T4A Requirements for Contractors
Businesses that pay fees, commissions, or other amounts to self-employed individuals generally issue T4A slips.
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Key Takeaways
- T4A required for payments $500+ to contractors
- No deductions at source—just reporting
- Due to recipient by end of February
- Failure to file results in penalties
What is a T4A?
The T4A slip reports payments made to contractors, freelancers, and self-employed individuals. Unlike T4s for employees, T4As don't involve source deductions—they're purely for reporting.
Who Needs a T4A?
Issue a T4A if you paid $500 or more in the calendar year for:
- Fees for services (contractors, consultants)
- Commissions
- Pension or superannuation payments
- Lump-sum payments
- Self-employed income
Deadlines
Filing Requirements
T4A to contractor: Last day of February
T4A Summary to CRA: Last day of February
Penalties for Non-Compliance
$25/day for late filing (min $100, max $2,500). Gross negligence penalties can be much higher.
Collect W-9 Equivalent
Get contractor SIN and address early—chasing this information at year-end is difficult.
Need T4A Filing Help?
Tax Punjabi can prepare and file T4A slips for your contractors.