Why you must report earnings on EI
Reporting is a continuing condition of receiving EI regular benefits, not a one-time step. Service Canada uses each report to determine how much of your claim is payable for the week, so the information you submit sets the amount you receive.
Reporting as an ongoing condition
While you receive regular benefits, you submit a biweekly report. After each report, Service Canada tells you when the next one is due, and you have 3 weeks from that date to submit it. The cycle therefore runs for as long as regular benefits are paid. A week with a full work week gets no regular benefits, however little you earn, so every week’s work must appear in a report.
How reports feed the benefit calculation
Reported earnings are what Service Canada uses to adjust your weekly payment. The two reduction bands are explained in the section on how your benefits are reduced.
| Earnings in a reported week | Effect on EI payment |
|---|---|
| Up to 90% of weekly insurable earnings | You keep 50 cents of EI for every dollar earned |
| Above 90% of weekly insurable earnings | The excess is deducted dollar for dollar |
How do I report my earnings?
While you receive regular EI benefits, you file your report either online or by phone. Both methods use the same two identifiers: your social insurance number (SIN) and a four-digit access code that Service Canada mailed to you. You can choose either channel.
You can file the report online or by phone. The steps are:
- Have your SIN and the mailed four-digit access code ready before you start.
- Choose the online option or the telephone option.
- Enter your SIN and access code to reach your report.
- Declare your work and earnings.
| Requirement | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Social insurance number | Identifies your EI claim when you file |
| Four-digit access code | Gives you access to your report, mailed to you by Service Canada |
| Online filing | Submit the report through the Service Canada online channel |
| Telephone filing | Submit the same report by phone |
Government of Canada (Service Canada), 2026.
What counts as earnings: gross, not net
Report employment earnings as gross, meaning the amount before deductions such as taxes. Service Canada states that employment earnings are reported gross, so the take-home figure on a pay statement is not the number to enter. Reporting net pay is one of the common reporting errors Service Canada identifies.
Earnings are also tied to a specific week. Report work and earnings for the week in which the work took place, not the week the payment arrives. Match each amount to the week the work was performed, so that the figure you enter reflects the period it covers.
Employment earnings are not the only income to declare. Service Canada requires that any other money you receive also be reported. The rule applies to all money you receive, not just wages, so review every source of income during the period before you submit your report.
A practical sequence for each report:
- Take the gross figure for each pay period from your pay statement.
- Assign each figure to the week the work took place.
- Submit the report.
How much will my EI benefits be reduced?
Partial earnings reduce your EI regular benefits in two bands. After the waiting period, you keep 50 cents of EI for every dollar you earn, as long as your earnings stay up to 90% of your weekly insurable earnings. Earnings above that limit are deducted dollar for dollar, so each extra dollar earned above the limit reduces your weekly benefit by a full dollar. The 90% limit is the point where the reduction rate changes.
| Weekly earnings band (after waiting period) | Effect on EI benefit |
|---|---|
| Up to 90% of weekly insurable earnings | You keep 50 cents of EI per dollar earned |
| Above 90% of weekly insurable earnings | Each dollar earned above the limit is deducted dollar for dollar |
To apply these rules to a report:
- Enter the actual earnings for the report period.
- Compare the total with your 90% limit. Service Canada calculates this threshold from your claim, so confirm the figure with Service Canada if you are unsure which band applies.
- Expect the benefit for that period to fall by the amount set by the band your earnings reach.
When are EI reports due?
While you receive regular EI benefits, you submit a report every 2 weeks. The cycle repeats for as long as you claim regular benefits, so there is no single annual deadline. Each report starts the next cycle.
Next report date set by Service Canada
The due date is not fixed in advance. After each report, Service Canada tells you when the next one is due. Note that date when you file, because it is the starting point for your filing window.
The three-week filing window
You have 3 weeks from the next report date to submit it. The window is counted from the date Service Canada gives you.
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You submit your report online or by phone | Every 2 weeks while receiving regular benefits |
| 2 | Service Canada sets the date of the next report | Given after each submitted report |
| 3 | You submit the next report | Within 3 weeks of that date |
The filing date and the reporting period are separate: you file on the cycle set by Service Canada, but the report describes a past week of work.
What if I forgot or made a mistake?
The three most common reporting errors are estimating earnings, reporting net instead of gross, and forgetting earnings. Service Canada asks for actual amounts.
| Mistake | What to report instead |
|---|---|
| Estimating earnings | The actual amounts |
| Forgetting earnings | All employment earnings, plus any other money received |
Unreported earnings can create an overpayment that you must repay. If unreported earnings are discovered later, the full amount earned is deducted from your benefits. Knowingly false reports can also bring penalties. Check your Service Canada notices for the amounts that apply to your claim. If you disagree with a decision or an overpayment notice, get advice from a community legal clinic or a legal advisor.
You cannot file the next report early, so call 1-800-206-7218 and press 0 as soon as possible to report the mistake.
Does a full work week stop my benefits?
A full work week means you receive no regular EI benefits for that week, however little you earn. Small earnings in a full work week do not keep that week’s payment. Eligibility is assessed week by week, so each week of your claim is judged on the work performed in that week.
The distinction matters because it determines how each week is treated. A full work week pays zero regular benefits. A partial-earnings week is a week in which you work but not a full work week. Benefits for that week remain payable and are reduced according to what you earn. The sources used here do not state the number of hours that makes up a full work week, so confirm the exact definition with Service Canada before you report.
Reporting follows the same weekly logic. Each report should show the actual hours and earnings for each week, not estimates.
| Week type | Regular benefits for that week | What you report |
|---|---|---|
| Full work week | None, however little you earn | The work performed during that week |
| Partial-earnings week | Still payable, reduced by earnings | The work and earnings for that week, as actual amounts |
Unreported work has direct financial consequences. If unreported earnings are discovered, the full amount earned is deducted from your benefits.
Keep a year-long record of your reports and payments
The practical starting point is your own reporting record. Every regular benefit payment follows a report you submit, and those reports are the most reliable way to rebuild the year’s totals.
Build a year-long record
Keep a running log of each report as you file it. For each reporting period, note:
- The gross earnings for that period.
- The benefit amount paid for the period, taken from your payment record.
Use actual figures throughout. The log only works if it matches what was paid.
Compare the record with any tax slip
At year-end, add up the benefit amounts in your log. If you receive a slip for EI benefits, such as a T4E, compare its total with your own figure. A difference is a reason to check both records before filing, not a reason to assume either one is correct.
Check withholding on each payment
Look at each payment statement to see whether any tax was deducted before the money reached you. Do not assume a rate. Record what was actually deducted so the year-end comparison accounts for it.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I forget to report earnings for one week?
Unreported earnings can create an overpayment that you must repay. If Service Canada finds unreported earnings later, the full amount you earned is deducted from your benefits. Knowingly false reports can also lead to penalties.
Do I report my pay before or after taxes are taken off?
Report gross earnings, meaning the amount before deductions such as income tax. Report the gross amount for the week the work took place, and include any other money you received during that week.
What should I do if I made a mistake in a report I already filed?
Call 1-800-206-7218 and press 0 as soon as possible. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, the TTY line is 1-800-529-3742. Late, incomplete or incorrect reports can delay your payment, and you cannot file the next report early.
