# Tax slips decoder: what each Canadian slip means

> Search the common Canadian tax slips, from T4 to T5008, and see what each one reports, who sends it and what to do when it is missing.

Canadian tax slips are the forms that payers send so you can report income, deductions and credits on your return. The table below lists 18 common slips, from the T4 to the T5008 and Quebec's RL-1, with what each one reports and who sends it. Type a slip name or a word like "pension" to narrow the list.

**Short answer:** A T4 reports pay from an employer, a T5 reports interest and dividends, and a T3 reports income from funds and trusts. Most slips are due by the end of February.

## What does each Canadian tax slip report?

Each slip is prepared by the employer, payer, issuer or administrator, as the CRA's [tax slips page](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/tax-slips.html) puts it. Find your slip in the table to see what it covers.

| Slip | What it reports | Who sends it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| T4 | Employment income, tax withheld, CPP and EI | Your employer |
| T4A | Pension, retirement, self-employed commissions, scholarships and other income | The payer |
| T4A(OAS) | Old Age Security pension | Service Canada |
| T4A(P) | Canada Pension Plan or QPP benefits | Service Canada |
| T4E | Employment Insurance benefits, including maternity and parental | Service Canada |
| T4RSP | Money paid out of an RRSP | The RRSP issuer |
| T4RIF | Money paid out of a RRIF | The RRIF issuer |
| T5 | Interest, dividends and other investment income | Banks and investment firms |
| T3 | Income from a trust, which includes most mutual funds and ETFs held outside a registered plan | The trust or fund |
| T5008 | Securities you sold or transferred, such as stocks and funds | Your broker or bank |
| T5007 | Social assistance and workers compensation | The province or board |
| T5013 | Your share of a partnership income | The partnership |
| T4PS | Employee profit sharing plan allocations | The plan |
| T2202 | Tuition for a college or university program | The school |
| T5018 | Payments to contractors in construction | The payer |
| RRSP contribution receipt | Contributions you can deduct | The RRSP issuer |
| RL-1 | Quebec employment income, the Quebec counterpart to the T4 | Your employer in Quebec |
| RL-3 | Quebec investment income, the counterpart to the T5 | Quebec banks and issuers |

How a tax slip gets onto your returnFour steps: the payer sends the slip, you check it in your CRA account, you enter it in your tax software, and you file by the deadline.1Payer sendsthe slip2Check yourCRA account3Enter it inyour software4File bythe deadline

## When do tax slips arrive?

Most slips are due from the payer by the end of February, which in 2027 means Monday, March 1. The CRA says most slips and receipts should reach you by late February. Some, like the T3 and T5013, can come as late as the end of March, and RRSP and PRPP receipts for contributions made in the first 60 days of the year may not arrive until May. Slips can arrive on paper, by email link or in your CRA account, and the numbers do not change depending on how they reach you.

## What should you do if a tax slip is missing?

If a slip has not arrived, check your CRA account first, then ask the payer.

- Check your CRA account. The tax information slips area often shows a slip before the paper copy arrives.
- Ask the payer. Employers, banks and brokers can reissue it. The CRA's page on [line 10100](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/personal-income/line-10100-employment-income.html) says to contact your employer if your T4 has not arrived by early April.
- Ask the CRA for a copy. Its [tax slips page](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/tax-slips.html) links to instructions for requesting current and prior-year slips.
- Do not skip the income. You are still responsible for reporting it, and the CRA gets its own copy.

Our page on [what to do about a lost tax slip](https://tax-services.ca/lost-tax-slip-what-to-do) walks through the steps. The [documents checklist](https://tax-services.ca/checklists/documents-for-your-tax-return) helps you find what is missing before you file, and the [glossary](https://tax-services.ca/glossary) explains terms like ACB and gross-up.

## Where do slips fit in the filing process?

Once your slips are in hand, the [guide to filing your taxes](https://tax-services.ca/guides/file-your-taxes) covers the next steps, and the [2027 tax calendar](https://tax-services.ca/tax-calendar-2027) shows the filing dates. Not sure whether a payment is taxable at all? Check [is it taxable](https://tax-services.ca/is-it-taxable).

## Where does this information come from?

It comes from the public pages of the [Canada Revenue Agency](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html) and other open sources, checked in October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the [full disclaimer](https://tax-services.ca/disclaimer).

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Source: https://tax-services.ca/tax-slips-decoder
Last updated: 2026-10-07
Independent information site. Not affiliated with the CRA. No services, no guarantee of accuracy. See https://tax-services.ca/disclaimer