Understanding Employee Bonuses and RRSPs

Managing Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) for employees can seem daunting, especially with the potential audit risks and tax implications related to employee bonuses. However, with the right approach, handling RRSP contributions can provide significant tax benefits for your employees while ensuring everything complies with regulatory requirements.

There are two ways to manage bonuses and RRSPs:

1. The company manages the bonus and sends it to the employee's RRSP
2. The employee manages it, with the bonus sent directly to them for deposit into their personal RRSP

By clearly defining and communicating your company's approach, you can help prevent tax and audit issues and ensure a smooth and compliant process for both the employer and employees.

This guide will walk you through the key considerations and steps for effectively managing bonuses and RRSPs. Whether your company handles the contributions directly or your employees manage them independently, we've got you covered. 

The Company Manages The Bonus To RRSP

If the company handles the bonus to RRSP transaction, follow these steps to ensure the employee receives the full benefit of the tax deductions associated with RRSP contributions in Humi:

1. Request a Custom Income Type:
   Request a custom income type and name it "Bonus to RRSP," or use an existing Bonus Income Type. This article provides step-by-step instructions.
2. Create the RRSP Benefit:
   Select the appropriate RRSP type (Restricted or Non-Restricted) from Humi’s default options. Refer to this article for step-by-step instructions.
3. Apply the Employee Premium:
   Enter the amount to be redirected to the RRSP as an Employee Premium.
4. Apply Company Contribution (if applicable):
   If your company matches the RRSP contribution, enter the matching amount under Company Contribution. Skip this step if it does not apply.
5. Finalize Payroll: 
   Review the details and click “Complete and Pay” to finalize your payroll.
6. Send funds to the employee’s RRSP benefit:
   The final step is to transfer the funds to your employee’s RRSP benefit. Please note that Humi does not send money directly to RRSP accounts, so you’ll need to manage this transaction outside of Humi.
7.  

The Employee Manages The Bonus To RRSP 

If the company doesn't manage the RRSP through its benefits, there's a risk of an audit if income taxes aren't withheld on bonuses not kept within the RRSP. In other words, if the company pays the bonus directly to the employee without handling the RRSP contributions, there could be problems with tax withholdings.

The employee can deposit their net bonus into a personal RRSP in this scenario.

The employer should not record the RRSP benefit in payroll if the company does not handle the RRSP transaction. The employee can then claim the related tax credits when filing their annual tax return.

Managing Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) for your employees is a significant aspect of ensuring their financial well-being and compliance with tax regulations.

Whether your company handles RRSP contributions directly or empowers employees to manage them independently, following the steps outlined in this guide can optimize tax benefits and streamline administrative processes.