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What Is an RL-1 Slip in Quebec?

Updated

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

BoxDescriptionFederal T4 equivalentTP-1 line
AEmployment incomeBox 14Line 101
BQPP contributions (employee)Box 16 (CPP)Line 248
CEI premiumsBox 18 (EI)Line 249
DPRPP employer contributionsN/A
EQuebec income tax withheldBox 22 (federal tax)Line 451
FUnion duesBox 44Line 214
GQPP pensionable earningsBox 26 (CPP earnings)
HQPIP premiumsNo T4 equivalentLine 250
IQPIP insurable earningsNo T4 equivalent
JEmployer dental contributionsNo T4 equivalent
KTipsSpecial Quebec rulesLine 101
LOther taxable benefits (Quebec)Box 40 (taxable benefits)Line 101
MCommissionsBox 42Line 101
NCharitable donations deductedBox 46
PDeferred profit sharing (DPSP)Box 52
QPension adjustmentBox 52
RHousing value (clergy)Box 30Line 101
SVolunteer firefighter allowanceNo direct equivalent
TRPP employer contributionsBox 50
UQPP contributions on self-employmentSchedule N
VBenefits from employee benefit plan
WNet commissions (self-employment)No equivalent
OOther income (code-based)VariousDepends on code

Key Differences: RL-1 vs T4

ItemT4 (Federal)RL-1 (Quebec)
Pension planCPP (Box 16)QPP (Box B) — slightly different calculation
Parental insuranceEI (Box 18) — includes parental componentQPIP (Box H) — separate from EI
EI premiums (Quebec)Reduced rate vs rest of CanadaStill shown on T4 Box 18 (Quebec-reduced rate)
Employer dental/health benefitsBox 40 taxable benefitsMay appear in Box J or L
Charitable donationsBox 46Box N

QPP vs CPP: Quebec-Specific Pension Contributions

FeatureCPP (all other provinces)QPP (Quebec)
2025 employee contribution rate5.95%6.40%
Enhanced (CPP2/QPP2) rate4.00%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

FeatureFederal EI (parental component)QPIP
Who administersService CanadaRevenu Québec
2025 employee premium rate1.049% (Quebec reduced)0.497%
What it insuresRegular EI only (parental EI sent to QPIP)Maternity, paternity, parental, adoption
Benefit rate55–33% of insurable earnings70–75%
Extended to self-employedNoYes

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 CodeDescription
RBGroup sickness or accident insurance premiums — employer portion is taxable in Quebec
RARRSP employer contributions (if not already in Box A)
RZResearch grants net of expenses
REEmergency volunteer allowance
RCRoyalties
REEmergency services volunteer income
RFAmounts received from a deferred profit-sharing plan
RGIncome from a profit-sharing plan

Filing the TP-1 Using Your RL-1

Quebec residents file two returns:

ReturnSlip usedFiled withDeadline
Federal T1T4CRAApril 30 (or June 15 if self-employed)
Quebec TP-1RL-1Revenu QuébecApril 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.


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