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See your EI premium deductions for 2026. Quebec residents pay a reduced EI rate plus a separate QPIP premium — see our Quebec paycheck calculator for those figures.
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Independent estimate based on 2026 CRA federal/provincial payroll formulas, Revenu Québec figures, and published CPP/CPP2/QPP/QPP2, EI and QPIP rates. Not affiliated with the Canada Revenue Agency or the Government of Canada. Actual payroll may differ based on your employer’s specific deductions, benefits, TD1 claim amounts, and other factors. This tool does not constitute tax or financial advice.
How EI premiums are calculated
Outside Quebec, employees pay 1.63% of insurable earnings, up to the maximum insurable earnings of $68,900 for 2026. That caps the maximum annual employee premium at $1,123.07 — once your income passes $68,900, you stop paying EI premiums for the rest of the year.
Employer EI contributions
Employers pay 1.4× the employee rate — 2.282% outside Quebec (1.82% for Quebec employers, since Quebec has its own reduced rate) — for a maximum employer contribution of $1,572.30 per employee in 2026. This is a separate employer cost and doesn’t affect your paycheque.
Why Quebec’s EI rate is different
Quebec residents pay a reduced EI rate of 1.30% (instead of 1.63%) because Quebec runs its own parental insurance program, QPIP, separately from EI — covering benefits that EI includes for the rest of Canada. Quebec employees pay both the reduced EI premium and a separate QPIP premium.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my EI deductions stop partway through the year?
Once your year-to-date insurable earnings reach the $68,900 maximum, EI deductions stop for the rest of the calendar year — this is normal and expected for anyone earning above that threshold.
Do all employees pay EI?
Most employees do, with some exceptions (such as certain family employment situations or self-employed individuals who haven’t opted into the EI special benefits program).
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Canada Paycheck Calculator · CPP Calculator · Payroll Deductions Calculator