T4A(OAS) & T4A(P)

Service Canada issues two slips to people receiving federal public pensions: the T4A(OAS), Statement of Old Age Security, and the T4A(P), Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits. Both benefits are taxable. Many seniors receive both slips every year.

T4A(OAS) KEY BOXES

• Box 18, Taxable pension paid: the gross OAS pension, reported on line 11300.

• Box 19, Net supplements paid: Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance payments, reported on line 14600 and then deducted on line 25000, so they are not taxed but do count in net income.

• Box 20, Overpayment recovered: OAS recovery tax withheld from monthly payments.

• Box 21, Gross pension paid.

• Box 22, Income tax deducted.

T4A(P) KEY BOXES

• Box 20, Taxable CPP benefits: the total, reported on line 11400.

• Box 14, Retirement benefit; Box 15, Survivor benefit; Box 16, Disability benefit (also reported on line 11410); Box 17, Child benefit (taxable to the child); Box 18, Death benefit (a lump sum of up to $2,500, which can be reported by the estate or the recipient).

• Box 22, Income tax deducted.

• Box 31 and 32, Post-retirement benefits.

IMPORTANT RULES

• OAS recovery tax: if net income exceeds $95,323 (2026 threshold), 15 percent of the excess must be repaid, up to the full OAS pension. The CRA withholds the expected recovery from future monthly payments based on the prior year's return.

• Deferral: OAS can be deferred up to age 70 for a 0.6 percent monthly increase; CPP can start between 60 and 70, with a 0.6 percent monthly reduction before 65 and a 0.7 percent monthly increase after 65.

• Withholding: no tax is withheld by default; pensioners can request voluntary withholding through My Service Canada Account to avoid instalments.

• CPP sharing: spouses can apply to share CPP retirement pensions, which splits the pension at source and can reduce combined tax.

• Not eligible for pension splitting: OAS and CPP are not eligible pension income for the pension income amount or for T1032 pension splitting.

• Non-residents: receive an NR4 instead and pay non-resident tax, often reduced by treaty.