Final answer:
Generally, paying referral fees to an unlicensed person is prohibited in various regulated industries to uphold professional standards and ensure accountability.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most jurisdictions, paying referral fees to an unlicensed person is prohibited, especially in certain regulated industries such as real estate, law, and financial services.
Regulations often mandate that only licensed professionals can engage in activities that include receiving compensation for client referrals to ensure accountability and professional standards are upheld. Therefore, the answer is generally No, you cannot pay referral fees to an unlicensed person.