★ PAYROLL · CPP · EI · TAX REMITTANCE · WSIB

The Canadian payroll stack. Visualized.

Paying employees in Canada means CPP (5.95% × 2), EI (employer pays 1.4× employee), federal + provincial income tax, vacation pay, statutory holidays, and WSIB. Here's the money flow + which provider to use.

★ MONEY FLOW DIAGRAM ★

Where each dollar goes

EMPLOYER PAYS$80,563Gross salary + employer share of CPP + EI
↓
EMPLOYEE GETS (NET)$59,482After CPP, EI, taxes withheld
↓
TO CRA$21,081CPP + EI + Federal income tax (both shares)
↓
TO WSIB$1,125~1.5% (varies by industry)
Gross salary$75,000
− CPP (employee share)−$4,055
− EI (employee share)−$1,077
− Federal income tax−$10,386
= Employee net pay$59,482
★ PROVIDERS COMPARED ★

5 payroll services ranked

★
Wagepoint

Most popular for SMBs · auto-CRA · ROEs · easy

$25/mo base + $4/employee
ANNUAL @ 3 EMP$444
#2
Wave Payroll

Free for accounting · payroll add-on · CA-only

$20/mo base + $6/employee
ANNUAL @ 3 EMP$456
#3
QuickBooks Payroll

If already on QuickBooks · seamless

$45/mo base + $5/employee
ANNUAL @ 3 EMP$720
#4
Knit People

HR + payroll bundle · employee self-serve

$39/mo base + $7/employee
ANNUAL @ 3 EMP$720
#5
Payworks

Mid-market · time tracking integration

$75/mo base + $10/employee
ANNUAL @ 3 EMP$1,260
★ CRA REMITTANCE SCHEDULE ★

When to send payroll deductions

REGULARMonthly

Default for most SMBs · due 15th of next month

QUARTERLY$3k withheld/yr

Eligible if average monthly remittance < $3k

THRESHOLD 1$15-50k/mo

Twice-monthly · 10th + 25th

THRESHOLD 2$50k+/mo

Weekly · within 3 working days of payday

RELATED

Business stack

★

Business Banking

Payroll account setup.

★

GST/HST

Sales tax remittance.

★

Incorporate

Payroll for owner.

★

Insurance

WSIB + benefits.