2027 HR and payroll compliance calendar for Nova Scotia
This calendar lists the 6 paid holidays under Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code for 2027, plus Remembrance Day, which has its own law. It also covers the overtime and tip rules that change on 1 April 2027 and the pay rules that apply all year. Federally regulated employers use the federal calendar.
Month by month
January 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day Public holiday Paid public holiday. |
| Fri 1 Jan | 2027 EI premium rates start Tax and payroll From 1 January 2027 the employee EI premium rate is $1.64 per $100 of insurable earnings and the employer rate is $2.30 per $100. Maximum insurable earnings rise to $70,800, so the most an employee pays in 2027 is $1,161.12 and the most an employer pays per employee is $1,625.57. In Quebec, where the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan applies, the rates are $1.29 (employee) and $1.81 (employer) per $100. The 2027 CPP rates and maximums had not been published on the CRA payroll pages when we checked on 5 November 2026, so check them before your first 2027 pay run. Source All employers with payroll |
| Fri 1 Jan | WCB maximum assessable earnings rise Workers' comp WCB Nova Scotia's maximum assessable earnings per worker are $83,300 for 2027, up from $79,900 in 2026. Premiums are not charged on earnings above this amount. Source Employers registered with WCB Nova Scotia |
February 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 15 Feb | Nova Scotia Heritage Day Public holiday Paid public holiday. |
March 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 1 Mar | 2026 T4 slips and T4 Summary due Tax and payroll File your 2026 T4 slips and T4 Summary with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and give each employee their T4 slips. The deadline is the last day of February, but when that day is a Saturday or Sunday the CRA moves it to the next business day. 28 February 2027 is a Sunday, so the deadline is Monday 1 March 2027. If your business closes, the deadline is 30 days after it stops operating. Source All employers who paid employment income in 2026 |
| Fri 26 Mar | Good Friday Public holiday Paid public holiday. |
| Mon 29 Mar | Easter Monday Other Not a paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code. |
April 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Thu 1 Apr | Overtime starts after 44 hours a week Pay Overtime at 1.5 times regular pay starts after 44 hours a week instead of 48 (Bill 256, Royal Assent 18 September 2026). Check schedules and pay for anyone who regularly works more than 44 hours. Source Employers with employees who are not excluded from overtime |
| Thu 1 Apr | Tips belong to employees Pay From 1 April 2027, tips belong to employees (Bill 256). Source Employers whose employees receive tips |
May 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 24 May | Victoria Day Other Not a paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code. |
July 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jul | Canada Day Public holiday Paid public holiday. |
August 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 2 Aug | Natal Day Other Commonly observed, but not a paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code. You can choose to give it. |
September 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 6 Sep | Labour Day Public holiday Paid public holiday. |
November 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Thu 11 Nov | Remembrance Day Other Not a paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code. It is covered by Nova Scotia's Remembrance Day Act, which has its own rules about which businesses can open and about pay for employees who work that day. |
December 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day Public holiday Falls on a Saturday in 2027. Check with Nova Scotia Labour Standards about what you owe an employee for whom 25 December is not a working day. |
Paid public holidays in Nova Scotia in 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| Mon 15 Feb | Nova Scotia Heritage Day |
| Fri 26 Mar | Good Friday |
| Thu 1 Jul | Canada Day |
| Mon 6 Sep | Labour Day |
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day (Falls on a Saturday in 2027. Check with Nova Scotia Labour Standards about what you owe an employee for whom 25 December is not a working day.) |
How holiday pay is worked out: see public holiday pay and holidays by province.
