Definition
An honorarium is a nominal, non-negotiated payment granted to an individual in recognition of a special service or distinguished achievement for which propriety precludes setting a fixed price. There is no set honorarium amount for giving a lecture or series of lectures, or for performing a similar service.
Summary of Policy
All University employees as well as non-employees are eligible to receive honorarium payments. Examples of honorarium payments are:
- Payment for a special lecture or short series of lectures
- Payment for conducting a seminar or workshop of no more than a two-week duration
- Payment for a guest speaker at a commencement exercise or similar function
Honorarium payments may NOT be made for:
- An independent consultant—an individual or organization outside the University of proven professional or technical advice to the University in an independent contractor relationship (see Business Contracts section).
- University Extension teaching
- Services - What kinds of services cannot be compensated with an honorarium?
Examples of services which may not be compensated with honoraria include UC
Extension teaching, translating, editing, graphic art development, and any other
service which is provided for in a UC job description - Travel must be reimbursed through Aggie Expense. All University policies must be followed for travel reimbursement
- UC Staff cannot receive an honorarium
Procedures
- UC Faculty: Honorarium payments to UC Faculty are authorized by processing a UC One-Time Payroll Authorization form and are subject to withholding for Federal and State income taxes and Social Security taxes. This type of payment must be coordinated through the employee's home department and UC Payroll Office. Contact the Regional Office for more information.
- UC ANR Faculty: If you as a UC ANR Faculty member are receiving an Honorarium, you may not have the check made out to UC ANR. The check must be made out to you. If you would like to donate the funds to UC ANR then you would need to do that in a separate transaction.
- Non-UC employees: Honorarium payments to non-UC employees are requested via WFA as a check request – Type: Honorarium. Then it will be processed via Candex in Aggie Enterprise. An honorarium is payable only to an individual, not to a business, and requires a home address and Social Security number or tax ID number.
- Approvals required for honoraria:
- Area/County/Unit Director approval is required on all honorarium payment requests up to $2500.
- AVP approval is required on all honorarium requests between $2501-$5000.
Tips
Check with the Regional Office for policy guidance before promising an honorarium payment. Travel, copying, and miscellaneous expenses are paid separately from an Honorarium (i.e., on a Non-Employee AggieExpense Travel Report set up as a supplier and paid on an invoice).
Reference/Website Links
https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/shared-services/sso/financial/ap/hon