Free Canadian payroll tools
Seven tools that answer a specific pay question. Every one runs in your browser, needs no account, and never sends your figures anywhere.
Short answer
PayStub IQ Canada runs seven free payroll tools. The deduction calculator estimates CPP, CPP2, EI and income tax for 2026 in all 13 provinces and territories. The other six explain a deduction code, compare two pay periods, find the pay period where CPP and EI stop, flag lines worth checking, draft a message to payroll, and route you to your province's employment standards rules. All of them run in your browser, so nothing you type leaves your device.
Every tool, and when to use it
Payroll Deduction Calculator
Estimate CPP, CPP2, EI, federal tax and provincial tax on any salary for 2026, in all 13 provinces and territories, and compare the result against what your stub actually shows.
Use it when: Your net pay looks wrong and you want a second opinion before you contact payroll.
CPP & EI Maximum Calculator
Work out the pay period in which your CPP and EI deductions stop for the year, and how much take-home pay increases when they do.
Use it when: Your deductions changed mid-year and you want to know whether you have hit the annual ceiling.
Net Pay Difference Checker
Compare two pay periods line by line and see which deduction moved, by how much, and what usually causes that movement.
Use it when: This cheque is smaller than the last one and you cannot see why.
Deduction Line Explainer
Look up an unfamiliar code or abbreviation on your pay stub and get a plain-English explanation of what it usually means.
Use it when: There is a line on your stub you do not recognise.
Pay Stub Red Flag Checker
Answer a short set of questions about your stub and get the specific lines worth a closer look, with what to ask about each.
Use it when: Something feels off and you want a structured way to check it.
Payroll Message Generator
Turn a pay question into a short and a detailed message to payroll or HR that asks for an explanation rather than alleging an error.
Use it when: You know what to ask but not how to word it.
Province Selector
Jump to the employment standards, overtime, vacation pay and final-pay rules for your province or territory.
Use it when: Your pay question depends on where you work.
Frequently asked questions
Do these tools send my pay information anywhere?
No. All seven tools run entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is transmitted to a server, stored, or logged. You can confirm this by loading a tool, disconnecting from the internet and using it as normal.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up, no email requirement and no paywall on any tool.
How accurate is the deduction calculator?
It applies the published 2026 CPP, EI, federal and provincial parameters to an annual salary. Your employer uses the CRA payroll formulas with your TD1 claim codes and any mid-year adjustments, so treat the result as a close estimate for comparison, not as the exact figure your employer must withhold.
Which tool should I start with?
Start with the Payroll Deduction Calculator if your net pay looks wrong, the Deduction Line Explainer if a single line is confusing, and the Net Pay Difference Checker if this cheque differs from the last one.
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.
- Guide T4127, Payroll Deductions Formulas — Canada Revenue Agency
- CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions — Canada Revenue Agency
- EI premium rates and maximums — Canada Revenue Agency
- Payroll Deductions Online Calculator — Canada Revenue Agency
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.