Every month or every year, no fixed date
| What | When | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll remittances to the CRA (regular remitters) | Every month, by the 15th | Income tax, CPP contributions and EI premiums you deduct, plus your share of CPP and EI, must reach the CRA by the 15th of the month after the month you paid your employees. Due dates follow the pay day, not the pay period. For example, deductions from pay you gave on 29 January 2027 are due by 15 February 2027. New employers are regular remitters. When a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday the CRA recognizes, your payment is on time if the CRA receives it by the next business day. Source |
| Payroll remittances to the CRA (quarterly and accelerated remitters) | On the schedule the CRA gives you | Quarterly remitters (small employers with an average monthly withholding under $3,000 and a perfect compliance history) remit by 15 April, 15 July, 15 October and 15 January. Accelerated threshold 1 remitters (average monthly withholding of $25,000 to $99,999.99) remit by the 25th for pay from the 1st to the 15th of a month, and by the 10th of the next month for pay from the 16th to the end of the month. Accelerated threshold 2 remitters ($100,000 or more) remit within 3 working days after the 7th, 14th, 21st and last day of each month, electronically or at a Canadian financial institution. The next business day rule for weekends and holidays applies. Source |
| Record of Employment (ROE) | Each time an employee has, or is expected to have, 7 consecutive days with no work and no insurable earnings | Electronic ROE, weekly, biweekly or semi-monthly pay: within 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which the interruption happens. Electronic ROE, monthly pay: the earlier of 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period or 15 calendar days after the first day of the interruption. Paper ROE: within 5 calendar days of the first day of the interruption, or the day you learn of it. Keep your copy for 6 years. Source |
| Regular pay days | Every pay period | At least twice a month, and within 5 working days after the pay period ends. Source |
| Final pay when an employee leaves | Each time employment ends | Within 5 working days after the end of the pay period. Vacation pay is due within 10 days. Plan the Record of Employment at the same time. Source |
| Holiday pay eligibility | Each paid holiday | To qualify, an employee must be entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 days before the holiday and work their scheduled shifts just before and after it. Source |
| No questions about pay history | Every hiring process | Do not ask applicants or employees about their wage history. Do not charge workers recruitment fees. Source |
| WCB payroll reports and payments | Monthly or quarterly, by the 15th | WCB Nova Scotia assigns you a monthly or quarterly reporting frequency. Report your payroll and pay by the 15th of the month after each reporting period: for example, March payroll (monthly) or January to March payroll (quarterly) by 15 April. Report even if you had no payroll (enter 0). Source |
Terms on this page: Public holiday pay · Payroll remittance · T4 slip · T4 Summary · Workers' compensation (WCB) · Employer health tax (payroll tax) · Minimum wage · Record of Employment (ROE)
Related free tools
- Harassment policy rules and free template for Nova Scotia
- Guide to hiring seasonal and temporary foreign workers
- Employment standards by province
- WCB premium calculator
Questions
What are the paid holidays in Nova Scotia in 2027?
The Labour Standards Code gives 6: New Year's Day (1 January), Nova Scotia Heritage Day (15 February), Good Friday (26 March), Canada Day (1 July), Labour Day (6 September) and Christmas Day (25 December). Remembrance Day (11 November) is covered by a separate law, the Remembrance Day Act.
Are Easter Monday, Victoria Day and Natal Day paid holidays in Nova Scotia?
No. Easter Monday (29 March 2027), Victoria Day (24 May 2027) and Natal Day (2 August 2027) are not paid holidays under the Labour Standards Code. You can choose to give them.
What changes for overtime in Nova Scotia on 1 April 2027?
Overtime at 1.5 times regular pay starts after 44 hours a week instead of 48. For example, Maya runs a 9-person bakery in Kentville. From 1 April 2027, a baker who works 46 hours in a week is owed 2 hours of overtime. From the same date, tips belong to employees. Many managers and some other roles are excluded from overtime.
Who qualifies for holiday pay in Nova Scotia?
An employee who is entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 days before the holiday and who works their scheduled shifts just before and after it.
Is a minimum wage change scheduled in Nova Scotia for 2027?
None had been announced when we checked on 27 October 2026. The rate is $17.00 an hour (since 1 October 2026).
Official sources
- Nova Scotia Labour Standards, holiday pay
- Nova Scotia, Guide to the Labour Standards Code
- Nova Scotia Labour Standards, minimum wage
- WCB Nova Scotia, maximum assessable earnings
- Canada Revenue Agency, Employers' Guide: Filing the T4 slip and Summary (RC4120)
- Canada Revenue Agency, Employers' Guide: Payroll deductions and remittances (T4001)
- Employment and Social Development Canada, 2027 Employment Insurance premium rate
- Service Canada, how to complete the Record of Employment (ROE) form
- WCB Nova Scotia, payment and reporting
General information for Canadian employers, not legal advice. Dates were checked against the official sources listed on 5 November 2026. Governments change dates and rates, and some deadlines move when they fall on a weekend or holiday, so confirm with the agency before you rely on a date.
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