QPIP Deduction Checker — Quebec Parental Insurance Plan on Your Pay Stub
Understand why your stub shows both QPIP and a lower EI line — and whether both look right.
Written and reviewed by Rocco Clayfield, Founder & DirectorLast reviewed
Short answer
Quebec employees pay into the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead of the federal parental benefits portion of Employment Insurance. As a result, Quebec workers pay a lower EI premium rate than employees in the rest of Canada — but they also pay a separate QPIP premium on top of that reduced EI amount. Both deductions should appear on a Quebec pay stub. QPIP premiums and rates are set annually by the QPIP Council and published by Revenu Québec.
If your Quebec pay stub has two lines that look like insurance premiums — one labelled EI and one labelled QPIP — that is expected and correct. QPIP (Régime québécois d'assurance parentale) is Quebec's provincial parental-leave insurance program. It was established specifically to provide maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental benefits that are more generous than the federal EI parental benefits in several respects.
Because Quebec runs its own parental insurance, the federal government reduced the EI premium rate for Quebec employees to avoid double-charging them for parental coverage they will never receive from EI. So Quebec workers end up with two smaller deductions instead of one full EI deduction — a lower EI premium plus a QPIP premium.
This page explains what to look for on your stub, how the two lines interact, and what questions to raise if something looks off. For current rates, always consult Revenu Québec directly, as QPIP premiums are reviewed and adjusted each year.
Quebec pay rules at a glance
| Rule | Quebec |
|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $16.60 per hour, in force since 1 May 2026.Employees who receive tips: $13.30 per hour, paid exclusive of tips. Quebec has no student or youth rate. Quebec adjusts the rate each 1 May. |
| Overtime starts after | After 40 hours in a week |
| Overtime rate | 1.5× your regular rate. Quebec has no general daily threshold. |
| Vacation entitlement | 2 weeks from 1 year of service; 3 weeks at 3 years or more |
| Vacation pay | 4% of gross wages under 3 years; 6% at 3 years or more |
| Paid public holidays | 8 statutory holidays |
| Final pay deadline | All sums owing must be paid when the employment ends |
Verified 27 August 2026 against Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). 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 Quebec rules at the official source
What this page helps you check
- Confirm your stub shows both an EI line and a QPIP line — having only one may indicate a setup issue
- Verify the EI rate on your stub is the reduced Quebec-resident rate, not the standard rate applied in other provinces
- Check that QPIP contributions stop once the annual maximum insurable earnings ceiling is reached
- Confirm your employer is also contributing to QPIP (employer QPIP premiums are separate from employee premiums)
- Review your RL-1 at year end — Box H reflects total QPIP employee premiums for the year
- If you recently moved to Quebec mid-year, confirm your payroll has been updated to apply Quebec rates
- If you recently moved out of Quebec, confirm payroll has switched to the standard EI rate and removed QPIP
Why QPIP Exists Alongside EI
Employment Insurance is a federal program, but parental and maternity benefits within EI were deemed by Quebec to be a provincial jurisdiction matter. Quebec negotiated the right to opt out of the federal parental/maternity EI program and run its own version — QPIP — starting in 2006. Employees who live and work in Quebec are covered by QPIP for parental-type benefits, not EI.
In exchange for running QPIP, the federal government reduced the EI premium rate for Quebec employees. This is not a discount or a favour — it reflects the fact that Quebec workers will not be entitled to federal parental/maternity EI benefits. The two-line structure (reduced EI + QPIP) is intentional and correct.
Employee and Employer Premiums
Like EI, QPIP is funded by both employee and employer premiums. The employer's QPIP contribution rate differs from the employee rate and is applied to the same insurable earnings base. As an employee, you will not see the employer contribution on your pay stub directly — but it is being paid on your behalf.
The QPIP premium applies to insurable earnings up to the annual maximum insurable earnings amount. Once your year-to-date insurable earnings exceed this ceiling, QPIP deductions should stop for the rest of the calendar year.
QPIP vs EI Benefits — What You Are Actually Covered For
If you need to take maternity leave, paternity leave, or parental leave in Quebec, you would apply to the QPIP program (not EI) for parental-type benefits. For other EI benefits — such as regular unemployment benefits or sickness benefits — you would still apply through Employment Insurance as normal.
Understanding this distinction matters if you ever need to make a claim. QPIP and EI have different application processes, waiting periods (QPIP has a shorter or no waiting period in some scenarios), and benefit rates. Your premiums are going to two different pools for two different sets of benefits.
