In this page, we compile key resources for seasonal workers. Please scroll down to navigate them and also find short videos answering frequently asked questions on housing, pay, discrimination, taxes, and more.

How do taxes work in Canada?

The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) is the government agency responsible for managing taxes in Canada.
There are many types of taxes in Canada:
– Sales Tax
– Property Tax
– Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
– Employment Insurance (EI)
– Income Tax

Sales tax varies by province and is charged by the government on anything you buy while in Canada.

CPP (Canada Pension Plan) is deducted based on how much you earn on each paycheck. If you earn less than $3,500 in the year, you don’t have to pay CPP and any deductions will be refunded when you file your taxes. If you earned between $3,500 and $71,300, you pay 5.95% on your earnings.

Employment Insurance (EI) is deducted from each paycheck at a rate of 1.64% of your salary.

Income tax depends on several factors such as: income, country of origin, whether you are part of the SAWP or another program, among others.

Example of taxes in British Columbia:

Income	Federal Tax	BC Provincial tax	Total tax
Under $49,279	15%	5.06%	20.06%
Between $49,279 & $57,375	15%	7.7%	22.7%

Workers in the SAWP program receive a full refund of income tax if they earned less than these amounts:

CAN $10,000	Barbados
CAN $5,000	Jamaica
CAN $8,500	Trinidad and Tobago

The deadline to file taxes is April 30 each year. It is recommended to file every year to avoid issues and to accumulate pensionable years. If you didn’t file in previous years, you can still file up to 10 years back.

Documents needed to file taxes:

1. Photo of passport and work permit
2. Phone number and email address
3. Address in your home country and in Canada
4. Preferred method of contact (email, mail or phone)
5. Dates of entry and exit from Canada
6. Active bank account in Canada
7. T4 form or last pay stub
8. Social Insurance Number (SIN)
9. Other income earned outside Canada (in CAD $)
10. Spouse’s income (in CAD $)
11. Result of last tax return (Notice of Assessment)
12. Receipts for medical expenses
13. Information about minor children: name, date of birth, relationship, place of residence

Documents you should request if someone files your taxes:
– Copy of the tax return sent to CRA
– Results of all tax returns (Notice of Assessment)
– T1 form (if you gave permission)
– TIS60 form (if a volunteer filed your taxes)

When will you receive your money?
Tax returns are mailed to the CRA, so the process takes a bit long. The deposit may take 2 to 4 months.

Helpful Documents and Links

Subtitles

• SAWP contract 2025 Caribbean-BC
• SAWP Contract 2025 Mexico-Canada
• Agriculture Stream Contract Mexico-Canada
• Questionnaire for the application to obtain an open work permit as a vulnerable migrant workers
• SAWP Program: Information on requirements, wages, etc.
• Housing inspection required from employers in BC
• Canada Child Tax Benefit Application Form
• Direct Deposit Information
• Employment Rights Contract March 2015
• FAQs about Discriminatory Action under the Worker’s Compensation Act
• Employment Standards Farm Workers Fact Sheet
  • Agricultural Compliance Hotline: 604 513-4604
  • Information Line (General Information): 1 800 663-3316

• Just Cause Workers Booklet
• Legal Resources
• Pesticides and Your Health
• WorkSafeBC Authorization of a Representative
• WorkSafeBC Workers Report of Injury to Employer
• Canada’s government phone line for complaints about abuse, working conditions, or more: 1-866-602-9448
• Mexican consulate contact information:
  • SWAP: +1 604 682 7617
  • Taxes and pension: +1 778 668 1242
• 3rd party recruiters authorized by the Mexican government (for profit and non-profit)
• Complaints through the Mexican government

Helpful Videos

Thank you to BCGEU for their support in creating these videos!