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, this is no longer an honorarium and becomes a service for 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 tax.
On this page:
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:
Non-Stanford Employee Honorarium Payments
Pay honorarium to non-Stanford employees by submitting an iOU Other Check request. Customary travel expenses are reimbursed by submitting an iOU Reimbursement request. Honorarium payments are subject to tax and therefore require specific documentation before payment can be made. 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 Visiting Speaker Honorarium Payment (includes required backup documentation)
- Overview: Inviting and Paying Foreign Visitors (includes foreign visitor categories and associated visa types)
- How To: Initiate Check Request in iOU (to pay visitors)
- How To: Enter Expense Report / Reimbursement Request in iOU (to reimburse visitors)