T4A Slip – Information for Payers

What Is a T4A Slip?

A T4A slip identifies amounts paid during a calendar year for various types of income — such as pension, annuities, self-employed commissions, RESP payments, and other payments — that recipients must report on their tax returns.

When to Issue a T4A Slip

You must issue a T4A slip if any of the following apply: you deducted tax from a payment, or the total of all payments to a recipient exceeds $500 in a calendar year (unless on the exceptions list).

• Accumulated income or educational assistance payments from a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) over $50.
• Taxable amounts from a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) over $50.
• Group term life insurance benefits to a former or retired employee.
• Administrator or trustee of a multi-employer plan (MEP) providing taxable benefits over $25.

What to Report on a T4A

Report amounts including pension/superannuation, lump-sum payments, self-employed commissions, annuities, RESP payments, research grants, income replacement payments under the Veterans Well-Being Act, and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) payments.

Do not use a T4A slip for payments reported on other slips — for example, government service contract payments (T1204), subcontractor contract payments (T5018), non-resident payments (NR4), retirement compensation arrangements (T4A-RCA), tips and gratuities, or employment income (T4).

How to Complete a T4A

Follow these guidelines when filling out a T4A slip: report actual amounts in Canadian dollars; report income in the year paid; do not enter negative amounts (except where allowed); and leave boxes blank if there is no value.

The payer’s and recipient’s identifying information (name, address, SIN or business number) must be accurately entered. Certain codes and box amounts capture specific types of payments and benefits — for example, annuity payments, self-employed commissions, dental benefits eligibility codes, RESP income codes, and more.

Multiple Slips and “Other Information”

If you have more than 12 codes in the “Other information” area for the same recipient, use an overflow T4A slip. Only include payer and recipient identification on overflow slips and report applicable codes/amounts once.