Employee RRSP+ contribution or cash bonus?
We explain why it is better to put an amount into your employees RRSP+ as a contribution rather than offering a bonus on their pay.¹
![]() |
By Fonds de solidarité FTQ |
Employee attraction and retention are at the heart of every employer's concerns. As a result, many employers — especially SMEs — want to enhance their benefits to not only meet their employees' needs, but also become more competitive on the market.
Rather than offering raises, some employers prefer to wait until the end of the year to pay employee bonuses based on their company's performance. However, there is a way to give your employees more while reducing your costs. Simply opt for the RRSP+ with Fonds de solidarité FTQ employer contribution program.
A worthwhile alternative to traditional bonuses
Generally speaking, companies that offer bonuses do so by paying their employees a lump sum at the end of the year. Since each employee's bonus must be added to their total salary to calculate applicable payroll taxes, they don't benefit from the full bonus amount. Plus, you end up spending more.
Fortunately, there is a solution that allows your employees to take full advantage of their bonus while also reducing your payroll costs. By setting up an RRSP+ with the Fonds contribution program for your employees, they'll not only benefit from your full employer contribution, but also receive the additional 30 percent tax savings² on this amount.
Planning to give each employee $1,000?
Here's a breakdown of the two scenarios³.
Traditional payroll bonus | Employer contribution to the employee's RRSP+ with the Fonds1 | |
---|---|---|
Amount offered to the employee | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Employer's payroll taxes4 | $125 | N/A |
Actual cost to the employer | $1,125 | $1,000 |
Gross amount paid to the employee | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Employee contributions (QPP, QPIP, and EI) | $74 | N/A |
Tax savings | N/A | $3002 |
Total gross profit for the employee | $926 | $1,300 |
Contributing to your employees' RRSP+ with the Fonds has three distinct advantages:
You give more to your employees at a lower cost
Setting up an RRSP+ with the Fonds employer contribution program allows you to give an amount that fits your budget and that your employees can fully benefit from while enjoying additional tax savings².
You stand out in the job market
The RRSP+ with the Fonds will enhance your benefits package, helping you to attract and retain the best candidates and improve your employee experience.
You encourage healthy saving habits
By contributing to your employees' RRSP+ with the Fonds, you encourage healthy saving habits and help them reach their goals.
Did you know?
You can contribute to your employees' RRSP+ with the Fonds with every paycheque. Of course, you can vary the amounts for different employees, or choose a contribution amount based on your own pre-established criteria, such as job position or seniority. All this is optional and at your discretion.
These articles may be of interest to you
Talk to one of our agents
You can reach us at 1-888-385-3723, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Send us a message
You have a question about your file or the Fonds de solidarité FTQ? Write to us, we will be happy to answer you.
Log in to the Espace employeur
You can manage all aspects of your company's payroll deduction plan online. A wide range of documents for you and your employees is also available on the Espace employeur.