Updated September 24, 2026. Every paycheque in Canada has two payroll deductions besides income tax: Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions. Both stop once you hit an annual maximum, and both maximums change every January. This page lists the confirmed 2026 figures and will be updated as soon as the 2027 figures are announced in the fall.
Quick Answer
In 2026, EI premiums are $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings up to $68,900, a maximum of $1,123.07 a year (Quebec: $1.30 per $100, maximum $895.70). CPP contributions are 5.95% of earnings between $3,500 and $74,600 (maximum $4,230.45), plus a 4% CPP2 contribution on earnings between $74,600 and $85,000 (maximum $416). The maximum weekly EI benefit is $729.
EI in 2026
| Item | Outside Quebec | Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum insurable earnings | $68,900 | $68,900 |
| Employee premium rate | $1.63 per $100 | $1.30 per $100 |
| Maximum employee premium | $1,123.07 | $895.70 |
| Employer premium rate | $2.28 per $100 | $1.82 per $100 |
| Maximum weekly benefit (claims from December 28, 2025) | $729 (extended parental: $437) | |
Quebec’s premium is lower because parental and maternity benefits there come from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan instead of EI.
CPP in 2026
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Basic exemption | $3,500 |
| Year’s maximum pensionable earnings (first ceiling) | $74,600 |
| Employee rate up to the first ceiling | 5.95% (employer matches) |
| Maximum employee contribution (CPP) | $4,230.45 |
| Second ceiling (CPP2) | $85,000 |
| Employee CPP2 rate on earnings between the two ceilings | 4% (employer matches) |
| Maximum employee CPP2 contribution | $416.00 |
Self-employed people pay both the employee and employer shares. Quebec workers contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) instead of the CPP.
Why Your Paycheque Goes Up Late in the Year
Once your earnings pass $68,900, EI deductions stop for the rest of the year; once they pass $85,000, CPP deductions stop too. Higher earners often see a larger net pay in the autumn for exactly this reason — and it resets in January.
Changed Jobs or Have Two Jobs? You May Have Overpaid
Each employer deducts EI and CPP as if it were your only employer, so people who change jobs mid-year or work two jobs can go over the annual maximums. The excess is refunded when you file your tax return. We explain how in CPP and EI overpayments with two jobs.
On a Work Permit? These Apply to You
Temporary foreign workers, international graduates and permanent residents pay EI and CPP on the same terms as citizens. Paying EI premiums does not by itself make you eligible for EI benefits — you also need enough insurable hours and, for regular benefits, to be available for work, which a closed work permit can complicate. See EI eligibility for work permit holders. CPP contributions you make can count toward a pension later, including under Canada’s social security agreements if you leave (leaving Canada before PR).
What Changes in 2027
The EI premium rate for 2027 is set by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission in the fall, and the CPP ceilings are published around November. We add both here when they are released. The temporary EI measures that waived the waiting period and severance deductions ended on April 11, 2026, so new claims now follow the standard rules.
See It on Your Own Pay
Our salary calculator applies these EI and CPP figures along with federal and provincial tax, so you can see your real take-home pay in any province.
