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 E4
Exchange of PIN-less Point-of-Service Debit Payment Items for the Purpose of Clearing and Settlement
Retail batch payment system
Rule E5
Exchange of Point-of-Service Delayed Authorization Debit Payment Items for the Purpose of Clearing and Settlement
Retail batch payment system
Rule F1
Rules applicable to Automated Funds Transfer (AFT) Transactions
Retail batch payment system
Rule F4
Rules applicable to Automated Funds Transfer (AFT) Transactions using ISO 20022 messages
Retail batch payment system
Rule F7
Financial Institutions File (FIF)
Retail batch payment system
Rule F8
Direct Payment Routing Numbers
Retail batch payment 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