T4A Slip Canada Explained 2026 | Pensions, OSAP, CERB

The T4A slip (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) is issued by payers of non-employment income. Unlike the T4 — which covers wages from an employer-employee relationship — the T4A covers a wide range of income types: pensions, RRSP withdrawals, scholarships, self-employment fees paid by a single payer, CERB repayments, and much more. Many Canadians receive both a T4 and a T4A in the same tax year.

Who Issues a T4A?

You'll receive a T4A from:

Pension plan administrators (employer pensions, annuities)
Financial institutions (RRSP withdrawals, RRIF payments)
Universities and colleges (scholarships, bursaries, fellowships)
The Government of Canada (CERB, CESB, CRB pandemic benefits)
Businesses paying self-employment fees to individuals (over $500 in a year)
OSAP and provincial student loan programs (for certain grants)
Insurance companies (group sickness or accident insurance payments)
Registered education savings plan (RESP) promoters (education assistance payments)

T4A Box-by-Box Guide

Box	Label	Explanation & Tax Treatment
016	Pension or superannuation	Regular pension income from a registered pension plan (RPP), employer pension, or superannuation. Taxable income reported on Line 11500. Eligible for the pension income amount (up to $2,000 federal credit) if you're 65+ or received it due to spouse's death.
018	Lump-sum payments	One-time lump-sum payments from a pension plan or deferred profit-sharing plan. Taxable unless transferred to an RRSP or RRIF (Form T2030 required for direct transfer).
020	Self-employment commissions	Fees or commissions paid to you as a self-employed individual by this payer. Reported on Line 13500 (self-employment income). You can deduct business expenses against this income. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood boxes — it does not mean you're an employee.
022	Income tax deducted	Federal income tax withheld by the payer. Like Box 22 on a T4, this is a credit against your total tax owing and flows to Line 43700.
024	Annuities	Payments received from an annuity contract. The taxable portion depends on whether it was purchased with pre-tax or after-tax funds. Insurance company annuities may have a partial exclusion ratio.
028	Other income	Catch-all for miscellaneous taxable income not covered by other boxes: research grants, death benefits over $100, retiring allowances not eligible for RRSP transfer, spousal RRSP conversions, and more.
040	RESP accumulated income payments	Accumulated income payments from a Registered Education Savings Plan. Taxable as income with an additional 20% tax. Also subject to RESP repayment rules.
042	RESP educational assistance payments	Educational assistance payments (EAPs) paid to a student from an RESP. Taxable in the student's hands (usually at a low rate). Reported on Line 13010.
046	Fees for services	Payments to individuals for services rendered (not employment). The payer issues this to comply with T4A reporting requirements. Reported as self-employment income on Line 13500/13700. You deduct eligible business expenses separately.
048	Fees for services (self-employment)	Similar to Box 046, used specifically for self-employment service fees. Many businesses use Box 048 for contractor payments. Taxable as self-employment income; CPP contributions on self-employment income may be required. Report on Line 13500.
105	Scholarships, bursaries, fellowships	Scholarships, bursaries, and fellowships received from educational institutions. For full-time students, amounts up to the cost of the program are tax-free under the scholarship exemption. Part-time student exemptions are more limited. OSAP grants appear here.
107	Wage loss replacement plan	Benefits received from an employer-funded wage loss replacement plan (disability insurance where premiums were paid by the employer). Fully taxable as employment income.
117	Loan benefits	Taxable benefit from an interest-free or low-interest loan from an individual (not an employer — those go on T4 Box 36).
119	Premiums paid to a group term life insurance plan	Employer-paid group term life insurance premiums on coverage exceeding $25,000. These constitute a taxable benefit.
122	PPIP premiums paid	Quebec Parental Insurance Plan premiums — Quebec residents only.
124	Board and lodging	Value of board and lodging provided by a payer that is not an employer in the traditional sense.
130	Apprenticeship incentive grant	Taxable grants received under federal apprenticeship programs. Reported as income on Line 13010.
131	Apprenticeship completion grant	Taxable completion grant for Red Seal or provincial apprenticeship certification.
132	Registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income	Disability assistance payments from an RDSP. The portion attributable to grants and bonds is taxable income.
146	Amounts from a PRPP	Pooled Registered Pension Plan withdrawals. Taxable pension income, eligible for pension income amount if conditions are met.

CERB and COVID Benefit T4As

If you received Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), or other federal pandemic benefits, you should have received a T4A from the Government of Canada for the 2020 and 2021 tax years. By 2025, these benefits have long ended, but if you're working through back taxes or received a CERB repayment refund, you may still encounter these T4As.

CERB repayments made in 2020 or 2021 were deductible in the year of repayment. If you repaid CERB in a later year, you may be able to claim a deduction or request an adjustment to prior-year returns.

Self-Employment Income on T4A (Box 020/048)

This is the most frequently misunderstood aspect of T4As. If a business pays you more than $500 for services and you're not their employee, they issue you a T4A with the amount in Box 020 or Box 048. This income is reported as self-employment income on your T1.

Critical difference from employment income: you are responsible for paying both the employee and employer portions of CPP contributions on self-employment income (using Schedule 8). The combined CPP rate on self-employment income is 11.9% in 2025 (on earnings between $3,500 and $71,300). You can deduct the employer portion (50%) as a business expense.

Got a T4A instead of a T4? If you believe you should be an employee (regular hours, employer-directed work, no ability to subcontract), you may be a misclassified worker. The CRA can rule on employment status — a correct employee classification would entitle you to EI and CPP benefits and shift payroll obligations to the employer.

RESP Education Assistance Payments (Box 042)

When a student withdraws from an RESP to fund post-secondary education, the educational assistance payment (EAP) — the portion consisting of government grants and investment growth — is taxable income in the student's hands. Since most students have low income, the tax owing is often minimal or zero after the basic personal amount. The principal (original contributions) is returned tax-free.

Scholarships and Bursaries (Box 105)

The scholarship exemption allows full-time post-secondary students to exclude scholarship, bursary, and fellowship amounts from income to the extent they relate to the cost of the program. In practice, most post-secondary scholarships and bursaries are fully tax-free for full-time students. Part-time students get a more limited exemption tied to tuition paid. Amounts from elementary and secondary schools are fully exempt.

T4A reporting threshold: Payers must issue a T4A when total payments to an individual exceed $500 in a year. Even if you don't receive a T4A (perhaps the payer failed to issue one), you are still legally required to report the income on your return.

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