topic Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty in Troubleshooting

T4 - error because box 16 is empty

shmish — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 23:15:12 GMT

I have two T4's from the same employer (switched jobs with different payment options). One one T4, there is a value in box 16 which I enter. For the second T4, box 16 is empty but I have a value in box 16a. TurboTax does not allow this, and won't allow me to save the second T4 and continue.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Leonard02 — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:18:21 GMT

Can you check your T4's on CRA and verify? If correct why not claim the 16a on the 1st T4 and leave it out of the second? You are reporting everything on your T4s. Correct itemization is just a plus.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

ManyTaxQuestions — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:17:51 GMT

I have the same problem but with box 17 and box 17A. I've been getting the runaround for close to three weeks when the issue is obviously a software issue.

I also have a discussion thread.

I've also been told that the issue is fixed and to contact product support if it still isn't.

I called product support and they told me it is not fixed.

This is really frustrating. However, the agent at product support finally escalated the case. I am not sure if Turbotax will actually fix their error based on what I have experienced so far.....

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

ManyTaxQuestions — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:22:16 GMT

Also, it might be more useful to contact product support directly.

https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/turbotax-support/en-ca/help-article/tax-return/contact-us/L1h8P3E0x_CA_en_CA?uid=m4j5o7no

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:48:01 GMT

@shmish Box 16 on T4 is Employee's CPP contributions. Box 16A is Employees’ second CPP contributions.

This is not a software issue, because if you have a 2nd contribution (box 16A), you should logically have a 1st contribution (box 16). Technically, both amount should be on the same T4.

As suggest by @Leonard02 , if the last version of your T4 on your CRA My Account is not with box 16 and box 16A on the same slip, we suggest you to contact CRA to see if you can combine both T4s together to have only 1 but with all the amount reflecting your 2024 year.

Here is the link to contact CRA

Thank you for choosing TurboTax.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Jester9661 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:20:00 GMT

I have the same issue. In my case; same employer but they legally changed name part way through the year so have issued two T4's.

"This is not a software issue..."

It is most definitely a software issue because if the CRA allows it, so should the software. It should be as simple as Turbo-Tax checking box 16/17 of all T4's before applying the logic to deny a 16a/17a value. Apparently it is not an issue in Wealth Simple though - should we all just abandoned Turbo Tax in favor of another package?

"if you have a 2nd contribution (box 16A), you should logically have a 1st contribution (box 16)"

This makes sense in theory, however, with two T4's if you've already reached the maximum contribution of $4,034.10 (for 2025) on the first one then anything remaining is "additional" including any contributions made during the time period covered by the second T4.

"we suggest you to contact CRA to see if you can combine both T4s together to have only 1 but with all the amount reflecting your 2024 year."

Who is "we"? Your post was made anonymously - do you work for TurboTax?? I suggest TurboTax fixes their product rather than advising workarounds that would require users of their software to wait on hold for hours with the CRA. I have considered "fudging" the T4's as you have suggested, however, if the data we submit doesn't match the T4's on file with the CRA it is likely to trigger an audit.

It may not matter if Netfile just sends the totals rather than the individual T4 data, but again, if this is the case then it should be a very easy fix for Turbo Tax. Bottom line - Turbo Tax should accept the T4 data exactly as entered on the actual T4's without requiring a "workaround."

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Leonard02 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:42:23 GMT

Have you tried autofill? It may clear up some confusion with your T4s. Not sue, but it may be worth a try.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Jester9661 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:10:36 GMT

I don't know what you mean by autofill, but Turbo Tax pulled the T4 data directly from the CRA.

At the end of the whole process, when I go to file the return, Turbo Tax gives the error about box 16/16a and does not allow me to Netfile the return.

I tried deleting the second T4 so that Turbo Tax would recalculate everything and "see" that box 16 was filled in the first T4, then manually re-entered the second T4, and it immediately gives the same error regarding box 16/16a - only this time I can't continue past the T4 without "fixing" the error.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Leonard02 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:11:24 GMT

Yes. That is autofill from CRA. You are at the mercy of TurboTax. I feel your pain!

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTax_Susan — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:13:13 GMT

@Jester9661 If you are still not able to resolve this issue, please contact our phone support team for more assistance.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Jester9661 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:33:01 GMT

Better idea - fix the software, or at least post the solution here so that others can find it. We have many other employees with the same problem, and I'm sure there are many other Canadians that will run into this too.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTax_Susan — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:25:56 GMT

@Jester9661 On you T4 slip, box Box 16A is only supposed to be used if your pensionable earnings are more than the year's maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) but not more than the year's additional maximum pensionable earnings (YAMPE). So it's incorrect for Box 16 to be empty when Box 16A is has an amount.

