One missed remittance triggers a 10% CRA penalty — on day one. We run payroll, file on time, and issue T4s so that bill never arrives.
Payroll compliance in Canada is far more involved than simply cutting cheques. CPP contribution rates change annually. EI premium rates shift. New employees, terminations, leaves of absence, bonuses, and taxable benefits all introduce complexity that small business owners simply don't have time to manage on top of everything else.
CRA payroll penalties are automatic and unforgiving — late remittances, incorrect source deductions, missed T4 deadlines, and improper ROE filings all result in real financial consequences.
At Swift, we take the entire payroll burden off your plate — accurately, on time, every pay period — so you can focus on running your business.
Accurate payroll runs on your schedule — weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. All employee types handled: salaried, hourly, part-time, contractors.
Precise statutory deductions calculated for every employee every pay period. We stay current with annual rate changes so your calculations are always correct.
We calculate, schedule, and confirm your payroll remittances to CRA — monthly, quarterly, or accelerated. Never miss a deadline or face a late remittance penalty.
ROE preparation and submission to Service Canada when employees leave, are laid off, or take qualifying leaves. Issued on time to protect your employees' EI claims.
All T4 and T4A slips prepared, reconciled, and filed with CRA by the February 28 deadline. Employee copies distributed — everything done before penalties apply.
Set up direct deposit for your employees and provide professional pay stubs with every pay run. Electronic or printed — your choice.
TD1 federal and provincial forms collected, payroll accounts set up, and new employees added to payroll correctly from their very first pay cheque.
Properly report and calculate taxable benefits — company vehicles, group insurance, RRSP matching — so employees and CRA both receive accurate information.
If CRA reviews your payroll records, we represent you, provide all required documentation, and work to resolve any assessments or discrepancies professionally.
Our payroll services scale with your business. Whether you're hiring your first employee and need to set up a payroll account, or you're managing a team of 50+ with complex compensation structures — we handle it with the same accuracy and reliability.
We review your current payroll setup, employee count, pay frequency, and any existing issues with CRA remittances or filings.
If you don't have a CRA payroll account, we register it. If you do, we get access and review your current standing with CRA.
We collect TD1 forms, banking information for direct deposit, and compensation details for all employees — and set up your payroll system.
Your first pay run is reviewed together to ensure everything is correct. After that, we handle every pay period and CRA remittance deadline automatically.
CRA assigns every employer a remittance category based on average monthly withholdings from two years prior. Your category determines when deductions must reach CRA — miss it, and penalties start the very next day.
| Remitter Type | Average Monthly Withholding | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly (new small employers) | Less than $3,000 | 15th of month after each quarter |
| Regular | Less than $25,000 | 15th of the following month |
| Accelerated — Threshold 1 | $25,000–$99,999.99 | 25th of current month & 10th of next |
| Accelerated — Threshold 2 | $100,000 or more | Within 3 business days of each pay |
Most Calgary small businesses fall into the regular remitter category and remit by the 15th of the following month. New employers who qualify may use quarterly remittances for their first year — but CRA will notify you if your category changes, and it's your responsibility to remit on the new schedule regardless.
Under section 227.1 of the Income Tax Act, directors of a corporation can be held personally liable for unremitted payroll deductions — including the employer's share of CPP and EI. This liability survives corporate dissolution and can be assessed against a director for up to two years after they cease to be a director. For incorporated Calgary business owners, unremitted payroll is never just a corporate problem — it follows the individual.
Employers must match employee CPP contributions dollar-for-dollar — a real cost many owner-managers forget to budget for. On a $60,000 salary, the employee's CPP contribution is roughly $3,300, and the corporation must contribute a matching ~$3,300 employer share on top of gross wages. That's a payroll cost most spreadsheets miss until the first remittance comes due.
T4 slips are due February 28 following the calendar year (February 29 in leap years) — both employee copies and the T4 Summary filed with CRA. Late-filing penalties scale with how many slips you file late and for how long:
| Number of Slips | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1–5 slips | $100 minimum penalty |
| 6–50 slips | $10/day, up to $1,000 |
| 51–500 slips | $15/day, up to $1,500 |
| 501–2,500 slips | $20/day, up to $2,000 |
| Over 2,500 slips | $25/day, up to $2,500 |
A single payroll error can cost your Calgary business thousands in CRA penalties, interest, and corrections. Here's what's at stake:
Penalty: 3%–10% of unpaid amount
Plus: Daily interest at CRA's prescribed rate (~8% annually)
Example: $5,000 late = $150–$500 penalty + daily interest
Penalty: $25–$100 per incorrect T4 slip
Example: 20 employees × incorrect T4 = $500–$2,000 in penalties
Plus employee disputes and corrections
Cost: $5,000–$50,000+ in accounting/legal fees
Plus: Back taxes, interest, penalties
Time: 6–12 months of CRA correspondence
Risk: Treating employees as contractors
Penalty: 100% of unpaid CPP/EI on misclassified workers
Example: 3 misclassified employees = $20,000+ in penalties
Penalty: $10,000+ for missing payroll records
CRA Requirement: Keep all payroll records for 7 years
We maintain: Secure, audit-ready records
Cost: $300–$1,000/month depending on employees
ROI: Prevents just ONE penalty = pays for years of service
Peace of mind: Priceless
Employees: You control how/when/where they work. You deduct CPP/EI/income tax. You issue T4 slips. Contractors: Control their own work. You issue T4As only. No deductions. CRA is strict on this — misclassification carries heavy penalties.
Regular remitters (most small businesses): By the 15th of the month following payroll. If you miss this, CRA charges a 3%–10% penalty plus daily interest. We submit all remittances on time, every time.
Payroll calculations, deduction accuracy, T4 preparation, CRA remittance submission, ROE issuance, direct deposit setup, payroll tax filing, year-end reconciliation, and ongoing compliance. We handle everything.
Yes. We work with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage, and Wave. Payroll integrates seamlessly so your books are always accurate and reconciled.
Their total CPP/EI deductions must be coordinated across all employers to avoid over-deductions. We handle this automatically and track tax credits properly.
Typically $300–$800/month depending on number of employees and pay frequency. We provide transparent quotes based on your actual headcount.
Yes. T4 preparation and filing (Feb 28 deadline), ROE issuance, T4 Summary filing, payroll reconciliation, and tax return coordination with your accountant.
Not a problem. We handle any number of employees, variable hours, seasonal variations, and complex pay structures. Flexibility is built in.
Swift Accounting handles every pay run, deduction, remittance, and filing — so your Calgary business stays compliant and your employees get paid on time.
