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Payroll Tax Calculator Canada 2026 | Employer Costs Guide

Updated

Employer Payroll Costs Summary

ContributionEmployer Rate2025 Maximum
CPP5.95%~$4,034
CPP2 (enhanced)4%~$396
EI~4.1%~$1,335
Provincial Health Tax0-4.26%Varies
QPIP (Quebec)0.692%~$500

CPP Contributions

2025 CPP Rates

ComponentRateMaximum
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

StepFormula
CPP earningsSalary - $3,500 (to YMPE)
CPP contributionEarnings × 5.95%
CPP2 earningsEarnings between YMPE and YAMPE
CPP2 contributionCPP2 earnings × 4%

Example ($75,000 Salary)

ItemAmount
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

ItemValue
Employee rate1.64% (outside Quebec)
Employer rateEmployee × 1.4 = 2.30%
Maximum insurable earnings$65,700
Max employee premium$1,077.48
Max employer premium$1,508.47

Quebec EI Rates

ItemValue
Employee rate1.31%
Employer rate1.31% × 1.4 = 1.83%

Example ($75,000 Salary)

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

Quebec-Specific Deductions

QPIP (Quebec Parental Insurance)

PartyRateMaximum Earnings
Employee0.494%$98,000
Employer0.692%$98,000

Example

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

Provincial Health Taxes

Ontario Employer Health Tax (EHT)

Payroll SizeRate
$0 - $490,0000.98% (exemption for small)
$490,001 - $980,0001.101% - 1.829%
Over $980,0001.95%

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

Quebec Health Services Fund (HSF)

Payroll SizeRate
$0 - $1M1.25% - 4.26%
$1M - $7MGraduated
Over $7MUp to 4.26%

Manitoba Health and Education Levy

Payroll SizeRate
$0 - $2.25MExempt
$2.25M - $4.5M4.3% on excess
Over $4.5M2.15%

BC Employer Health Tax

Payroll SizeRate
$0 - $500,000Exempt
$500,001 - $1.5M2.925% on excess
Over $1.5M1.95%

Total Employer Cost Calculator

Example: $75,000 Employee (Ontario)

ItemAmount
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)

ItemAmount
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)

SalaryCPP+CPP2EITotal Overhead%
$50,000$2,764$1,150$3,9147.8%
$75,000$4,182$1,508$5,6907.6%
$100,000$4,430$1,508$5,9385.9%
$150,000$4,430$1,508$5,9384.0%

Excludes EHT for small employers.

With EHT (Larger Employer)

SalaryCPP+CPP2EIEHTTotal%
$50,000$2,764$1,150$975$4,8899.8%
$75,000$4,182$1,508$1,463$7,1539.5%
$100,000$4,430$1,508$1,950$7,8887.9%

WSIB/WCB Premiums

Workers’ Compensation

ProvinceRate 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)

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

Vacation Pay

Minimum Requirements

ProvinceMinimumAfter Years
Ontario4%0-5 years
Ontario6%5+ years
BC4%0-5 years
BC6%5+ years
Alberta4%0-5 years
Alberta6%5+ years

Vacation Pay Cost

Salary4% Vacation6% 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)

ItemAmount
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
Overhead16.8%

Payroll Calendar

Key Dates

DateAction
15th (monthly)Remit payroll deductions
End of FebruaryT4/T4A slips to employees
End of FebruaryT4 Summary to CRA
Year-endTrue-up premiums

Remittance Frequency

Employer TypeFrequency
Small (<$25K remittances)Quarterly
RegularMonthly
Large (>$50K)Twice monthly
Very largeWeekly