Under the Membership Fee Reduction Policy you may qualify for a fee reduction if you do not anticipate being gainfully employed for the upcoming May 1st to April 30th membership year, such that your active earnings will not exceed the amounts indicated in the categories below.

Reductions are applied solely to annual membership dues. Members are still required to pay all other Institute dues, including professional corporation, practicing office and other fees that relate to their circumstances and activities. Members are further required to contact the Institute should their financial circumstances change, such that they exceed the amounts indicated below in active earnings during any membership year. Fee reduction categories that may be applied for are as follows:

1. 50% reduction – a 50% reduction may be granted for members who have active earnings of less than 30 times the annual non-practicing dues. This would normally encompass students, parenting leave, personal or family illness leave, unemployment, or semi-retirement. Member must submit a declaration with the Institute on a yearly basis.
   
2. 75% reduction – a 75% reduction may be granted for members who have active earnings of less than 20 times the annual non-practicing dues. This would normally encompass students, parenting leave, personal or family illness leave, unemployment, or semi-retirement. Member must submit a declaration with the Institute on a yearly basis.
   
3. 100% reduction - a full reduction may be granted by reason of:
   a) full retirement with no active earnings and, or
   b) long-term physical/mental disability or financial hardship if active earnings are less than 20 times the annual non-practicing dues.

Member must complete a declaration; in the cases of full retirement and long-term disability, once the declaration is made it  continues in force year to year unless there is a change in the member’s status. Reductions for financial hardship are  considered on an annual basis. (Click here for additional information concerning Financial Hardship Status.)

For purposes of the foregoing, please note the following definitions:

“active earnings” means payments of any nature which the member receives and for which the member performs a service. It would include for example earnings from employment, business (including professional corporations), directors fees and honorariums, but would exclude pension income, employment Insurance, passive investment income, support payments and disability income.

“annual non-practicing dues” means the Total Fee (including HST) payable by a Non-Practicing Prime member as contained in the current ICANS Fee Schedule.

“full retirement” means a member who has in fact ceased employment and does not foresee having regular gainful occupation in the future. Such members are normally supported by a pension, savings or superannuation. This category does not include members who have otherwise left the workforce (e.g. parental leave), even if for an extended period of time.

Please note: A member must fulfill the requirements before August 31st of the new fiscal year in order to qualify for any of the above categories. The ICANS Membership Fee Reduction Policy is subject to review and change, from time to time, by the ICANS Membership Committee.

Deadline for submitting these requests is June 15th, otherwise full fee payment is due for the fiscal year.