Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Before you complete your registration form, you may find it helpful to glance over the answers to some frequently asked questions about the program.
What kinds of books are eligible for PLR payments?
In general, works of fiction, poetry, drama, children's books, scholarly books, and general non-fiction are eligible. However, certain kinds of books are ineligible. Please refer to the program eligibility criteria.
How is a PLR payment calculated?
For any given year, there are four main factors that influence the amount of a PLR payment: the PLRC's budget, the total number of registered titles found in the selected libraries, the payment category in which your title falls and the number of library catalogues in which your title was found.
When will I learn if I will be receiving a PLR payment?
A Title Earning Summary will be mailed to you each February. This report will indicate whether your registered titles were found in the selected libraries and the amount of your PLR payment.
I just found out about the PLR program, but have been publishing books for several years. Can I receive PLR payments for the years I've missed?
No. We are unable to make retroactive payments.
What is meant by “percentage share” on the Registration form?
Percentage share refers to the portion of a book that is attributed to a contributor, where there is more than one contributor to the book.
It is not tied to the royalty rate or the division of royalties agreed to by various contributors to a book. For example, if a 100-page book consists of 70 pages of a writer’s work and 30 pages of an illustrator’s work, the illustrator would claim 30% and the writer would claim 70%. Please
refer to the program eligibility criteria for detailed information.
You may only apply for a share that reflects your own contribution to a title even if the other contributor is deceased or is ineligible.
Must I provide the ISBN for each book?
Yes, the ISBN is an eligibility requirement and can usually be found on the copyright page of the book. You may also find it at the bottom of the title page or on the back cover of the book.
What support material is required?
The title page or copyright page where your name and the title of
the book appear is required. The table of contents must also accompany your registration form if available.
I have a new book but missed the registration period. What can I do?
You must wait for the following year's registration period (15 February - 1 May).
A new edition of a title that I registered a number of years ago was just released. Will this have an impact on the payment category in which my title falls?
The date of publication, edition or reprint of a book is not a consideration in the PLR payment scale. The payment category in which a titles falls is determined by its original registration date with the PLR program.
Once registered with the PLR program, do I have to re-register every year?
No. Your file will be automatically carried over from year to year. However, should you wish to add a new title, you will need to do so during the registration period by completing a File Update form (provided to authors in February each year).
What is the Income Tax status of a PLR payment? When do I receive a T4A slip?
All PLR payments must be reported as income whether you received a T4A tax slip or not. Generally, PLR earnings are included under line 130 "Other Income" of your Federal Income Tax return. The PLR payment should be attributed to “PLR/Canada Council” since the PLR Commission operates under the administrative aegis of the Canada Council.
If your payment is $500 or more you will receive a T4A slip the February following your payment. If your payment is under $500, we will not issue a T4A slip.
Does GST apply to PLR payments?
No. PLR payments are GST exempt.
Can a PLR cheque be made out to the name of my company?
No. PLR payments are issued in the individual author's name only.
Is the Public Lending Right the same as copyright or royalties?
No. The Public Lending Right is not related to copyright law or royalty payments. Copyright is a right guaranteed by law that protects the creators of works and royalties are payments from a publisher based a percentage of the revenues received for book sales. Rather, PLR payments recognize the contribution authors make to Canadians through the presence of their works in public libraries.
Do PLR payments continue after an author’s death?
No. Payments are limited to living authors. An author’s estate is eligible for one final PLR payment after the date of death. Executors should send a copy of the death certificate to the PLR Commission and confirm the contact name and address of the estate, so cheques and tax slips can be accurately forwarded.
