What it reports
The T4A is titled Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income. Payers such as employers, trustees, estate executors and corporate directors use it for pension or superannuation payments, lump sums, annuities, self-employed commissions, RESP payments, research grants, death benefits and fees or other amounts for services, among others.
It is not the slip for ordinary wages, which go on a T4, and payments to non-residents or certain construction subcontractors use different forms. Choosing the wrong slip is a common source of corrections.
When a business has to issue one
A payer must issue a T4A if it deducted tax from any payment. Otherwise, under CRA administrative policy, a slip is generally required when total payments in the calendar year are more than $500, with lower thresholds for certain items such as RESP and TFSA payments.
Fees for services are reported in box 048, and self-employed commissions in box 020. Do not include GST/HST or PST in those amounts. The CRA currently does not assess penalties for failing to complete box 048, except under a policy for 2025 and later years that applies to trucking-industry businesses paying fees above $500 to certain corporations. Reporting still depends on your circumstances, so confirm the current rule.
Illustrative example
A business pays a self-employed bookkeeper $4,000 in fees across the year, plus GST/HST on top, with no tax withheld. If a T4A is required, box 048 would show $4,000, not the amount including GST/HST. The recipient’s business number or SIN is recorded on the slip, so collect it before the first payment rather than in February.
Amounts are reported for the year in which they are paid, regardless of when they were earned. This is why a December invoice paid in January belongs on the following year’s slip.
Deadline and penalties
T4A returns are due on the last day of February after the calendar year. A late return can attract a penalty of $100 or an amount based on the number of slips filed late, whichever is more, though a relieving administrative policy may reduce it for small businesses.
Keep payment records, contracts, invoices and the recipient information that supports each slip. Ask your accountant whether a payment is a fee for services, employment income or something else before the year ends.
Sources & editorial notes
Sources checked October 24, 2026. The examples are illustrative and provide general information. Discuss how the guidance applies to your circumstances with your accountant.
- T4A slip – Information for payersCanada Revenue Agency
- When to file information returnsCanada Revenue Agency
Rules and guidance can change. Use the current official source and confirm the treatment for your facts. To flag an error, contact Sora.