As TurboTax doesn't compare slips together, if you can't get a corrected slip from your employer, then the work around that we in community have is to put something in Box 16.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

user17737611663 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:40:01 GMT

Very frustrated! I contacted my employer (government also I might add) and both my T4 statements are accurate. There is a turbo tax glitch (which has existed in the past I found through searching) where you cant enter a second T4 statement with only a box 16A number (without having a box 16 number). You will get an error code and cannot progress. I called the help phone number and was told we can add the second T4 statement's box 16A amount to the first T4 statement's 16A number and thus enter 0s for the second T4 statements box 16A and box 16. WHY? We should be able to enter the boxes exactly as they are written on our employers' T4 statements so they are not only accurate but also align perfectly in case CRA does an audit! I was then told I could 'upgrade' by paying more to get a specialist. No....I do not need a specialist to tell me how to fudge a number because of an ongoing software glitch. Tempted to ditch all my work using turbotax and use free online software that wont freeze up. So if anyone from turbotax is reading this, here is the problem. Some people max out their CPP on their first T4 slip. Then they can pay more (CPP2) on their second T4 slip. So this is why its perfectly legit to have a box 16A number without a box 16 number. Please fix this software glitch now and update so we can just get our taxes done and over with!

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTaxAniqua — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:29:20 GMT

Box 16/17 on the T4 is the employee's CPP/QPP contributions.

Box 16A/17A is the employee's second CPP/QPP contribution.

This is not a software issue, because if you have a second contribution (box 16A/17A), you should logically have a first contribution (box 16/17). Technically, both amounts should be on the same T4.

If the last version of your T4 on your CRA My Account is not with box 16/17 and box 16A/17, On the same slip, we suggest you contact the CRA to see if you can combine both T4s to have only 1 but with the full amount reflecting your 2024 year.

Here is the link to contact the CRA.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/contact-information.html

The temporary workaround:

Take the amount in 16A/17A and move it to 16/17.

Your feedback is valuable, and we will pass this to our development team.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

user17737611663 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:09:57 GMT

Just contacted my employer again (and its a government branch of Ontario) and they said the reason why the second T4 statement has an amount for box 16A, and not 16 is due to the fact that both T4s are from the same employer and that the second T4 cant have an additional amount in box 16 as I maxed that out with my income/CPP payment on the first T4. They claim its accurate, and that they have had no issues of problems other than this glitch from turbo tax users. So, for example, if on the first T4 a person maxes out their CPP contribution ($4034.10 for the 2025 year), then the CPP2 kicks in...which has a maximum amount also ($188.00). So on the first T4, you could have a maxed out CPP ($4034.10) for box 16, and PART of the CPP2 for box 16A. Then if the SAME employer hires you for additional work (like a summer gig), they cant deduct more CPP (box 16) as you already reached the maximum in the first T4, but CAN deduct more from you in CPP2 (box16A) until you reach that maximum amount ($188.00).

So please update the software to allow people to proceed. You could tell the software developers that if a previously entered T4 hits the maximum CPP amount, its possible for a second T4 to include an amount for box 16A without an additional box 16 amount, so long as the previous T4 box 16 is maxed out at $4034.10).

Please, please, please fix this!

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTaxAniqua — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:27:00 GMT

@user17737611663 We have already communicated your feedback to our development team. Thank you for your feedback; they have been informed.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

Jester9661 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:23:26 GMT

"The temporary workaround:

Take the amount in 16A/17A and move it to 16/17."

If it was not a software issue then no "workaround" would be required at all.

As already mentioned, there are several valid reasons why a T4 may have a number in 16A/17A with no number in 16/17, so TurboTax should recognize this. The logic should be as easy as checking to see another T4 has been already entered and, if so, has its box 16/17 already been maxed out.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTaxAniqua — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:05:15 GMT

@Jester9661 Your feedback is noted and is passed on to the assigned team. Thanks.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

user17737611663 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:21:19 GMT

Can we get a timeline of when this software glitch/update fix will be released? I notified turbotax this weekend on the phone this past weekend, and 4 days later, still no fix. I keep opening up the software hoping for an update, but nothing. With all the time wasted, I could have just used another program to do my taxes and would have been done with it by now.

Re: T4 - error because box 16 is empty

TurboTaxAniqua — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:47:17 GMT

@user17737611663 We have advised the assigned department. We have no ETA at this time. We will update this thread once we have any updates. We appreciate your patience.