.ei-calc-input-group { margin-bottom: 20px; }
.ei-calc-label { display: block; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 8px; color: #333; }
.ei-calc-input { width: 100%; padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; }
.ei-calc-input:focus { border-color: #007bff; outline: none; }
.ei-calc-select { width: 100%; padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 16px; background-color: #fff; box-sizing: border-box; }
.ei-calc-btn { width: 100%; padding: 14px; background-color: #007bff; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 18px; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; transition: background 0.2s; margin-top: 10px; }
.ei-calc-btn:hover { background-color: #0056b3; }
.ei-result-box { margin-top: 30px; background-color: #f8f9fa; padding: 20px; border-radius: 6px; border-left: 5px solid #007bff; display: none; }
.ei-result-row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 10px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; }
.ei-result-row:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
.ei-result-label { color: #555; }
.ei-result-value { font-weight: 700; color: #333; }
.ei-info-section { margin-top: 40px; line-height: 1.6; color: #444; }
.ei-info-section h2 { color: #2c3e50; border-bottom: 2px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 30px; }
.ei-info-section h3 { color: #2c3e50; margin-top: 25px; }
.ei-info-section p { margin-bottom: 15px; }
.ei-info-section ul { margin-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 20px; }
.ei-highlight { background: #e3f2fd; padding: 2px 5px; border-radius: 3px; }
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.ei-result-row { flex-direction: column; text-align: center; }
.ei-result-value { font-size: 1.2em; margin-top: 5px; }
}
Understanding Employment Insurance (EI) Rates
The Employment Insurance (EI) Rate Calculator helps employees and employers in Canada estimate the amount of EI premiums that will be deducted from a salary in a given tax year. Employment Insurance provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, as well as those who are sick, pregnant, or caring for a family member.
How is EI Calculated?
EI premiums are calculated as a percentage of your gross insurable earnings, up to a specific annual limit.
- Insurable Earnings: This is generally your gross salary before taxes and other deductions.
- EI Premium Rate: A set percentage rate determined by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission.
- Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE): There is a cap on the amount of income on which you pay EI. Once your earnings exceed this cap, no further EI premiums are deducted for the rest of the year.
Quebec vs. Rest of Canada
The calculation differs slightly depending on your province of employment:
Quebec: Workers in Quebec pay a lower federal EI rate because the province administers its own maternity, paternity, and parental benefits plan (QPIP). Consequently, Quebec residents pay into both EI and QPIP.
Rest of Canada: For all other provinces and territories, the standard federal EI rate applies, which covers all standard benefits including maternity and parental leave.
Calculation Formula
The basic formula for calculating your annual premium is:
Annual Premium = MIN(Gross Income, Max Insurable Earnings) × (EI Rate ÷ 100)
Why did my deductions stop?
If you notice that EI deductions have disappeared from your pay stub later in the year, you have likely reached the Maximum Insurable Earnings cap. Once you have contributed the maximum annual premium amount, you are exempt from further contributions until the next calendar year begins.
function updateEIDefaults() {
var province = document.getElementById('ei_province').value;
var rateInput = document.getElementById('ei_rate');
var maxInput = document.getElementById('ei_max_earnings');
// Defaults based on 2024 figures (Standard approximate values)
// Users can edit these if calculating for a different year
if (province === 'QC') {
rateInput.value = "1.32"; // Quebec Rate
maxInput.value = "63200"; // Quebec Max
} else {
rateInput.value = "1.66"; // Rest of Canada Rate
maxInput.value = "63200"; // Federal Max
}
}
function calculateEI() {
// Get input values
var incomeStr = document.getElementById('ei_income').value;
var rateStr = document.getElementById('ei_rate').value;
var maxEarningsStr = document.getElementById('ei_max_earnings').value;
// Parse numbers
var income = parseFloat(incomeStr);
var rate = parseFloat(rateStr);
var maxEarnings = parseFloat(maxEarningsStr);
// Validation
if (isNaN(income) || income < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Annual Gross Income.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(rate) || rate < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid EI Rate percentage.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(maxEarnings) || maxEarnings < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Maximum Insurable Earnings amount.");
return;
}
// Logic: Calculate Insurable Earnings (Capped at Max)
var insurableEarnings = Math.min(income, maxEarnings);
// Logic: Calculate Annual Premium
// Rate is percentage, so divide by 100
var annualPremium = insurableEarnings * (rate / 100);
// Logic: Breakdowns
var monthly = annualPremium / 12;
var biweekly = annualPremium / 26;
var weekly = annualPremium / 52;
// Formatting utility
function formatMoney(num) {
return "$" + num.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('res_insurable_earnings').innerText = formatMoney(insurableEarnings);
document.getElementById('res_annual_premium').innerText = formatMoney(annualPremium);
document.getElementById('res_monthly').innerText = formatMoney(monthly);
document.getElementById('res_biweekly').innerText = formatMoney(biweekly);
document.getElementById('res_weekly').innerText = formatMoney(weekly);
// Show result box
document.getElementById('ei_result_display').style.display = "block";
}