A single payment is a payment that is not part of a series of periodic payments. A single payment is generally a payment made to an individual only once in the year, in settlement of an amount to which the individual is entitled. For example, a retiring allowance is considered a single payment if the employer pays the allowance in one payment or in several annual payments.

Source deductions of income tax

If, at the time you pay an amount to an individual, you do not know whether you will be making other such payments to the individual during the year, you must withhold income tax from the payment as if it was a single payment.

If you expect to make other such payments to the individual during the year, contact us to find out whether these payments can be considered single payments. If that is not the case, you must withhold income tax using the usual method.

Income tax rate on a single payment

To calculate the source deduction of income tax on certain single payments, you must use the following rates:

• 14% if the payment is $5,000 or less;
• 19% if the payment is over $5,000.

These rates apply to the following single payments: 

• a retiring allowance;
• certain payments made under a registered education savings plan (RESP);
• a payment made under a pension plan:
  • upon the death, resignation or retirement of a current or former employee,
  • upon the winding-up of the plan, in full satisfaction of all the participant's rights in the plan, or
  • upon an amendment to the plan, where the amendment entitles the participant to receive the payment even if that person continues to participate in the plan;
• a payment from a voluntary retirement savings plan (VRSP) or a pooled registered pension plan (PRPP);
• a payment made under a deferred profit-sharing plan (DPSP), including a DPSP whose registration has been revoked;
• a death benefit;
• a payment made further to an order or judgment, as salary or wages owed to a current or former employee, if a portion of the amount paid relates to a previous year;
• a payment made under a profit-sharing plan, in full satisfaction of all an employee's rights in the plan, if the payment must be included in the employee's income for the year in which the payment is received (otherwise, you do not have to withhold income tax on the payment);
• an amount paid as consideration for the surrender, cancellation or redemption of an income-averaging annuity contract;
• a payment made in the context of closing a farm income stabilization account under the Farm Income Stabilization Account program established under the Act respecting the Financière agricole du Québec;
• a payment out of an FHSA (if the payment must be included in calculating the individual's income for the year in which the payment is received) and a payment under an arrangement that ceases to be an FHSA.