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The Alberta TD1 is the form that tells your employer how much of your pay to shield from tax at source. For 2026 the Alberta basic amount is $22,769, and the federal form starts you at $16,452 unless your net income is high. You hand it to your employer, not to the CRA.
What does the Alberta TD1 do?
It sets withholding, nothing more. Your employer takes your claims from the form and works out how much tax to hold back from each cheque. Your real tax bill gets settled when you file your return.
You’ll usually fill in two forms: the federal TD1 and the one for the province where you work. If you work in Alberta, that’s the TD1AB. The CRA’s page for employers says the provincial form follows the province of employment, so living in one place and working in another can catch people out.
Skip the forms and nothing breaks. The employer only counts the basic personal amount, estimated from what they pay you. That’s fine if you have no other claims. If you do, you’re lending the government money until spring.
Which amounts can you claim on the Alberta TD1?
Everyone in Canada gets the basic amounts. The rest depends on your situation, and the age and pension lines are the ones most people ask about.
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Federal basic personal amount | $16,452 (drops toward $14,829 as net income rises from $181,440 to $258,482) |
| Alberta basic personal amount | $22,769 |
| Alberta age amount (65 or older) | $6,345, reduced by 15% of net income above $47,234 |
| Alberta pension income amount | Up to $1,753 |
| Alberta credit rate on these amounts | 8% |
That last line is the one to remember. Each $1,000 you claim on the Alberta form is worth $80 of provincial tax. On the federal side, each $1,000 is worth $140 at the 14% credit rate.
Scale that up to the basic amounts. The Alberta amount of $22,769 at 8% is worth $1,821.52 a year, and the federal $16,452 at 14% is worth $2,303.28. That’s how much of your tax bill the two basic amounts wipe out before anything else you claim.
How much difference does a claim make?
Take someone earning $60,000 in Alberta. The income tax calculator shows $5,338.30 of federal tax and $2,631.30 of Alberta tax, so $7,969.60 in all. CPP and EI take another $4,339.75, and $47,690.66 is left. That’s $3,974.22 a month, according to the take-home pay calculator.
Now add $5,000 of tuition. The tax credits calculator puts the federal saving at $700. That tool is federal only, so Alberta adds its own share on top.
Would the TD1 catch that tuition? Not always. Employers only act on what’s on the form, and some credits are claimed when you file. Others, like the disability amount, can go on the form so your pay stub reflects them straight away.
Do you need a new TD1 each year?
The CRA publishes a fresh form for each year, and the current one covers pay received on or after January 1, 2026. We couldn’t find a rule that forces you to redo it every January, so ask your payroll team what they want.
A change in your life is different. The CRA says a new form is due within 7 days of a change that would affect your credits, such as a new dependant or a new pension. Its employer page also mentions a late-form penalty of $25 a day, with a $100 minimum and a $2,500 maximum, so hand the paper over quickly.
What should you do at a new job?
Your new employer will ask for the forms on day one, usually in the same pile as direct deposit and the emergency contact sheet. Fill in both the TD1 and the TD1AB, even if you only plan to claim the basic amounts, so the payroll team has something on file. If you start in the middle of the year, your first cheques may show a bit more or less tax than you expect, because the tables assume a full year of pay.
Check the first stub against the payroll deductions calculator. A big gap usually means a missing claim, a missing form or a benefit that hasn’t been counted yet.
What if you have two jobs?
This is where the form earns its keep. Each employer will otherwise assume their job is your only one and give you the full basic amount. Two jobs, two full amounts, and a bill when you file. Many people claim the full amount at the main job and leave the rest blank at the second.
Mistakes that cost you money
The common one is claiming the basic amount at two jobs and forgetting it when you file. Only one set of basic amounts exists per person, and the difference shows up as tax owing. We couldn’t confirm the exact TD1 wording on splitting claims, so read the form’s instructions before you sign.
Another slip is claiming too much. If you write down $10,000 of credits you can’t back up, you’ve just moved the bill to April 30. And if you’re a high earner, remember that the federal basic amount shrinks above $181,440.
Finally, don’t confuse the TD1 with a tax return. It won’t refund anything. Only your return does that, so keep your receipts either way.
The sources behind this page
The Alberta and federal amounts come from the Canada Revenue Agency payroll tables and TD1AB form for 2026, plus its page on indexing personal amounts. Alberta’s own tax pages confirm the 8% lowest rate. We couldn’t read the 2026 federal TD1 form itself, so check line 1 of it against the table above before you rely on the federal figure. We aren’t a government service and we don’t speak for one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I fill in the Alberta TD1 and the federal TD1?
Usually yes, both. The CRA says the provincial form follows your province of employment, so an Alberta job means the TD1AB.
What if I never give my employer a TD1?
The employer counts only the basic personal amount, estimated from your pay. Other claims wait until you file your return.
What is the Alberta basic personal amount for 2026?
It's $22,769 in the CRA payroll tables. Each $1,000 claimed is worth $80 of Alberta tax at the 8% credit rate.
How fast do I need to update my TD1?
The CRA says within 7 days of a change that affects your credits, such as a new dependant.
Can the TD1 get me a refund?
No. It only changes withholding on your pay. Refunds come from your tax return.
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- Alberta income tax and GST in 2026
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