Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, employment income reported on 2020 T4 slips will be a bit different in 2020. To validate Covid-19 benefits claimed by individual taxpayers, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has added new boxes to the T4 slips.
Deadline to File 2020 T4 Slips
The deadline to file your 2020 T4 slips with the CRA is March 1, 2021. Late filing penalties are administered by the CRA if your T4 slips are not filed by the deadline. Penalties vary based on the number of employees and the number of days you are late filing.
Employment income is reported during the year it was paid, not when it was accrued. For example, if your payroll cut off is December 29, 2020, but the pay cheque is dated January 5, 2021, this income will be reported on a 2021 T4 slip, not the 2020 T4 slip.
New Information Codes
For the 2020 T4s, in addition to the employment income reported in Box 14, you are required to report the following codes:
57: Employment Income March 15 to May 9
58: Employment Income May 10 to July 4
59: Employment Income July 5 to August 29
60: Employment Income August 30 to September 26
These codes are to be used in addition to Box 14 (Employment Income). Total employment income is still to be reported in Box 14.
The additional step is meant to report employment income paid during the benefit periods relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. These amounts are to reflect when the employment income was paid, not when it was accrued.
For example, if your employee worked from April 26 – May 9, 2020 but their pay cheque was dated May 11, you would use Code 58 for this amount. If the employee did not earn wages during any of the above periods, it’s necessary to record zero for each code. Doing so may make things more clear to the CRA.
Reason for Change
This is a tool that is meant to help CRA validate COVID-19 benefits received by individual tax payers. Remember individual tax payers were not allowed to earn more than $1,000 per month while receiving COVID-19 benefits, mainly CERB.
For useful periodic updates and tips, "LIKE" Our page on FACEBOOK or sign up to our newsletter on www.ibtax.ca or call us at (613) 800-9838 for free consultation.
Comments