Ontario Pay Stub Checker
Decode your Ontario pay stub line by line — no jargon, no guessing.
Written and reviewed by Rocco Clayfield, Founder & DirectorLast reviewed
Short answer
Every Ontario pay stub must show your gross earnings, all deductions (CPP, EI, federal income tax, Ontario provincial income tax), and your net pay. Ontario workers are also entitled to vacation pay — check that it is recorded each pay period. Minimum wage, overtime rules, and vacation entitlements are set by Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 and change periodically — always confirm current figures with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
If you work in Ontario, your pay stub should give you a clear picture of what you earned and what was taken off. In practice, many Ontario workers find pay stubs confusing — codes with no explanation, deductions that don't add up, or vacation pay that simply disappears. This page helps you read each section carefully.
Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 sets the rules about what must appear on a pay stub and what workers are owed — including minimum wage, overtime pay, vacation pay, and final pay on termination. Because these rules can and do change, this page does not quote specific dollar amounts or percentages. Instead, it explains what to look for and directs you to the official source for current figures.
PayStub IQ Canada is an independent information resource. We are not affiliated with the Ontario Ministry of Labour or any government body, and nothing here is legal advice. If you believe your pay stub contains an error, speaking with your employer's payroll team is always a good first step.
Ontario pay rules at a glance
Rate change scheduled. The Ontario general minimum wage rises to $17.95 an hour on 1 October 2026. Pay periods that straddle that date are split: hours worked before it are paid at the old rate, hours worked on or after it at the new one.
| Rule | Ontario |
|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $17.60 per hour, in force since 1 October 2025. Rises to $17.95 on 1 October 2026.Student rate $16.60 (rising to $16.90). Ontario has no separate tipped or liquor-server rate — the server rate was abolished on 1 January 2022. Homeworkers $19.35; hunting, fishing and wilderness guides $88.05 for under five hours in a day and $176.15 for five hours or more. |
| Overtime starts after | After 44 hours in a work week |
| Overtime rate | 1.5× your regular rate. Ontario has no daily overtime threshold. |
| Vacation entitlement | 2 weeks under 5 years of service; 3 weeks at 5 years or more |
| Vacation pay | 4% of gross wages under 5 years; 6% at 5 years or more |
| Paid public holidays | 9 public holidays |
| Final pay deadline | The later of 7 days after employment ends or the next regular pay day |
Verified 27 August 2026 against Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Employment Standards Act, 2000). Rates and rules change, and many industries and occupations have their own exemptions or special rules — confirm your own situation at the official source before acting on it.
Check current Ontario rules at the official source
What this page helps you check
- Gross pay matches your expected hours worked, salary, or commission
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) deductions appear and look proportionate to earnings
- EI (Employment Insurance) deductions appear and look proportionate to earnings
- Federal income tax is withheld at a rate consistent with your income and TD1 elections
- Ontario provincial income tax is withheld separately from federal tax
- Vacation pay is either paid each period or clearly shown as accrued
- Year-to-date (YTD) totals are present for all major deduction and income categories
- Net pay equals gross pay minus all deductions shown
What Ontario employers must put on a pay stub
Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 requires employers to provide a written wage statement with each pay. At minimum, it must show: the pay period covered, the wage rate (or salary), the gross wages earned, each deduction and its purpose, and the net wages paid. Some employers include additional detail such as hours worked, overtime breakdown, and benefit deductions — this is encouraged for clarity.
If your stub is missing any of these elements, that is worth raising with your payroll or HR team. A missing stub altogether is also a violation of the Act.
CPP, EI, and income tax on an Ontario pay stub
Most Ontario employees see three mandatory deductions on every pay stub: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, and income tax (split into federal and Ontario provincial portions). CPP and EI rates and maximums are set federally and updated annually — the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) publishes the current rates each year.
Federal income tax withheld depends on your TD1 claim code and is calculated using CRA payroll deduction tables. Ontario provincial income tax is calculated separately using an Ontario TD1 and Ontario tax tables. Both figures should appear as distinct line items on your stub. If only a combined "income tax" figure appears, that is common in some payroll systems but can make it harder to spot errors.
Vacation pay in Ontario
Ontario workers are entitled to vacation pay under the ESA. The rate depends on how long you have worked for the employer — the Employment Standards Act sets minimum thresholds, and they are subject to change. Your pay stub should reflect vacation pay either as a percentage paid out with each cheque, or as an accrual balance that is paid out when you take vacation.
