A T4 normally reports wages from employment. A T4A covers certain other payments, such as pension or self-employment-related amounts. A T5 reports investment income, including interest and Canadian dividends. A T3 shows income allocated from a trust or certain funds. A T5008 reports securities transactions—but the amount on it is not necessarily your capital gain.
You may receive several slips for the same tax year. Use each for its intended purpose and reconcile what actually happened before filing. Not every report from a bank or employer is final proof of your tax cost.
T4: income from a job
Employers generally give employees a T4 showing employment income and withheld income tax, CPP and EI contributions. The figures belong in your personal T1 return, normally for the calendar year in which the employment pay was received.
Example: Maya earned $58,000 in salary during 2026 and her employer withheld $9,000 in combined income tax. Her T4 income figure tells the tax software about salary; tax withheld is a separate credit toward the final balance.
T4A: several other kinds of payments
A T4A is not one single tax category. It may report pension income, scholarships, research grants, self-employment payments and other amounts, depending on the box. The actual nature of the payment decides how it is reported.
Example: a client sends a freelancer a T4A showing $6,000 in fees. The freelancer should reconcile the amount to total invoices and report gross business receipts and eligible expenses on Form T2125 when appropriate. The T4A is not a substitute for the business's books.
T5: interest and dividend income
Banks and other payers use T5 slips for certain investment earnings such as interest and dividends. A T5 may show eligible or non-eligible Canadian dividends in different boxes, with gross-up and dividend-tax-credit effects.
Example: an investment account pays $900 interest. That $900 is generally ordinary interest income, unlike a share sale, which might create a capital gain or loss. Some amounts must be reported even if you did not receive a slip because they fall below an issuer's reporting threshold.
T3: income from trusts and certain investment funds
A T3 can allocate interest, dividends, capital gains or other income from a trust or mutual fund trust. You could owe tax on an allocation even if all cash was reinvested.
Example: a fund reinvests a $300 taxable distribution and issues a T3. Track the tax information and any associated adjustments to your units' adjusted cost base so you do not tax the same economic return twice when selling.
T5008: investment sales, not a tax calculation
A T5008 commonly reports proceeds from securities dispositions and sometimes a book value or cost figure. That cost figure may be missing or inaccurate, especially after transfers, reinvestments and return of capital.
Example: you sell shares for $5,000 and the slip lists a blank cost. If your correct adjusted cost base is $3,800 and selling fees are $20, your illustrative capital gain is $1,180. Reporting $5,000 as gain would overstate your income.
When should slips arrive?
Many T4, T4A and T5 slips are typically due to be issued by the end of February following the tax year, while many T3 slips have a later deadline. The exact deadline depends on the calendar year, issuer and special rules. Check CRA's published dates.
For 2026 income, most individuals file by April 30, 2027, or by June 15, 2027 where the self-employed filing deadline applies; the balance owing is generally due April 30. Do not guess missing income just because a slip is late.
A five-step filing check
Collect all slips from employers, payers, banks, brokerages and CRA My Account; verify names/SIN and amounts; reconcile business receipts and investment transactions; check for amended slips; and review deductions/credits not shown on any slip.
The best T1 return starts with reliable records, then uses slips to confirm them. It does not rely on slips alone to explain a full year of activity.
Sources and related guides
General educational content only. Verify current CRA and provincial guidance before acting.