Your contributions to the Québec Pension Plan if you are a self-employed worker

The Québec Pension Plan is a compulsory public insurance plan. The Plan is funded through your contributions, which are collected by Revenu Québec and managed by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec .

Contributions: payment and deductions

Did you know that you are responsible for paying Revenu Québec an annual contribution for the Québec Pension Plan? In 2023, the contribution rate is 12.80% of the portion of your employment earnings subject to contribution.

The contribution rate of 12.80% is applied to the part of your salary between the basic exemption ($3500) and the maximum pensionable earnings ($66 600). The increase in the contribution rate is due to the enhancement of the Québec Pension Plan, which came into force on 1 January 2019 and which includes an additional plan. To find out more, consult the example of annual contributions.

If you receive a disability pension, you no longer contribute to the Plan.

How long does the contributory period last?

Whether or not you work, the contributory period in the Québec Pension Plan begins in the month following your 18th birthday, or on 1 January 1966 if you turned 18 before that date.

The contributory period ends at the end of the earliest of the following months:

• the month preceding the one in which your retirement pension begins
• the month of your 70th birthday
• the month of your death.

For disability benefits, the contributory period ends at the end of the month in which you became disabled.

Even if the contributory period ends in the month preceding the one in which your retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan begins or the month of your 70th birthday, you must continue to contribute to the Québec Pension Plan as long as you work and your income is greater than the basic exemption of $3500. In return, you will receive a retirement pension supplement.

It is possible that certain months will not be taken into account when calculating the contributory period, which could give entitlement to a certain benefits under the Québec Pension Plan or even increase the amount; if they are:

• months for which you received a disability pension under the Québec Pension Plan or the Canada Pension Plan or an unreduced income replacement indemnity from theCommission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).
• as of 1966 (the year in which the Québec Pension Plan came into effect), any months for which you received family benefits paid by the Québec government or the Canadian government for a child under 7. The period can be extended up to 18 years for the parent of a child requiring exceptional care receiving a benefit under the Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care^{See Note 1} program.
• months during which the person's earnings were the lowest (up to 15% of the period).

Statement of Participation in the Québec Pension Plan

To find out more about the amounts you and your family could receive at retirement or in the event of death or disability, consult your Statement of Participation.

What does your Statement of Participation contain?

• The earnings on which you made contributions to the Québec Pension Plan and the Canada Pension Plan.
• An estimate of the amount of the disability pension under the Québec Pension Plan to which you could be entitled if you were deemed to be disabled.
• The amount to which you will be entitled at age 60 — or on the date of the Statement — and at age 65 on the basis of the earnings recorded.
• The amount to which you will be entitled at age 60 — or on the date of the Statement — and at age 65 if you continue to contribute on earnings similar to those already recorded.
• An estimate of the amount of the surviving spouse's pension under the Québec Pension Plan and the other benefits to which your family would be entitled if you were to die.

Take this opportunity to make sure that all the employment earnings on which you contributed to the Québec Pension Plan are in fact recorded under your name.

Consult the Planning your retirement section. You will find various tools and good advice to help you put your plan into action.