Payroll Management
Payroll management is complex, especially for small businesses. Our payroll service handles every step — from calculating salaries and deductions to filing remittances and producing T4 slips. We ensure your employees are paid accurately and on time, while keeping you fully compliant with CRA requirements.
Key Benefits
Accuracy Guaranteed
Precise salary calculations with all deductions properly applied.
Full Compliance
Stay compliant with CRA payroll requirements and avoid penalties.
Employee Satisfaction
Timely, accurate payments keep your team happy and motivated.
Year-End Ready
T4 slips and annual payroll summaries prepared on time every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are an employer's payroll obligations in Canada?
Employers generally must register a CRA payroll account, calculate each employee's pay and withhold income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums (paying the employer's own CPP and EI share as well), remit those deductions on time, and report employment income on T4 slips each year. Quebec has its own parallel requirements administered by Revenu Québec, including the QPP and QPIP.
When are payroll remittances due to the CRA?
It depends on your remitter type. Regular remitters must remit source deductions by the 15th of the month following the month in which the pay period ended. Quarterly and accelerated remitter types have different schedules based on your average monthly withholding amount — we confirm your remitter type and calendar for you and make each remittance on time.
What are the penalties for remitting payroll deductions late?
The CRA's penalty scale is 3% of the amount due for 1–3 days late, 5% for 4–5 days late, 7% for 6–7 days late, and 10% for more than 7 days late or if no amount is remitted at all. A second or subsequent failure in the same calendar year can draw a 20% penalty where the failure was made knowingly or under circumstances amounting to gross negligence. Interest also accrues on unpaid amounts.
What is the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?
There is no single test — the CRA weighs factors such as control over the work, ownership of tools, financial risk and the chance of profit. Getting it wrong is costly: the CRA can retroactively assess unremitted payroll deductions, CPP and EI, plus penalties and interest. We help you classify workers correctly and set up payroll for those who are employees.
When do T4 slips need to be filed?
T4 slips for a calendar year must be filed with the CRA by the last day of February following that year, with copies provided to employees. Filing T4s late can draw a penalty based on the number of slips and how late they are.
What do I need to set up payroll for my business?
A CRA payroll account, each employee's SIN and completed federal and provincial TD1 forms, your pay schedule and wage rates, and, for Quebec employees, the corresponding Revenu Québec registrations. From there we calculate each run, remit deductions, and prepare year-end T4s and Records of Employment as needed.
What is this service?
Payroll management is the calculation and payment of employee wages together with statutory withholdings — income tax, CPP, and EI — remitted to the CRA. Accountants Online runs payroll on your schedule, remits source deductions on time, and prepares year-end T4 slips for Canadian businesses — fully managed and fully online.
Who needs this service?
Any business with employees — full-time, part-time, or casual — must register a payroll account, withhold and remit source deductions, and report T4 slips each year. Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is one of the most common and costly payroll errors.
What documents are required?
- Employee information: SIN, completed TD1 federal and provincial forms
- Pay schedule, wage rates, and hours worked records
- Prior remittance statements and CRA payroll account number
- Start and end dates for each employee (for ROEs)
Key deadlines
Regular remitters must send source deductions to the CRA by the 15th of the month following the pay period (quarterly and accelerated thresholds may apply). T4 slips must be filed with the CRA by the last day of February. Records of Employment must be issued when an employee has an interruption of earnings, as required by Service Canada.
Common mistakes to avoid
Late remittances (the CRA charges 3% for 1–3 days late, rising to 10% after 7 days or for non-payment — and 20% for a knowing or grossly negligent repeat failure in the same calendar year), missed T4 filing, misclassifying employees as contractors, and incorrect TD1-based withholding.
How to get started
Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll review your situation, tell you exactly what we need, and give you a flat-rate quote before any work begins. Everything is handled online through your secure client portal.
Get started — request a consultation