Payroll

When running small business payroll, it’s important to understand payroll deductions. Knowing how they’re calculated, and at which point of the payroll process they need to be applied, is essential for remaining compliant, avoiding costly errors, and paying employees accurately. What are payroll deductions? Payroll deductions are the amounts withheld from an employee’s pay cheque […]

Does overtime get taxed more in Canada? No, it doesn’t. There are no special rules. No hidden rates — in fact, it’s taxed at the same rate as regular pay. So why might you have employees in your office with their pay stub demanding to know why you taxed them so much for putting in overtime? […]

Mistakes happen. However, there are some lessons that are much better taught than experienced. Payroll is one of those. Payroll errors add up, literally. They aren’t just annoying or embarrassing, a wrong keystroke can carry heavy consequences for your business. It could mean wasted hours and resources to fix the problem — or worse, legal […]

Payroll data holds significant power for your small business. Typically, when thinking about payroll, things like T4s, remittance filing, and paying employees come to mind. But payroll data can be used to make valuable decisions for your small business, too. While it might not be immediately obvious how this kind of data can make an […]

In this post, we’ll outline the types of payroll deductions you need to make, along with which kind of remittance schedule you’ll need to follow. As advocates of simple, fast, friendly payroll, we’ll do our best to try to make this as painless as possible.

Whether you’re bringing on your first hire or your fiftieth, it’s important to know the difference between an employee and a contractor. Why? Because misclassifying workers can lead to payroll headaches, tax troubles, legal issues and compliance issues. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) holds employers responsible for getting this right, so understanding the key differences […]

Sometimes, you just need a straight answer to a payroll question that doesn’t sound like an accounting textbook (no offence, accounting textbooks). So, to empower you with the knowledge and confidence you need to tackle tax season for your small business, we’ve done the digging and teamed up with Wagepoint’s friendly payroll tax experts — […]

As a Canadian small business owner, staying compliant with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is a crucial part of your role, and your employees rely on you to get it right. In 2025, this now includes navigating updates to CPP2, the second phase of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Much like the endless follow-ups to […]

The Wagepoint 2023 Canada Small Business Payroll Calendar gives you a year-long overview of key small business payroll deadlines so you can focus on running your business without worrying about missing important dates.

Payroll year-end has a way of making even the most fearless small business owners feel like castaways, adrift in a sea of payroll paperwork with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) looming on the horizon. It’s like being stuck on an island, Tom Hanks-style—frazzled, isolated, and just waiting for a volleyball named Wilson to show up […]

On of the most feared year-end documents is the Pensionable and Insurable Earnings Review (PIER). Unfortunately, that’s because it tends to make payroll professionals or employers feel like they’ve done something wrong. Meaning, there’s a sense of wanting to avoid it at all costs. Before diving into how to avoid a PIER, it’ll first help […]

T4s, T4As and Relevés — what do they have in common, other than the fact that T4A and Relevé rhyme? Or, that you could easily refer to these things as “T4-ehs?” for all the confusion they cause. Don’t worry, this article will help answer some of your most burning questions about these forms. 🔥 What […]

There are so many rules in place for employers when it comes to payroll in Canada. And the fact that they vary across provinces or can be influenced by the federal government can make it even more confusing. Even the rules have more rules, so we don’t blame business owners for having so many questions! […]

In 2022, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) collected over $38 billion in payroll deductions from Canadian businesses. This significant figure highlights just how important payroll compliance for companies of all sizes is.  As a small business owner in Canada, understanding and following payroll regulations is not only a legal requirement but also a fundamental aspect […]

Payroll management is the set of processes a business undertakes to handle employee compensation. Processing payroll involves tracking and calculating employee hours, deducting taxes, and issuing payments. With effective processes, you can ensure everybody is paid correctly and on time while complying with financial regulations. In Canada, payroll is a tricky territory where human resources […]