Payment to a Small Business or Individual

What is an honorarium?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) criteria for honorarium payments include:

• They are nominal and are not reflective of the value of the work done;
• They are made to an individual for voluntary services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required;
• They are made on a one-time or non-routine basis to an individual as a “thank you”.

When is an honorarium appropriate?

Keeping the above criteria in mind, examples where an honorarium payment would be acceptable include:

• payment, as a “thank you” or gesture of goodwill and appreciation, to a non-professional;
• guest speaker or lecturer,
• external party for a special classroom lecture or short series of such lectures,
• individual for conducting a seminar or workshop,
• guest speaker at an educational event or other similar function,
• guest speaker participating at outreach events,
• payment to a volunteer for assistance for set-up or supporting activities at special events;
• payment to an external examiner whose services are engaged on a one-time or very infrequent basis.

When is a payment not an honorarium?

An honorarium is not based on an agreed to amount between the individual providing services and the University representative seeking services. If payment is agreed upon, this constitutes a contractual arrangement. This means that an employment or independent contractor (business) relationship exists.

An honorarium is not appropriate if the University is obtaining the services of a professional speaker or consultant who performs the requested service for a living. These individuals would be considered self-employed and should receive a fee for service or consulting payment.

Are honorariums subject to tax deductions?

Residents of Canada: An honorarium paid to a resident of Canada who is not an employee of the University is not subject to tax deductions; however, this does not mean that the recipient does not have to pay taxes on the amount received. The individual will be issued a T4A for the payment, and when they file their tax return for the year, any taxes owing on the amount paid will be assessed by the CRA.  If the combined total paid to the individual by Carleton throughout the calendar year is less than $500, then a T4A is not issued.

Non-Residents of Canada: Where the service was performed in Canada, honorariums paid to non-residents of Canada are subject to a flat rate income tax deduction and are reported on a T4A-NR. If the service was performed outside of Canada, there is no tax deduction or reporting requirements.

The following are required in order to pay a small business or individual:

• Independent Contractor Questionnaire (found in eShop)
• Confirmation of Information and Indemnification Agreement (listed alphabetically on Financial Services’ forms page)
• Full legal name
• Mailing Address
• Social Insurance Number or Registered Tax Identification Number (GST/HST/Business Number)
• An invoice
• Cheque Requisition Form OR Purchase Requisition Form (found in eShop)

Tip: The ‘Establishing eShop Contracts for Independent Contractors’ how-to sheet provides step by step instructions.

It is recommended that documentation be forwarded prior to the request for payment. Documentation may be requested again if a significant period of time has elapsed since previous payments, or if the individual/Independent Contractor is being paid by a different department. If you believe that a contractor has been paid before, please send a query to Accounts Payable and verification will be provided.

In the case of a taxable payment (where a Social Insurance Number has been provided), a T4A will be issued after the completion of the calendar year.

Social Insurance Number Information from the Canada Revenue Agency

Whether a business is providing editing services, selling gift baskets, or an individual is playing at convocation, a commitment has been made by the University to pay for this service/product, and the independent contractor has committed to perform or fulfill a contract. Before this contract is finalized, whether verbal or written, it is prudent to examine how the contractor should be paid and whether a pre-existing relationship with the University exists.

Completing the Independent Contractor Questionnaire form (found in eShop) prior to finalizing a contract will determine whether the payment should be made through Accounts Payable or Payroll Services. If payment is to be made through Accounts Payable, then completion of the Confirmation of Information and Indemnification form (listed alphabetically on Financial Services’ forms page) will ensure that the Independent Contractor is aware that they are responsible for their tax obligations to the Canadian Government and indemnifies Carleton University from any claim, damages or liabilities resulting from their retention as an independent contractor.

Further information regarding the individuals’/ independent contractor’s relationship may be obtained from the CRA Website. Tip: You can also search for ‘Employee or Self-Employed’ on the CRA’s website.

Specific rules apply for Non-Residents of Canada. Withholding taxes will be deducted as required by the Canadian Revenue Agency for work performed within Canada. For more information, contact the Accounts Payable Supervisor.

For Non-Canadian Residents, a T4A-NR slip will be issued for taxable payments.

Individuals from outside of Canada may be directed to Waiver 105 form (Tax Exemption certificate) to apply to be waived from the withholding taxes. Work performed outside of Canada will not be subject to withholding taxes, but if a product is being provided to a Canadian address, taxes may be assessed.

30 days prior to their anticipated arrival in Canada, individuals should send the following completed documents to the Canada Revenue Agency at 333 Laurier Street, Ottawa, ON, K4A 4P4 (phone: +613-688-7440):

• Copy of letter of agreement/ contract with University department
• Copy of Passport Identification page (notarized)
• Form T1261 (Tip: you can also search Canada Revenue Agency’s website for ‘Form T1261’)
• Regulation 105 Waiver Application (Tip: you can also search Canada Revenue Agency’s website for ‘Waiver 105’)

Based upon an approved application, the Canadian Revenue Agency will prepare a Tax Exemption Certificate. The certificate will be sent to both the individual and the departmental administrator as indicated on the application. This certificate must accompany all requisitions for payment (in copy form) submitted to Accounts Payable to prevent withholding tax from being deducted.