extended to self-employed | No | Yes |
Quebec employees pay both EI premiums (for regular/non-parental coverage) and QPIP premiums (for parental benefits). The combined load is slightly higher than standard EI elsewhere, but QPIP benefits are materially more generous for parental leave.
Box O Codes: The Most Common
| RL-1 Box O Code | Description |
|---|---|
| RB | Group sickness or accident insurance premiums — employer portion is taxable in Quebec |
| RA | RRSP employer contributions (if not already in Box A) |
| RZ | Research grants net of expenses |
| RE | Emergency volunteer allowance |
| RC | Royalties |
| RE | Emergency services volunteer income |
| RF | Amounts received from a deferred profit-sharing plan |
| RG | Income from a profit-sharing plan |
Filing the TP-1 Using Your RL-1
Quebec residents file two returns:
| Return | Slip used | Filed with | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal T1 | T4 | CRA | April 30 (or June 15 if self-employed) |
| Quebec TP-1 | RL-1 | Revenu Québec | April 30 |
Quebec tax software handles both returns simultaneously using the same inputs. Enter both your T4 and RL-1 to ensure the provincial calculations use the correct Quebec-specific amounts (QPIP, QPP, taxable benefits unique to Quebec).
Bottom Line
The RL-1 is the Quebec provincial employment slip that works alongside the federal T4 — not instead of it. Quebec residents file both returns annually using the respective slips. Key Quebec-specific items are QPP contributions (Box B), QPIP premiums (Box H), and certain employer benefits taxable provincially in Quebec that may differ from the federal treatment. Use Quebec-specific tax software (or the francophone versions of major tax programs) to handle the TP-1 filing correctly alongside your T1.