Payroll > T4s > Creating the T4 Return 

The T4 return is required to be filed with CRA by February 28^th of the year following your payroll year.  If you have been entering your payroll through the payroll section of AgExpert Accounting, then the official T4s can be generated and sent to CRA from the system.

New T4 Reporting for employers.  Box 45 – Employer-offered dental benefits 

On November 16, 2023 the Government of Canada announced there will be changes with the reporting of T4 slips for employers in Canada. With the introduction of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for uninsured Canadians with adjusted family net incomes under $90,000, this reporting will be required to ensure only eligible Canadian are applying to this program. Employers who fail to be compliant and report the required information may result in financial penalties.

What needs to be reported?  Employers will be required to report if an employee had access to dental insurance or dental benefits of any kind during the 2023 tax year and future tax years. Employers will need to identify who the coverage was available to and complete box 45 with the appropriate code description.

 Note: To reduce the burden on employers, for calendar year 2023 only, it is not mandatory to fill out box 45 when and only when code 1 is applicable.

Also, do not use box 45 before January 2024 if you are filing electronically.

The Access Code (descriptions) options are:

Source: T4 slip - Canada.ca

Before processing your T4 return – you will need to update every employee’s tab with the appropriate Dental coverage access code.

Under Payroll, and Employee , select your employee and go to the Employment tab 

Scroll down to the benefits section,

Click in the Dental coverage box and select your code –

To access your T4 return, you must first be in the year that you are generating the return for. 

Go to Payroll > Employees on the left navigation panel.

Select all the employees that need to be included in the T4 information.  Click Annual tax forms, then click Canada Revenue Agency.

A screen will fly out from the right.  You can select whether you are going to file on paper or electronically, and whether this is the original, amended, or cancelled return.  You must also enter the main owner’s social insurance number in proprietor 1 SIN.

You will be asked to confirm the access type for the first time your run a T4 for all Employees that already have an Access code setup.

Note: When you try to run the T4 for an employee that doesn't have one of the access codes selected, a new screen will pop up requiring you to select a code. If all employees need to be set to the same code, select the code in the box that says ‘Set all Employees to’.

Note: As of January 2024, Issuers who file 6 or more T4 slips of the same type must use the Online filing method.

Once all the proper information has been filled out, click Continue at the bottom.  You will be given the option to download your forms if submitting paper copies.

or create the .XML file if you have chosen to submit your forms electronically.

Once you have determined the numbers are correct and you are ready to submit your information to CRA, click File online in this screen.  This will take you to the CRA filing portal.

If all the steps above are followed correctly, the code selected will show in Box 45

Per current CRA standards, you must have the all required information to file your return online. Follow the instructions on the CRA web portal to file your T4 return online.

Internet File Transfer | Disclaimer (cra-arc.gc.ca)

Last updated on December 20, 2023 by FCC AgExpert