NID Partners2026 at a glanceCanada
Checked 28 Sep 2026 against CRA sources. Conditions and exceptions are in each section below.
What this covers. Federal rules only. Provincial and territorial taxes and Quebec-specific programs are not covered (the Quebec EI rate is included). Figures are for calendar year 2026; the calendar also shows the 2026 dates for 2025 returns.
This is a bookkeeping reference, not individualized tax advice. Apply the correct entity type, residency, province/state, employee location, accounting method and elections.
Income tax for individuals
Federal income tax is progressive: each rate applies only to the part of taxable income inside its bracket. Provincial or territorial income tax is charged on top, based on where you lived on 31 December.
| Federal taxable income | Tax year 2026 (return filed 2027) |
|---|---|
| Up to $58,523 | 14% |
| $58,523.01–$117,045 | 20.5% |
| $117,045.01–$181,440 | 26% |
| $181,440.01–$258,482 | 29% |
| Over $258,482 | 33% |
Tax year 2026 (return filed 2027): Provincial/territorial income tax is additional and depends on province/territory of residence on 31 Dec.
Business and company tax
This reference does not list corporate income tax rates. The T2 filing and balance-due dates are in the calendar below.
Payroll
Employers deduct CPP, CPP2, EI and income tax from pay, add the employer share of CPP and EI, and remit the total to the CRA on their assigned schedule.
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| CPP base contributionCalendar year 2026 | 5.95% employee and 5.95% employer | Annual pensionable earnings $3,500–$74,600Maximum annual base contribution is $4,230.45 per employee and employer. Self-employed pay both shares. |
| CPP2 additional contributionCalendar year 2026 | 4% employee and 4% employer | Pensionable earnings over $74,600 through $85,000Maximum annual CPP2 contribution is $416 per employee and employer. |
| EI premium (outside Quebec)Calendar year 2026 | 1.63% employee; employer 2.282% | Insurable earnings up to $68,900Maximum annual employee premium $1,123.07; employer $1,572.30. |
| EI premium (Quebec)Calendar year 2026 | 1.30% employee; employer 1.82% | Insurable earnings up to $68,900Quebec rate reflects QPIP interaction; apply province-of-employment rules and Quebec payroll obligations separately. |
GST and HST
The federal GST applies to taxable supplies made in Canada. In HST provinces a harmonized rate applies instead, and some provinces charge a separate provincial sales tax.
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| GST federal componentCurrent general rate | 5% | Taxable supplies made in Canada outside HST place-of-supply casesHST and provincial sales taxes vary by place of supply; taxable, zero-rated, exempt and special supplies differ. |
| Small supplier registration thresholdCurrent threshold | $30,000 taxable supplies | Generally measured over one calendar quarter or four consecutive calendar quartersRegistration trigger timing depends on when threshold is exceeded; exceptions and special rules exist. |
Filing and payment calendar
Coming up, as of 28 Sep 2026
- 15 Oct 2026Payroll remittance for July to September, for quarterly remitters.
- 15 Oct 2026September payroll deductions, for regular (monthly) remitters.
- 2 Nov 2026GST/HST return for the quarter ended 30 September: 31 Oct is a Saturday, so the next business day applies.
- 1 Mar 20272026 T4 and T4A slips: 28 Feb 2027 is a Sunday.
The recurring rules are below. Dates marked Passed are 2026 examples that have already gone by; keep them as reference points, and check the agency's current calendar and any due date assigned to you before scheduling.
Income tax returns and payments
T1 return and payment for most individuals
Calendar tax year 2025DueFile and pay by 30 April following year
20262025 return/payment due 30 Apr 2026 Passed
In the booksReconcile slips, business income, GST/HST status, instalments and owner draws before personal filing.
Watch forProvincial/territorial returns are part of filing; deceased taxpayers and other special cases differ.
Self-employed T1 filing / payment
Calendar tax year 2025DueFile by 15 June; payment still due 30 April
20262025 self-employed return filing due 15 Jun 2026; balance due 30 Apr 2026 Passed
In the booksClose business books and deliver income/expense detail well before payment date.
Watch forApplies if individual or spouse/common-law partner was self-employed; payment deadline does not move with filing deadline.
T2 return
Each corporate fiscal/tax yearDueWithin 6 months after tax year-end
2026Example: 31 Dec 2025 year-end => 30 Jun 2026 filing Passed
In the booksPrepare financial statements, tax adjustments, shareholder/related-party accounts, capital asset continuity, instalments and schedules.
Watch forFiscal period specific; filing due date can differ where tax year does not end at month-end or special rules apply.
T2 balance-due payment
Each corporate fiscal/tax yearDueGenerally 2 months after year-end; qualifying CCPCs may have 3 months
2026For 31 Dec 2025 year-end: generally 2 Mar 2026 (28 Feb is Saturday); qualifying CCPC may have 31 Mar 2026. Passed
In the booksReconcile instalments and tax payable; schedule payment before the applicable date.
Watch forThree-month extension depends on CCPC status and statutory conditions; confirm eligibility.
Payroll
Source deduction remittance: regular remitter
Calendar month of deductionsDue15th of following month
2026August 2026 payroll deductions due 15 Sep 2026 Passed
In the booksReconcile payroll deductions, CPP/CPP2, EI, employer portions, prior credits and CRA payment confirmation.
Watch forCRA-assigned remitter type controls; quarterly and accelerated remitters have other schedules. Weekend/public holiday payment rules apply.
Source deduction remittance: quarterly remitter
Quarter ending Mar, Jun, Sep, DecDue15 Apr, 15 Jul, 15 Oct, 15 Jan following year
2026Jul–Sep 2026 remittance due 15 Oct 2026
In the booksReconcile each payroll period and submit a nil remittance when required.
