Share this article
Psst: the 2025 tax year’s filing deadline for T4s and RL-1 slips is only a few weeks away! And while we’re sure you’ve been following the 10-step checklist (…right?), there are still some loose ends to tie up before February 28, 2026.
In these final days before year-end filing, there are often a few last questions that we’re here and happy to answer for our small business clients – and they may be questions you find yourself asking too! Today, we’ll answer:- How do I resolve warnings on my Year-End Reports screen?
- What are Box Element assignments and how do I set them up?
- How can I generate a custom year-end report?
- What do I do if I made a mistake with my authorized, final T4s?
- What can I do to make year-end easier next year?
Let’s get started, shall we?
How do I resolve warnings on my Year-End Reports screen?
First things first – what does it mean if a Payworks client is seeing a warning on their Year-End Reports screen?“The warnings on the home screen identify key points that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Quebec (RQ) reviews with T4 and RL-1 filings so that clients can resolve any issues before the filing deadline,” says Susan. “The most common reasons for year-end warnings are missing SINs or addresses in employee records, and a missing Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) code.”
Screenshot of Year-End Warnings dashboard.
“Some of these items can result in penalties, PIER reports, or discrepancies that would then need to be dealt with later, so it’s important to address them before finalizing your T4s for submission.”
Many of these warnings should be very straightforward to resolve on your own based on the details provided on the Year-End Reports screen, but if you still have questions about how to resolve one of your year-end warnings, our Service team is always here to help and can guide you to the right spot for a resolution. Have a question after hours? Our 24/7 Help Centre is always available!
What are Box Element assignments and how do I set them up?
The term “Box Elements” simply refers to ensuring that the right earnings, benefits and deductions are being reported in the right places – or boxes! – on your tax forms.
“Ensuring box elements are assigned correctly ensures accurate T4 filing,” says Susan. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Doing the pre-investigative work to ensure that everything is correct means a smooth year-end filing with nothing coming back from the CRA.”
Most people know that employment income gets recorded in Box 14 on a T4, or Box A on an RL-1. But what about taxable allowances, charitable donations, or RPP contributions? All of these and more have to be assigned to the correct box. To confirm what box you need to be assigning your elements to, we recommend reviewing the CRA box assignments for T4s, as well as T4As, and the Quebec box assignment guidelines for RL-1s.
If you’re not sure where a particular pay element should be recorded, reach out to your client services representative (CSR) or contact the CRA or Revenu Québec .
Screenshot of Employer Year-End Summaries and T4/RL-1 Box Assignments screen.
Payworks Pro Tip: Did you know you can download a copy of your current Pay Element Setup using the Pay Element Setup Summary report?
How can I generate a custom year-end report?
While reporting options depend on the type of data you’re looking for (and some reports may require an additional feature in your profile, such as our Analytics module), many of the most common year-end reports can be found in (you guessed it!) your Year-End Reports screen. Here you’ll find options to download T4s, RL-1s, Box Reports, CDCP Exports, and a Pay Element Setup Summary!
Need more information or more customized options? No problem - this is when your dedicated Client Service Representative comes in handy, says Susan:
“This is a perfect time to call your CSR. These individuals have a high depth of knowledge of our product! We can combine that knowledge along with information from our Help Centre and resources like our year-end videos and checklist, and we can amalgamate it and personalize it to your own reporting needs.”
Payworks Pro Tip: You can – and should – download a copy of your submitted tax documents using the Year-End Archive Download file. This is a valuable (and free!) resource, as it’s important for businesses to ensure they have copies of their own submissions. The archive download includes all year-end reports, pay statements, pay registers and more throughout each pay period of the year.
Screenshot of the Year-End Archive Download screen.
What do I do if I made a mistake on my authorized, final T4s?
Don’t panic! Let’s see what expert Susan has to say about this one:
“The first thing I do when speaking with clients who made a mistake is review with them what happened, and then we discuss the best way to proceed. More often than not, it’s just a year-to-date (YTD) adjustment for items that were incorrect or missing from the submitted files. Fixing these mistakes is a simple process that our CSRs are well-practiced and skilled in working with our clients to resolve!”
We get it: accidents happen. That’s why we’ve built-in options to make it simple to make it right, depending on whether the mistake was discovered before or after the filing cut-off deadline. If the mistake was discovered prior to the cut-off, your CSR can walk you through a re-authorization process. If the error was determined after the cut-off date, they can authorize an amendment on your behalf.
Payworks Pro Tip: Did you know that, once the filing deadline has passed, certain errors should not be corrected? Make sure to check with the CRA for further information.
What can I do to make year-end easier next year?
That’s a great question! No matter how smooth the process, there’s almost always room for improvement.
Let’s see what our expert has to say:
“I recommend regularly reviewing your year-end warnings throughout the year, and thoroughly going through the year-end checklist. It’s there all year, and the first few steps are quick and easy to go through on your own!”
Remember: the earlier the better. Regularly reviewing (and actioning) your year-end warnings, checking your year-to-dates are correct throughout the year, and staying on top of important processing dates and deadlines can all help you prepare for the year-end filing.
One final word from Susan (she loves to help!):
“Maintaining an open dialogue with your CSR about your questions as they come up can be really helpful. For example - are you making an adjustment to your payroll in June? Ask your CSR how it will affect your year-end! Our CSRs are National Payroll Institute (NPI) trained and are very knowledgeable, so they can give you the answers to those questions when you need them!”
There you have it, folks! Year-end doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you’re prepared with these tips. Remember: your dedicated CSR is always there to assist, and you can always rely on our Help Centre resources, available 24/7.
Want to ensure you’re staying compliant and up to date on legislation throughout the year, to make certain your year-end process is that much easier? Check out our Payroll Guide!
These articles are produced by Payworks as an information service. They are not intended to substitute professional legal, regulatory, tax, or financial advice. Readers must rely on their own advisors, as applicable, for such advice.
