Existing Auditor Recognition - Payment/Annual Maintenance Fees FAQs

Is there an application fee for Existing Auditor Recognition?

No, there is no application fee for authenticated auditors seeking Existing Auditor Recognition through IAQG Authentication. However, IAQG Authentication charges Annual Maintenance Fees on the expiry date of each active authentication. Depending on the timing of the expiry date for your authentications, you may be asked to submit payment for these Annual Maintenance Fees to complete the Existing Auditor Recognition process. (See the questions below for more details.)

What are Annual Maintenance Fees and how much do they cost?

IAQG Authentication collects Annual Maintenance Fees to support its ongoing operation. Fees are due for each authenticated AQMS standard. The current fee schedule for Annual Maintenance Fees is as follows:

• 9100 Level 1 or Level 2 Authentication: $325 USD/year
• 9110 Level 1 or Level 2 Authentication: $200 USD/year
• 9120 Level 1 or Level 2 Authentication: $200 USD/year

How do you determine when Annual Maintenance Fees are due?

The due date is determined by the expiry date of each active authentication in OASIS, using the currently listed day and month. Please see this question for further details.

Why is my Annual Maintenance Fee being charged during the Existing Auditor Recognition window?

Annual Maintenance Fees are due based on the day and month of the expiry date of each active authentication listed in OASIS. Typically, IAQG Authentication would issue an invoice 60 days prior to the due date. However, during the Existing Auditor Recognition window (and the resulting lockdown period in OASIS), recognized auditors will need to submit any applicable Annual Maintenance Fees as part of the recognition process if they meet one of the following criteria:

1. The expiry date for the authentication falls inside the OASIS Lockdown Window (between 18 June 2026 and 27 August 2026).
2. The expiry date for the authentication is within 80 days after the end of the Existing Auditor Recognition Window (between 28 August 2026 and 15 November 2026).

In other words, if an annual fee is due any time up to and including 15 November 2026, the auditor must provide payment as part of the Existing Auditor Recognition process. For any Annual Fees due after that, recognized auditors will receive an invoice 60 days before the due date or have the option to enroll in auto-payment (explained below).

Note that, because fees are now due annually, this is unrelated to the three-year auditor authentication cycle used by the IAQG certification scheme previously. Even if your expiry date is currently set to 2029 in OASIS, you will start paying Annual Maintenance Fees within the next year. (Learn more.)

When do I have to provide payment for my fees?

If your payment is due as part of the Existing Auditor Recognition Process (as explained above), payment must be received and processed by the end of the Recognition window, or no later than 27 August 2026.

For Annual Maintenance Fees after this recognition window, payment must be received at least 5 business days prior to the authentication expiry date to avoid deactivation. For payments sent manually via check or bank/wire transfer, submit payment at least 15 business days prior to the due date.

Please note, for manually-sent payments, that the timing is based on when payment is received and processed by IAQG Authentication, not on the date when the payer sent it. When close to the payment deadline, IAQG Authentication strongly recommends (and may in some cases require) using an instant payment method such as a credit card, which will be processed immediately.

After the recognition period, how will I be billed for future fees?

IAQG Authentication will issue an invoice for the Annual Maintenance Fee 60 days prior to the authentication’s expiry date. Invoices are accessible through the IAQG Training & Authentication Dashboard, with options to make immediate online payment or download the invoice to submit payment manually by check or bank/wire transfer. Auditors also have the option to configure the auto-payment service with a credit card for automatic payment processing 30 days before the due date (see below for more information).

What options do I have to pay my fees?

Payment is accepted online via credit card or manually by check or bank/wire transfer. All payments are in US Dollars and do not include any taxes or fees — you are responsible for paying any such fees separately. For bank/wire payments, the necessary banking information will be shown on the invoice.

Caution

During the Existing Auditor Recognition window, manual payment options will not be available starting 10 business days prior to the deadline to ensure all fees are paid and processed on-time. If you wish to pay by Check or Bank/Wire Transfer, please begin the application process as soon as possible.

Can I have Annual Maintenance Fees charged to my credit card automatically each year?

Yes, IAQG Authentication offers the option to securely store credit card information with the payment processor and be automatically charged Annual Maintenance Fees 30 days prior to the due date. There are no additional fees for using this auto-payment service, and auditors can update preferred credit card information or cancel the auto-payment option at any time. To configure, visit the “Authentication” section of the IAQG Training & Authentication Dashboard.

What happens if my Annual Maintenance Fee payment is not received on-time?

If payment is not received and processed by the due date, the authentication will be deactivated in OASIS, and the impacted auditor will no longer be eligible for scheduling on future audits for the related standard.

Annual Maintenance Fees must be received and processed before the expiry date to maintain authentication status. If the fee due is part of the Existing Auditor Recognition Process, payment must be received and processed prior to the end of the Existing Auditor Recognition window (no later than 27 August 2026). It is strongly recommended that all payments be received at least five business days before the expiry date to avoid the risk of deactivation.