QPP (Quebec pension plan)

• Quebec’s public pension plan (elsewhere in Canada, it’s the CPP, the Canada Pension Plan)
• Deducted from each paycheck: half by the employee, half by the employer
• 2026 rate: 6.30% of pay each for employee and employer
• Self-employed individuals pay both halves themselves, on their tax return
• a second tier (the additional QPP, or QPP2)

Think of the QPP as a collective retirement piggy bank: with each paycheck, a small portion of your salary goes into it, and when you retire, you receive a monthly income for life. For an employer, miscalculating these amounts on the pay stub leads to errors and penalties; for a self-employed person, the bill for both contributions arrives all at once with the tax return and often comes as a surprise. Since 2024, a second tier (the RRQ2) has required slightly higher contributions on higher salaries, up to approximately $85,000 in 2026. The contributions then appear on the T4 slip and the RL-1, alongside the QPIP and the CNESST.

A concrete example: on a salary of $60,000, after the basic exemption of $3,500, the employee’s share at the 2026 rate of 6.30% amounts to approximately $3,560, and the employer contributes the same amount; a self-employed person, on the other hand, pays both portions, totaling nearly $7,120 all at once. The rates and contribution limits are published annually by Retraite QuébecBankeo connects you, free of charge, with a vetted accountant / CPA

What exactly is the QPP, in simple terms?

It is Quebec’s public pension plan. A portion of each paycheck is deducted throughout your working life, and in exchange, you receive a pension (monthly income) once you retire. It also provides disability coverage and pays a benefit to your family in the event of your death.

Do self-employed workers contribute to the QPP?

Since they are both the “boss” and the “employee” of their own business, they pay both contributions (the employer’s and the employee’s) on their net income, directly on their tax return

How can you be sure you’re paying the right amount?

The rates, caps, and two contribution brackets change almost every year, so it’s easy to make a mistake. Bankeo provides you with a free, vetted accountant/CPA who calculates your contributions and pay accurately, at no cost to you, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.