How to pay international contractors in Canada
With Canada’s diverse and talented workforce, it's no wonder so many global companies choose to hire contractors in Canada. But when it’s time to pay them, what steps do you need to take to comply with all of Canada's dauntingly complex labor and tax laws?
Before you receive your first invoice, read our step-by-step guide to learn what you need to know to correctly classify contractors, onboard them, and pay them according to Canada's labor laws.
Step #1: Classify your workers
Classifying Canadian workers correctly is absolutely crucial. Misclassifying employees as contractors can result in fines, back taxes, and other harsh penalties from agencies like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Penalties can include:
- Up to 20% on unpaid income tax, employment insurance, and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums, plus interest.
- Workers' compensation premiums, plus fines and interest.
- Both the employer's and employee's share of unpaid CPP premiums.
- Minimum wage, overtime, vacation pay, parental leave, and other mandatory employee benefits in Canada.
- Potential claims for damages from employees.
To help employers determine whether a hire meets the criteria for an employee or independent contractor, Canadian courts have created a series of "tests." The courts and Canadian tax authorities look at all aspects of a working arrangement and employee relationship to determine classification. A single test usually isn't enough to decide one way or the other.
Contractors
Employees
High level of worker control.
Contractors are generally given more autonomy to determine how to complete the work and when to do it.
More direction from the employer. Employees are generally subject to more control and direction from their employer, who will provide guidance on how to perform the work and may set specific hours of work.
Equipment and tools owned by the worker.
Equipment and tools typically provided by the company.
Less integrated. Contractors tend to be independent, they’re more likely to work remotely, and they use their own tools and equipment.
Highly integrated. Employees are typically more integrated into the employer's organization, for example, they may work at the employer's premises.
No entitlement to benefits. Contractors are not entitled to the same benefits and protections as employees, and they are responsible for paying their own taxes.
Entitled to benefits. Employees are entitled to certain employment benefits and protections, such as minimum wage, overtime pay, and vacation pay. They may also be entitled to benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid sick leave.
Time-bound engagement. Contractors are typically engaged for a specific project or period of time.
Indefinite engagement. Employees are generally hired for an indefinite period of time.
Risk of loss. Contractors may assume more risk and liability for the work they perform.
No risk of loss. Employees are generally protected from liability for work-related issues.
Non-exclusive services. Contractors cannot be contractually bound to a single company; they can provide their services to more than one organization.
Exclusive services. Employees can be contractually bound to provide services to just one company.
Step #2: Determine the best way to pay your contractors
The first thing to do before you can pay contractors in Canada is to determine how you'll pay them. With the rise of global workforces and remote work, employers now have more choices than ever for making international payments to contractors. Here are some options:
- Bank wires. You can open a Canadian bank account and use it to deposit funds into Canadian contractors' accounts, or use your bank to send a global wire transfer to pay a Canadian contractor.
- International money orders. This long-standing payment method can be slow—especially because the employer needs to physically purchase the money order, and the contractor needs to physically deposit it upon receipt. Money orders can also come with fees and bad exchange rates.
- Digital wallets or payment platforms. Note that not all digital payment platforms are available in Canada (for example, Venmo only works within the US) though some employers use platforms like Wise to transfer money across borders. Remember that exchange rates can change from day to day, making it difficult to predict your outgoings.
- Global payroll services. Typically, contractors aren't included in payroll, since they aren't subject to the same withholdings as employees—instead, they invoice for their services, which goes through accounts payable for many companies. But with Rippling, you can pay Canadian employees and Canadian contractors across the world in one system.
Step #3: Use global payroll software to process payments
As you saw in Step #2, there are multiple ways to pay contractors in Canada. But the fastest and simplest way is paying contractors through global payroll software.
With Rippling, you can pay employees and contractors across the world in one place. Here’s a preview of how Rippling’s global payroll system works:
Step #4: Calculate and file your tax forms
While employers aren't required to withhold and pay taxes for contractors in Canada, they are required to submit a number of tax forms to the contractor and the CRA each year.
Companies that hire contractors in Canada must provide:
- T4A slips to the contractors
- T4A summaries to the CRA
- T4A-NR to cross-border contractors
- T5018s to construction subcontractors
Effortlessly manage contractors around the world
Growing your international workforce has never been easier. With Rippling, you can pay international contractors in Canada and anywhere in the world in one system.
FAQs about paying contractors in Canada
Do you need to withhold taxes when paying contractors in Canada?
No, foreign companies don't have to withhold payroll taxes when paying contractors in Canada. Contractors are required to pay all of their own taxes.
Does Canadian minimum wage apply to independent contractors in Canada?
No, minimum wage laws don't apply to independent contractors in Canada.
Do Canadian contractors get benefits?
No, independent contractors in Canada are not entitled to benefits in the same way as employees. Offering benefits to independent contractors can even increase the risk that the courts will consider the contractors to have been misclassified.
Can you pay contractors in Canada in your home currency?
Generally, Canadian contractors should be paid in Canadian dollars. You can choose to pay contractors in a different currency, but this needs to be solidified in your written contract with them.
Many international payment providers, like Rippling, support contractor payments in either Canadian dollars or your currency.
Can you manually pay contractors in Canada?
Yes, and it's common for small business owners to manually process contractor payments in an attempt to cut costs. But this can be time-consuming, especially as your business grows and if you work with multiple contractors in Canada or across borders.
It's also important to note that manually processing payments comes with some risk:
- Compliance. Running payroll manually means assuming the risk of human error and omission. Protect yourself and your business with Rippling, which automatically enforces compliance with any applicable local laws—no matter where your contractors live.
- Security. Manual payroll processing also poses security risks, especially if you use spreadsheets or paper records. Sensitive contractor information can be lost, stolen, or misused.
- Contractor experience. Paying contractors manually can be slow and cumbersome. Manual payments usually lack transparency when it comes to payment timelines and what contractors are being paid for, making it frustrating for contractors trying to understand their earnings.
Make payroll automatic by using Rippling. Rippling syncs all your business's HR data with payroll, eliminating the need for manual data entry entirely. Employees and contractors all over the world get paid quickly (and compliantly) in one system. Plus, Rippling is an authorized payroll provider by the Canada Revenue Agency, Canada’s revenue service for federal and most provincial and territorial governments.
How do you turn a contractor into an employee in Canada?
When you transition contractors to employees, decide on the best employment model for your business first. While hiring independent contractors over full-time employees can be more flexible and have financial benefits, sometimes you do need a full-time employee.
The challenge is making sure all the legal and compliance requirements are in order: Canada's labor laws require payroll deductions, benefits, and more for employees that you don't have to worry about for contractors. Companies are likely to employ through their own entity if they already have one in Canada or plan to establish an entity because they are making a significant investment in the Canadian market. However, companies can still hire employees in Canada without a Canadian entity through an employer of record service.
With Rippling, you can effortlessly manage contractors—as well as quickly transition contractors to full-time employees—with legally compliant paperwork, benefits administration, payroll, and more. Rippling handles it all, so you stay compliant from onboarding to offboarding.
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
