Employment Insurance (EI) overview

Employment Insurance (EI) is a nationwide program created to provide partial wage replacement to unemployed workers while they look for employment. Employers finance the program through the EI tax on employee pay.

How do I find my EI tax rate?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will inform you yearly about your tax rate. It provides the maximum insurable earnings and rate for you to calculate the amount to deduct from your employees' paycheques. See EI premium rates and maximums on the CRA's website to view both federal and Québec EI tax rates.

How will I know if my EI tax rate changes?

If your tax rate changes, you'll get a notice from the CRA.