Watch forOnly eligible new/small employers with compliance conditions may remit quarterly; verify CRA account classification.
T4 slips and summary
Calendar yearDueLast day of February after year-end
20262026 T4 slips due 1 Mar 2027 because 28 Feb is Sunday; verify any later CRA calendar change.
In the booksReconcile T4 boxes to payroll register, CPP/EI maxima, remittances and general ledger; deliver slips to staff.
Watch forSpecial cessation/death/amalgamation cases have shorter or different deadlines.
T4A / contractor information slips (where applicable)
Calendar yearDueLast day of February after year-end
20262026 baseline due 1 Mar 2027 because 28 Feb is Sunday; confirm slip type/recipient rules
In the booksReview contractor/vendor ledger, reportable service payments, tax withheld and recipient data.
Watch forT4A/other slip applicability depends on payment type and facts; worker classification must be assessed.
GST/HST
Monthly or quarterly return and payment
Reporting period endDue1 month after period end
2026Quarter ended 30 Sep 2026 => baseline 31 Oct 2026 (weekend adjustment to next business day)
In the booksReconcile tax collected/ITCs, marketplace settlements, sales by destination and zero-rated/exempt categories.
Watch forUse CRA-assigned reporting period; nil return still required for every open period.
Annual GST/HST return
Fiscal year endDueUsually 3 months after fiscal year-end
202631 Dec 2025 annual filer usually 31 Mar 2026 Passed
In the booksTie annual return to financial statements and GST/HST control accounts; assess instalments.
Watch forQualifying sole proprietor with 31 Dec year-end and business income: payment 30 Apr, filing 15 Jun.
Month-end checks for these taxes
Place of supply and province of employment drive most of the tax coding, so reconcile by province.
GST/HST/PST and payroll liabilities
Monthly/quarterly by assigned cycleDoReconcile GST/HST, provincial sales taxes where applicable, CPP/CPP2, EI, income tax withheld and source remittances.
KeepSales-by-province report, payroll register, CRA account, provincial account statements
NotePlace of supply and province of employment are key; Quebec has separate programs.
Every close, in every country
These checks sit underneath the tax accounts. If they are not done, the tax figures above cannot be trusted. The month-end close article covers the rhythm.
- Bank and payment processor reconciliation (monthly): Reconcile every operating, tax, payroll, card, marketplace and loan account to statement; investigate uncleared and duplicate items. Do not post a plug to force the reconciliation.
- Revenue completeness and cut-off (monthly; especially period end): Reconcile invoicing/order systems to ledger, deposits, returns, refunds, chargebacks, discounts, shipping and sales tax. Use accrual/cash method selected for the entity and follow applicable tax rules.
- Expense completeness and classification (monthly): Check statements, receipts, AP, recurring subscriptions, owner/personal items, prepaid expenses and accrued liabilities. Keep personal and business spending distinguishable; verify deductibility separately.
- Inventory and cost of sales (monthly where material; formal count at least annually): Reconcile opening stock + purchases/landed cost − closing stock to cost of sales; test counts and identify shrinkage/obsolete goods. Inventory tax/accounting methods depend on jurisdiction and entity.
- Payroll control accounts (every payroll and monthly close): Tie gross pay, employee deductions, employer charges, net pay, tax authority liabilities and payments to payroll register. Review classification, taxable benefits, leave accruals and jurisdiction-specific employer taxes.
- Accruals, prepayments, fixed assets and debt (monthly/quarterly): Update depreciation, amortisation, accrued expenses, prepaids, debt principal/interest and asset disposals. Tax depreciation and financial-statement depreciation may diverge; track separate tax schedules.
- Trial balance review and financial pack (monthly): Review unusual balances, suspense, negative assets/liabilities, margin trends, cash runway and balance sheet movements. Management reports should state basis, period, currency and known limitations.
- Tax package and records (year-end): Freeze year-end ledger, document adjusting entries, provide reconciliations and retain source documents in an indexed archive. Retention periods differ by record type and jurisdiction; verify before destruction.
Official sources
Each figure above traces to one of these CRA pages, all checked on 28 Sep 2026. Review annually and whenever an agency changes a rate, threshold, payroll rule or due date. Keep prior-year rates when closing earlier books.
- Federal income tax rates and brackets (2026)CRA · 2026 federal brackets; provincial/territorial income tax applies separately.
- CPP rates, maximums and exemptionsCRA · 2026 CPP base rate, pensionable earnings and annual maximums.
- CPP2 rates and maximumsCRA · 2026 CPP2 earnings band and 4% rate.
- EI rates and maximumsCRA · 2026 federal and Quebec EI rates, ceilings and maximum premiums.
- Payroll remittance due datesCRA · Monthly/quarterly/accelerated remitter rules and timing.
- T4 and information return due datesCRA · T4 filing due date and special events.
- 2025 return deadlinesCRA · 2025 individual return filing/payment deadlines in 2026.
- GST/HST reporting deadlinesCRA · Monthly/quarterly/annual GST/HST deadlines and sole proprietor exception.
- 2026 business deadlinesCRA · T2 return and payment dates; GST/HST deadlines.
- When to file a T2 corporation returnCRA · T2 return due within six months of tax year-end.
- GST/HST registration thresholdCRA · Small supplier threshold and registration trigger.
- GST/HST rates by provinceCRA · Federal GST and province-specific HST rates/place-of-supply.
A rate is only right for the right period, entity and place. Check all three before you post it.
Bookkeeping reference, not tax advice. Rules change; confirm your own situation with a registered tax professional before you file.