Hi all,

I have a total of 20 months Canadian work experience. I was on a program the first 10 months and was being paid in the form of a stipend and needed a valid work permit to complete the program. I have my pay stubs for that position as well as relevant letters from supervisors highlighting NOC codes etc. but I was not given a T4.

The other 10 months were spent working on a reserve where I had to apply for a new work permit. I was also being paid for this work, not a lot but it was still a wage. However (I'm not sure how many of you have lived/worked on reserves) everything was very relaxed and I was paid on time usually, give or take a week. However we received a funding issue and I didn't get paid for 6 months (even though I was assured I would be paid no matter what) and once my contract was up, the funding came through and I was paid in full, everything that they owed me. However, once again I was not given a T4 or even any pay slips. I do have a very detailed reference letter from my boss though.

I now have an ITA and in terms of proving this work experience...looks quite weird. I'm not sure what to do in terms of proof. Any thoughts?

It is my understanding that Employees must submit T4 to CRA for all employee's on an annual basis you should also have receive payslips showing earnings and the correct deductions for provincial and federal tax as well as EI.

You could try contacted the CRA (Canadian Revenue Agency) to request copies of your T4's

Employers have to submit a T4 for each employee to CRA and give a copy to the employee to CRA, as well as a T4 summary to CRA. You need the T4 to submit your taxes. How did you file taxes without a T4 or payslips? Also without either, how can you be sure the employer made the correct deductions and submitted taxes to CRA? If they paid you gross and did not deduct taxes, you may still have taxes and CPP to pay on this income. Asside from immigration, you should talk to an accountant first and if on their advice, contact CRA to figure this out. Tax returns and payslips are the only proof of work. Presumably you got records or employment from these employers (ROE)? This is also a legal requirement.

Thanks for your advice guys thus far.

I'm not going to lie, the Canadian tax game was (and in some was still is) new to me. I had no idea about T4's. It's only when I left I understood that I needed a T4A. I contacted CRA and they told me it should be my employer to issue it to me. So I contacted my employer and they tossed me around and were not willing to give it to me. Eventually I contacted CRA again and they told me that I can file a complaint against my employer. This is all well and good, however I am on a time schedule with my PR application and I honestly don't know how long that will take.

The CRA advisor told me that because i have my pay stubs from the first place I worked in and a copy of the contract, that should be sufficient evidence. However, with the job on the reserve, I don't have any of those. Just a reference letter, contracts and bank statements that show the consistent pay.

Send what you have. I think that should be fine.

I had a couple of uncooperative employers when I did my PR.

If you have a reference letter and a contract that should suffice especially if your reference letter states the dates you worked.

Your issue on your last employer is going to be proving you paid tax and CPP. If you cannot prove this when filing taxes, CRA will likely assess you for tax owed.

Yep, they are really being uncooperative. It's really stressing me out! Thanks for your advise. I will just apply with what I have (the ref letters and contract) and be hopeful.

Exactly! That's why I am worried that they will think I don't want to pay taxes but in actual fact my employer just doesn't want to issue me with a T4A. Also it was on a reserve and I am not sure if the staff (who were all Native) would even be aware necessarily of taxation procedures because aren't they tax exempt...?

They don't have a choice, they have to issue a T4 to every employee and file a T4 summary to CRA. You will have to report the income on your tax return and if you have no proof tax was deducted likely pay tax and CPP. Not reporting it can get you into a whole world of trouble, not something you want to be happening when applying for immigration.

An option is to file a report with CRA and hope for the best. Keep funds in reserve in case you have to pay the tax. Even if you earned the money on a reserve, if you are not native, you are liable for the tax and CPP.

So long as you report income, you get a bill and pay it, its not an issue. If CRA find out and come after you, it is an issue.

Are you sure these are legitimate employers, do you have their business numbers (should be on your payslip)?

You could always request a CPP statement from Service Canada, that will prove you were employed. Might be worth doing to make sure they actually did the payroll deductions.

But legally they have to issue you a T4 unless you are below the earnings limit ($500).

Payslips don't generally have a BN on them nor is it a reuirement to do so. The requirements are for name of employer, hours worked, rate of pay, vacation paid or accued, total pay and any deductions.

I am not sure how an employer would get awy without filing a T4 summary either at the end of the year.

If an employer does not issue payroll or a T4 the empoyee could well have been treated as a contractor.

Not without the person knowing about it.

Why not? If the payer made untaxed payments to an individual without payslips putting them through as a contractor in their books, they treated them as a contractor. Albeit not correct or legal, there is nothing to say that is not what they did or did not. There is no way to know without asking the employer.

Yes they are legitimate employers, they'd have to be in order for me to have been issued a work permit. They're religious not for profit employers with legitimate charity numbers...just poorly run I'm afraid. Very poor administration.

I don't think they put me through as contracted work. It was an official program I was on, just some dodgy people running the show. All I am concerned about is proving to CIC i actually worked and received a stipend, it wasn't voluntary.

I called up CRA again and they told me to just file a complaint. As for the work I did on the reserve (with no pay slips or t4) I'm hoping a copy of my contract and bank account will help.