How much tax comes off a paycheque in Ontario?
In 2026, most Ontario employees have about 18.0% to 30.5% of each paycheque deducted, depending on their salary. That covers federal income tax, Ontario income tax (including the Ontario Health Premium), CPP and EI.
For example, on a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, your gross pay is $2,308 and about $487 is deducted, leaving $1,821 — 21.1% taken off. On $100,000, $992 comes off each $3,846 cheque (25.8%).
To see your exact numbers, try the Canadian paycheck calculator or the hourly paycheck calculator.
What gets deducted from your Ontario paycheque
Your employer is required to withhold five things from every paycheque and send them to the CRA:
- Federal income tax — 14% on the first $58,523 of taxable income in 2026, rising to 20.5%, 26%, 29% and 33% in higher brackets. The first $16,452 is effectively tax-free through the basic personal amount.
- Ontario income tax — 5.05% on the first $53,891, then 9.15%, 11.16%, 12.16% and 13.16%. Higher earners also pay the Ontario surtax.
- Ontario Health Premium — up to $900 a year once taxable income passes $20,000. It is withheld with your income tax, so it doesn't appear as a separate line on most pay stubs.
- CPP — 5.95% of earnings over $3,500, up to $74,600 (a maximum of $4,230.45). CPP2 adds 4% on earnings between $74,600 and $85,000 (up to $416).
- EI — 1.63% of earnings up to $68,900 (a maximum of $1,123.07).
Your pay stub may also show deductions your employer offers, like health benefits, a pension plan, union dues or a group RRSP. Those vary by job and aren't included in the tables below.
Ontario paycheque deductions by salary (biweekly, 2026)
Here is how much is deducted from each paycheque if you're paid every two weeks (26 pays a year). Click a salary for its full breakdown.
| Salary | Gross pay | Federal tax | Ontario tax | CPP | EI | Take-home | % deducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,538 | $104 | $64 | $84 | $25 | $1,262 | 18.0% |
| $50,000 | $1,923 | $153 | $88 | $106 | $31 | $1,544 | 19.7% |
| $60,000 | $2,308 | $205 | $115 | $129 | $38 | $1,821 | 21.1% |
| $70,000 | $2,692 | $280 | $148 | $152 | $43 | $2,069 | 23.2% |
| $80,000 | $3,077 | $356 | $188 | $171 | $43 | $2,319 | 24.6% |
| $90,000 | $3,462 | $433 | $222 | $179 | $43 | $2,585 | 25.3% |
| $100,000 | $3,846 | $512 | $259 | $179 | $43 | $2,854 | 25.8% |
| $120,000 | $4,615 | $673 | $361 | $179 | $43 | $3,359 | 27.2% |
| $150,000 | $5,769 | $973 | $562 | $179 | $43 | $4,012 | 30.5% |
Ontario tax includes the Ontario Health Premium and surtax. CPP includes CPP2. These are full-year averages; your actual cheques change slightly once you reach the yearly CPP and EI maximums (see below).
Tax deducted from hourly pay in Ontario
For hourly workers on 40 hours a week, here's the weekly picture at common Ontario wages.
| Hourly rate | Weekly gross | Weekly deductions | Weekly take-home | Biweekly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.95/hr (minimum wage) | $718.00 | $123.56 | $594.44 | $1,189 |
| $20.00/hr | $800.00 | $145.95 | $654.05 | $1,308 |
| $25.00/hr | $1,000.00 | $199.21 | $800.79 | $1,602 |
| $30.00/hr | $1,200.00 | $259.93 | $940.07 | $1,880 |
| $35.00/hr | $1,400.00 | $330.82 | $1,069.18 | $2,138 |
| $40.00/hr | $1,600.00 | $398.77 | $1,201.23 | $2,402 |
At $20 an hour, about $145.95 comes off each 40-hour week, leaving $654.05. See our guide to the new Ontario minimum wage for more on the $17.95 rate.
Why your paycheque deductions change
- CPP and EI stop for the year once you max out. Earn more than $68,900 and EI stops partway through the year; above $74,600, CPP stops too. That's why many people's cheques get bigger in the fall or in December.
- Bonuses and overtime look over-taxed. Payroll software withholds tax on a bonus as if it were part of a higher annual salary. Your total tax for the year is the same — any extra withheld comes back as a refund.
- Your TD1 forms matter. The federal and Ontario TD1 forms you filled out when you were hired set your tax credits. If you claimed extra credits (like a dependant) less tax comes off; if you work two jobs, you may need to claim zero at one of them to avoid owing tax in April.
- Benefits and pensions. Pension contributions and group RRSPs reduce your taxable income, so less tax is withheld. Taxable benefits (like employer-paid life insurance) add a little.
How to have less tax taken off your paycheque
- Contribute to an RRSP through payroll. Group RRSP contributions are deducted before tax, so you get the tax savings on every cheque instead of waiting for a refund.
- File form T1213. If you make regular RRSP contributions on your own or have large deductions like childcare or support payments, the CRA can authorize your employer to withhold less tax.
- Update your TD1. If your situation changed — a new dependant, a disability amount, or you started paying tuition — a new TD1 lowers the tax withheld.