Rules & documentation

By-laws, rules, standards and procedure documents are integral parts of the legal framework of the national payment systems that Payments Canada is legislated to establish and operate. They lay out the roles, responsibilities and obligations of our member financial institutions on the appropriate handling of payment items exchanged, cleared and settled via our payment systems. This includes requirements for participation in a payment system or scheme, procedures for the processing of payment items, and the requirements and timeframes for returning payment items, where eligible.

Payments Canada’s rules, standards and procedure documents are updated regularly and versions posted online are in force. You can contact Payments Canada for confirmation by e-mail at info@payments.ca.

Item Title Updated System
Rule G2
General Rules Pertaining to Government of Canada Paper Instruments
Retail batch payment system
Rule G3
Rules Pertaining to the Redemption and Settlement of Government of Canada Paper Instruments
Retail batch payment system
Rule G4
Canada Revenue Agency Acceptance of Payments Goods And Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (Gst/Hst), Excise, Taxation, and Customs Programs
Retail batch payment system
Rule G7
Verification and Collection Procedures for Receiver General Warrants
Retail batch payment system
Rule G8
Procedures/Criteria Pertaining to the Encashment of Government of Canada Payment Items for Non-Customers
Retail batch payment system
Rule G9
Manual Preparation and Use in a Manual Balancing Situation of the Government Items Clearing Logs
Retail batch payment system
Rule G12
Procedures for Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Direct Deposit Payment Items
Retail batch payment system
Rule H1
Pre-Authorized Debits
Retail batch payment system
Rule H1
Pre-Authorized Debits (version effective prior to Oct 3, 2022)
Retail batch payment system
Rule H2
Claim Drafts or Reimbursement Drafts
Retail batch payment system
Rule H3
Correction of Electronic Bill Payment Errors
Retail batch payment system
Rule H5
Redemption, Exchange and Settlement of Canadian Dollar Bonds, Debentures and Coupons
Retail batch payment system