If you work in Canada, there is a good chance you will receive a T4 slip at tax time.
A T4 is a tax slip from your employer. It shows how much employment income you earned during the year and how much tax, CPP, and EI were taken off your pay.
In simple terms, your T4 helps you file your income tax return.
It is one of the most common tax documents in Canada.
What Information Is on a T4?
Your T4 includes several important pieces of information.
The most important ones are usually:
- Your employment income
- Income tax deducted
- CPP contributions
- EI premiums
- Your employer’s information
- Your Social Insurance Number
- Pension adjustment, if applicable
Your T4 may look a little confusing at first because it has lots of boxes and numbers.
But you do not need to understand every box perfectly to know what the slip is for.
The key idea is simple: your T4 summarizes your employment income and payroll deductions for the year.
Why Do You Need a T4?
You need your T4 to file your tax return correctly.
When you file your taxes, the Canada Revenue Agency wants to know how much income you earned and how much tax has already been taken off your paycheques.
Your T4 helps show that.
For example, if your employer already deducted income tax from your pay, that amount is listed on your T4. When you file your return, that tax already paid is counted against what you owe.
Depending on your situation, you may owe more tax, get a refund, or break close to even.
When Do You Get a T4?
Employers usually have to provide T4 slips by the last day of February for the previous tax year.
So, for income earned in 2025, you would usually expect your T4 by the end of February 2026.
You may receive your T4:
- By mail
- Through your workplace payroll portal
- By email or secure online access
- Through CRA My Account, once available
If you worked multiple jobs during the year, you may receive more than one T4.
Each employer should issue a separate T4 for the income they paid you.
What If You Had More Than One Job?
If you had two jobs during the year, you may receive two T4 slips.
If you had three jobs, you may receive three T4 slips.
This is normal.
Each T4 only covers income from that specific employer. When you file your taxes, you need to include all of them.
Do not ignore a T4 just because it was from a short-term job or part-time job.
Even a small amount of employment income can still matter when filing your tax return.
What If Your T4 Is Missing?
If you think you should have received a T4 but have not got one, do not panic.
First, check your email, payroll portal, and mail.
If you still cannot find it, contact your employer or former employer and ask for another copy.
You may also be able to find the slip through CRA My Account if your employer has already submitted it to the CRA.
It is a good idea to deal with missing slips early instead of waiting until the last minute.
T4 vs Pay Stub
A pay stub shows the details of one paycheque.
A T4 summarizes the whole year.
Your pay stub might show your gross pay, deductions, and net pay for a specific pay period.
Your T4 brings the yearly totals together in one tax slip.
That is why your T4 is important at tax time.
It gives you the annual version of the information that has been building up on your pay stubs throughout the year.
Why Your T4 Matters
Your T4 matters because it helps connect your job income to your tax return.
It shows the CRA what your employer reported.
It also helps you understand how much was taken from your pay during the year.
For beginners, this can be a useful moment to look at your income more clearly.
You can see how much you earned before deductions and how much was taken off for tax, CPP, and EI.
That can help you better understand your paycheque and your overall financial picture.
Fresh Tip
Do not wait until tax deadline week to look for your T4.
When tax season starts, make a simple checklist of the slips you are expecting.
If you worked more than one job, make sure you have a T4 from each employer.
A missing T4 can slow things down, but it is usually easier to fix when you catch it early.
Final Thoughts
A T4 might look complicated, but the basic idea is simple.
It is a tax slip from your employer that shows your employment income and payroll deductions for the year.
If you work in Canada, your T4 is one of the key documents you will use when filing your taxes.
Learn More
If you are learning about employment, taxes, and paycheques in Canada, you may also want to read:
- What Is the CRA?
Learn what the Canada Revenue Agency does and why it matters at tax time. - What Is a SIN?
Learn why your Social Insurance Number is important for work, taxes, and government benefits. - What Is EI?
Learn how Employment Insurance works and why EI premiums may appear on your paycheque. - What Is CPP?
Learn how Canada Pension Plan contributions work and why they are deducted from employment income. - What Is a Budget?
Learn how to organize your income, spending, and savings after you understand what is coming off your pay.