Current Rates and the Official Source
QPIP premiums and the maximum insurable earnings amount are reviewed by the QPIP Advisory Council and set annually. Because these figures change year to year, this page does not quote specific rates or dollar amounts. Revenu Québec publishes the current QPIP employee and employer premium rates each year at revenuquebec.ca/en. The Canada Revenue Agency's website also confirms the reduced EI rate applicable to Quebec employees.
2026 rates at a glance
Confirmed from official sources as of June 2026. Rates change every January — always check the linked official source for the current figures before relying on them.
QPIP — Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (2026)
| Maximum Insurable Earnings | $103,000 |
| Employee premium rate | 0.430% |
| Maximum employee premium | $442.90 |
Province & territory note
Quebec works differently
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.
Only EI shown, no QPIP line
A Quebec employee's stub should show both EI (at the reduced Quebec rate) and QPIP. If only EI appears — especially at what looks like the full non-Quebec rate — your employer may not have updated your province of employment in their payroll system.
EI at the full non-Quebec rate alongside QPIP
If you are being charged the standard EI rate that applies in the rest of Canada AND also paying QPIP, you may be over-paying for EI coverage. A Quebec employee's EI rate should be reduced to account for QPIP.
QPIP deductions continuing past the annual maximum
QPIP premiums are capped at the annual maximum insurable earnings. Ongoing deductions after that ceiling has been reached may indicate a payroll error worth querying.
QPIP appearing on a non-Quebec employee's stub
QPIP only applies to employees who work in Quebec. If you work outside Quebec, QPIP should not be deducted. The work location — not the employee's home address — determines which province's rules apply.
Year-end RL-1 Box H does not match cumulative stub total
Box H on the RL-1 slip shows QPIP premiums paid for the year. A notable discrepancy between the RL-1 figure and the running total on your stubs is worth raising with your employer before tax filing.
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.
- “My stub shows only EI — can you confirm whether QPIP should also be deducted given that I work in Quebec?”
- “Is the EI rate being applied to me the reduced Quebec rate, not the standard Canada-wide rate?”
- “I moved to Quebec mid-year — has my payroll been updated to apply the reduced EI rate and add QPIP from my start date?”
- “My QPIP deductions seem to be continuing even though I think I have reached the annual maximum insurable earnings — can you check?”
- “Can you confirm what insurable earnings base is being used for the QPIP premium calculation?”
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Quebec pay stub show both EI and QPIP deductions?
Quebec operates its own parental insurance plan (QPIP), which replaced the parental/maternity portion of federal EI for Quebec workers. Because Quebec employees are not covered by federal EI for parental benefits, the federal government reduced the EI premium rate for Quebec employees. You pay a lower EI premium plus a QPIP premium — two smaller amounts rather than one full EI amount.
Is my EI rate the same as someone working in Ontario?
No. Quebec employees pay a lower EI premium rate than workers in the rest of Canada. This reflects the fact that Quebec's parental benefits are delivered through QPIP, not EI. The exact rates are published annually by the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec.
If I need to take parental leave, do I apply to EI or QPIP?
For maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental benefits in Quebec, you apply to QPIP — not EI. You would still apply to EI for regular unemployment benefits or sickness benefits. QPIP and EI are separate programs with separate application processes.
Does my employer also pay QPIP premiums?
Yes. Employers pay QPIP premiums on insurable earnings for their Quebec employees, at a rate that differs from the employee rate. This employer contribution does not appear on the employee pay stub as it is not deducted from wages.
I moved to Quebec this year. When did my QPIP deductions start?
QPIP and the reduced EI rate should apply from the first pay period in which your province of employment is recorded as Quebec. If there was a delay in updating your payroll, you may have been charged the wrong EI rate for a period. Raise this with your employer to determine whether any correction is needed.
Where can I find the current QPIP rate?
Revenu Québec publishes the current QPIP employee and employer premium rates, along with the maximum insurable earnings amount, each year. Visit revenuquebec.ca/en and search for QPIP premiums to find the current schedule.
Will excess QPIP contributions be refunded?
If too much QPIP was deducted — for instance because your payroll did not stop at the annual maximum — excess amounts can generally be claimed on your provincial income tax return as a credit. Flagging the issue with your employer for a payroll correction before year end may be simpler.
Official sources for this page
Every figure here is derived from these. Where a number matters to you, read it at the source — PayStub IQ Canada explains the rules, it does not set them.
- Source deductions and employer contributions — Revenu Québec
- Labour standards: wages, hours and leave — CNESST
- QPP maximum pensionable earnings and contribution rate — Revenu Québec
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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.