Payroll

Managing payroll for multiple clients can be time consuming — especially during certain times of the year. So, the thought of switching payroll software solutions (on top of everything else) might feel like a harder path than trying to stick it out with your current tool or solution. But switching your payroll systems doesn’t have […]

Choosing the right payroll software features is a big decision. For small businesses, it’s easy to focus on what makes your life easier — tools that save time, keep you compliant, and don’t require you to moonlight as a CPA to understand. But when you’re evaluating payroll software, it’s worth remembering: your employees don’t see […]

Over the last six months, I’ve had the chance to talk to several bookkeepers and firm owners who’ve said the same thing: “I don’t take on clients with payroll.”  Which makes me question why? The reasons are consistent: I do not want to be tied down. It makes it hard to go on vacation. The […]

Vacation pay remains one of the more nuanced areas of payroll for Canadian small businesses — especially as federal and provincial standards continue to evolve. From minimum entitlements to how vacationable earnings are defined, staying compliant can be challenging.  While employment standards laws set the floor, non-union employers still have flexibility in how vacation pay […]

When economic uncertainty hits — whether it’s a dip in demand, rising costs, or global disruptions — Canadian small businesses often feel it first and hardest. Payroll is usually one of the largest expenses on your balance sheet, and managing it wisely can be the difference between weathering the storm and falling behind. As a […]

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 […]

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 […]

When it comes to statutory holidays pay rules and eligibility in Canada, employers are legally required to observe statutory holidays — commonly known as “stat holidays” — as outlined by federal, provincial, and territorial employment standards legislation. These holidays are distinct from vacation time and other forms of paid time off (PTO). However, the rules […]

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.

A Pensionable and Insurable Earnings Review, or PIER report, is one of those CRA notices that can make any employer’s stomach drop. It often shows up when there’s a mismatch in Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Employment Insurance (EI) amounts reported on your employees’ T4s and T4 Summary. The good news? A PIER is completely […]