Canada take-home pay calculator (2026)
Work out your take-home pay in any province or territory, or the salary you need: federal and provincial tax, CPP or QPP, Employment Insurance and QPIP, with 2026 figures. Free, no sign-up.
How is Canadian take-home pay calculated?
- Federal tax: 14% up to $58,523, then 20.5%, 26%, 29% and 33% above $258,482; credits at 14% on the basic personal amount ($16,452), the Canada employment amount ($1,501), base CPP contributions and EI premiums. In Quebec, federal tax is reduced by 16.5%.
- Provincial tax: 2026 brackets for each province or territory, credit at the lowest rate on the basic personal amount and contributions; Ontario surtax and health premium.
- CPP: 5.95% between $3,500 and $74,600, then 4% up to $85,000 (CPP2). EI: 1.63% up to $68,900. Quebec: QPP 6.30%, EI 1.30%, QPIP 0.430% up to $103,000.
Low-income tax reductions and refundable credits (GST/HST credit, benefits) are not included. Figures cross-checked from CRA payroll tables (T4032), Revenu Québec and provincial budgets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay on $70,000 in Ontario?
About $7,278 federal tax, $3,856 provincial tax (including the $600 health premium), $3,957 CPP and $1,123 EI, so about $53,786 a year.
Why is Quebec different?
Quebec collects its own income tax and runs its own pension plan (QPP) and parental insurance (QPIP); in return, federal tax is reduced by 16.5% and the EI rate is lower.
How to use it
- Enter your gross pay per year, month, two weeks, week or hour, or start from the take-home pay you want.
- Choose your province or territory of residence on 31 December: it sets your provincial tax.
- Add pension contributions deducted from pay (registered pension plan or group RRSP, as a percentage): they reduce tax.
- Read the breakdown: federal tax, provincial tax (including the Ontario Health Premium), CPP or QPP, EI, QPIP in Quebec, net pay per period and employer cost.
Comparing provinces
For the same salary, take-home pay varies noticeably between provinces. Alberta and the territories generally have the lowest provincial tax; Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are among the highest. In Quebec contributions differ too (QPP and QPIP instead of CPP, lower EI) and federal tax is reduced by 16.5%. Run the numbers with your real salary: the gap depends heavily on income level.
Understanding your deductions
- CPP/QPP and EI stop at a ceiling: once the annual maximum is reached, these deductions end, so high earners often see their net pay rise late in the year.
- CPP2 (the second ceiling) adds a 4% contribution on earnings between $74,600 and $85,000.
- RRSP and TFSA work differently: an RRSP contribution lowers taxable income (immediate saving), while a TFSA gives no deduction but withdrawals are tax-free. The tool only counts contributions deducted from pay.
- Your spring tax refund usually comes from deductions and credits your employer doesn't know about (childcare, donations, personal RRSP).
Limits
Refundable credits (GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, Canada Workers Benefit) and provincial low-income tax reductions are not included, so real take-home pay on modest incomes may be slightly higher. Rates are cross-checked against the CRA and Revenu Québec payroll deduction tables.
See also: United States, France, United Kingdom.
Guide written and checked by Erwan Hautot · updated 29 October 2026.