If vacation pay is accrued, look for a running balance on your stub or on your online employee portal. If you are uncertain how your employer handles vacation pay, that is a good question for payroll.
Overtime, stat holidays, and final pay
Ontario's overtime threshold, statutory holiday entitlements, and final-pay rules (how quickly you must be paid after termination) are all governed by the Employment Standards Act, 2000. These thresholds and rules have changed over time, so always check the current version at the Ministry of Labour's website before drawing conclusions about a specific stub.
Some Ontario workers are also covered by a collective agreement or a federally-regulated industry (such as banking or telecommunications) — in those cases, different rules may apply. If you are unsure whether federal or provincial rules govern your employment, the Ministry of Labour website has guidance on this distinction.
Common red flags worth checking
These do not automatically mean there is an error. They are simply lines worth a closer look, or worth asking payroll to explain.
No Ontario provincial tax line
If your stub shows federal tax but no Ontario provincial tax, it may indicate a payroll setup error. Both should appear as separate deductions for most Ontario employees.
Vacation pay not visible
Ontario employees are entitled to vacation pay. If it is neither paid out each period nor shown as an accruing balance, ask your employer how it is being tracked.
Net pay does not equal gross minus deductions
Add up all itemised deductions and subtract from gross pay. If the result does not match net pay, ask payroll to explain the gap — there may be unlisted deductions or a calculation error.
CPP or EI deduction much higher or lower than prior pay periods
Significant swings in CPP or EI deductions without a change in earnings may indicate a payroll system error or a mid-year adjustment. Ask payroll to confirm.
YTD totals do not carry forward correctly
If year-to-date figures appear to drop or reset mid-year outside of a calendar-year rollover, that is unusual and worth investigating with your payroll department.
Want this checked on your real pay stub?
Upload your pay stub or payroll document and get a plain-English breakdown with possible questions to ask payroll.
What to ask payroll or HR
Calm, specific questions get clearer answers. You can copy any of these, or build a full message with the Payroll Message Generator.
- “Can you show me the pay period dates and hours this stub covers?”
- “How is my vacation pay being calculated and tracked — paid out each period or accrued?”
- “Why does my Ontario provincial tax look different this period compared to last period?”
- “Is there a way to see my full YTD deduction summary for CPP and EI?”
- “I believe my overtime hours were not fully captured — can we review the time records for this period?”
Frequently asked questions
Does my Ontario employer have to give me a pay stub?
Yes. Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 requires employers to provide a written wage statement with each pay period. It can be delivered electronically if the employee can access and print it.
Why do I see two income tax lines on my Ontario pay stub?
Most payroll systems show federal income tax and Ontario provincial income tax as separate deductions. Both are legal obligations — they go to different levels of government but are often remitted together by the employer to CRA.
My Ontario pay stub shows no CPP deduction. Is that normal?
It may be normal if you are under 18, over 70, already receiving a CPP retirement pension, or have reached the annual CPP maximum for the year. Otherwise, a missing CPP deduction is worth querying with payroll.
How do I know if my vacation pay is correct in Ontario?
Ontario sets a minimum vacation pay rate based on length of service. Check the Ontario Ministry of Labour's current guidelines for the rate that applies to your situation, then compare it to what appears on your stub.
Can my employer deduct amounts from my pay without telling me?
Generally, no. Ontario's ESA restricts unauthorised deductions. Deductions beyond statutory withholdings (CPP, EI, income tax) typically require your written consent. If you see an unexplained deduction, ask payroll for an explanation in writing.
What should I do if I think my Ontario pay stub has an error?
Start by raising it with your employer's payroll team and asking for a written explanation. If the issue is not resolved, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. PayStub IQ Canada can help you identify what to look for, but we are not able to investigate individual payroll situations.
Are all Ontario workers covered by the Employment Standards Act?
Most are, but some industries are federally regulated (banking, telecommunications, interprovincial transport) and fall under the Canada Labour Code instead. If you are unsure which applies to you, the Ministry of Labour website has guidance.
Get told when Canadian payroll rates change
Seven provinces and territories have already published a minimum wage increase for the next few weeks, and every federal and provincial figure is re-indexed each January. One short email when a rate actually changes. Nothing else, ever.
Related guides & checkers
Helpful guidance, not advice
PayStub IQ Canada provides educational payroll explanations based on the information visible in your document. It does not provide legal, tax, accounting, payroll, CRA, Revenu Québec, or employment standards advice. For official decisions or corrections, contact your employer, payroll department, CRA, Revenu Québec, your provincial or territorial employment standards office, or a qualified professional.