Overview: Paying Honoraria

Honorarium is typically a one-time gratuitous payment made as a gesture of good will and in appreciation to speakers or participants in special Stanford events (e.g. symposia, lecture series, or professional conventions). An honorarium is extended to help cover costs for volunteers or speakers. If the fee is required by the individual or is negotiated, payment is no longer considered an honorarium, but rather is a fee for service and should be processed as a service requisition through iProcurement. An honoraria speaker can be a Stanford faculty member or non-Stanford employee. Payment methods vary by recipient type and payments are subject to taxation.

On this page:

• Stanford Employee Honorarium Payments
• Non-Stanford Employee Honorarium Payments

Stanford Employee Honorarium Payments

When paid to Stanford employees, honorarium is supplemental personal compensation. Stanford Payroll Administrators can enter a Supplemental Pay Webform (recommended) or submit a One-Time Payment form to Payroll to add the honorarium to the employee's next regular paycheck. For more information, see:

• Process Flow: Process Stanford Faculty Honorarium Payment
• How To: Request One-Time Payment

Non-Stanford Employee Honorarium Payments

Staff can arrange honorarium payment to non-Stanford employees by submitting a Non-PO Payment Request in the Expense Requests system. Customary travel expenses are reimbursed by submitting an Expense Report / Reimbursement request in the Expense Requests system. Honorarium payments are subject to tax and therefore require specific documentation before payment can be made. This documentation must be submitted by the payee (or authorized agent) via the secure Supplier / Payee Request Portal. When inviting foreign visitors it is important to note that Stanford is only able to make payment to short-term visitors entering on a J-1, B-1, or WB (waived business) visa. For more information, see:

• Process Flow: Process Non-Stanford (Visiting) Speaker Honorarium Payment
• Policy Notes: Inviting and Paying Foreign Visitors (includes foreign visitor categories and associated visa types)

For instructions on requesting Non-PO Payment, see:

• Guidelines for Use of Non-PO Payment Categories
• Create New Non-PO Payment Request – Single Payee
• Create New Non-PO Payment Request – Multiple Payees

For instructions on submitting an Expense Report / Reimbursement request, see:

• Guidelines for Use of Categories for Non-SU Payee (Visitor Reimbursement)
• Create Domestic Expense Report for a Non-SU Payee (Visitor Reimbursement)
• Create Foreign Expense Report for a Non-SU Payee (Visitor Reimbursement)