Owing money - Collections at TRA

Learn what to do if you have an outstanding debt in collections with Tax and Revenue Administration (TRA).

Overview

Tax and Revenue Administration (TRA) collects outstanding amounts owed to Albertans or the Government of Alberta by both businesses and individuals. Amounts owing can be from unpaid fees, fines, taxes, levies, restitution orders or overpayments made by the Government of Alberta.

Debt related to a specific program

Select the program related to your specific debt for more information about repayment, consequences of not paying, what to do if you are unable to pay and contact information.

  • Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Services

    AISH provides financial and health benefits for eligible Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living. When an overpayment becomes a debt, you must repay the Government of Alberta for the benefits that you were not eligible to receive.

    Debt repayment

    To repay your AISH-related debt, payment can be made via cheque, money order or bank draft, made payable to “Government of Alberta”, and mailed to:

    Treasury Board and Finance, Collections and Recoveries
    PO BOX 11417
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3K6

    Inquiries regarding electronic payment options and your account can be made:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    For information on AISH, visit the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program

    Unable to pay

    If you are experiencing financial or medical hardship and are unable to repay the debt, you may request relief. Contact TRA, Collections and Recoveries for information:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay, your account may be referred to a collection agency and/or registered with the Canada Revenue Agency Refund Set-off Program.

    Contact
    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

  • Alberta Income Support

    Alberta Income Support helps individuals and families pay for basic expenses like food, clothing and shelter. When an overpayment becomes a debt, you must repay the Government of Alberta for the benefits that you were not eligible to receive.

    Debt repayment

    To repay your debt payment can be made via cheque, money order or bank draft, made payable to “Government of Alberta”, and mailed to:

    TRA, Collections and Recoveries
    PO BOX 11417
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3K6

    Inquiries regarding electronic payment options and your account can be made:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    For more information on overpayment, visit Alberta Income Support.

    Unable to pay

    If you are experiencing financial or medical hardship and unable to repay the debt, you may request relief. Contact TRA, Collections and Recoveries for information:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay, the account may be referred to a collection agency and/or registered with the Canada Revenue Agency Refund Set-off Program.

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-427-6497
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

  • Alberta Student Funding and Overpayments

    TRA manages the collection of defaulted Alberta Student Funding debts on behalf of the Government of Alberta. All student loans and overpayments must be repaid. Defaulting on student funding repayment may have an impact on your eligibility for future Alberta Student Aid funding. Use of third-party collection agencies may impact your credit rating and registration with CRA’s Refund Set-Off program may impact the credits you may be eligible to receive.

    Debt repayment

    To repay a defaulted student funding debt, electronic payment may be submitted through PaySimply. Your 10-digit account number is required to complete the online transaction.

    Cheque, money order or bank draft payment should be made payable to “Government of Alberta” and mailed to:

    Treasury Board and Finance
    Crown Debt Collections
    PO Box 11416
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3K6

    Indicate your account number on the memo line of your cheque or money order.

    Inquiries regarding payment options and your account can be made:

    Via email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-3244
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    For more information on repaying an Alberta Student loan visit: Alberta Student Aid – Repaying Your Student Loan

    For information on defaulted loans, visit defaulted loans.

    Unable to pay

    If you are experiencing financial or medical hardship and unable to repay the debt, you may request relief. For more information, contact the collection agency that is currently handling the account, or contact TRA:

    Via email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-3244
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    Your account may be referred for legal action and enforcement. Legal recovery actions include (but are not limited to), those available under the Civil Enforcement Act.

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-427-3244
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

  • Crown Debt Collections

    TRA collects and recovers debts owed to the Government of Alberta on behalf of many ministries and programs. This includes grant and benefit overpayments, administrative penalties, surface lease certificates, restitution orders, and other various fines and debts.

    Debt repayment

    To repay a debt, electronic payment may be submitted through PaySimply. Your 10-digit account number is required to complete the online transaction.

    Cheque, money order or bank draft payment should be made payable to “Government of Alberta” and mailed to:

    Treasury Board and Finance
    Crown Debt Collections
    PO BOX 11416
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3K6

    Indicate your account number on the memo line of your cheque or money order.

    Inquiries regarding payment options and your account can be made:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-7726
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Unable to pay

    If you are unable to repay and are experiencing financial or medical hardship, you may request relief. Contact TRA, Crown Debt Collections for information:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-7726
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    Your account may be referred to a collection agency, registered with the Canada Revenue Agency Refund Set-off Program, and/or referred for legal action and enforcement. Legal recovery actions include (but are not limited to) those available under the Civil Enforcement Act.

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-427-7726
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

  • Employment Standards

    Alberta’s employment standards legislation is enforced through audits, inspections, penalties, prosecutions and judgment collection. As an employer, if you fail to pay an order or administrative penalty issued by Employment Standards, the debt will be sent to Employment Standards Collections.

    Debt repayment

    To learn more about debt repayment, see Employment Standards.

    To repay a debt, a cheque or money order made payable to: “Director of Employment Standards” can be sent in the mail to:

    Treasury Board and Finance, Employment Standards Collections
    PO Box 1086 Edmonton Main
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2M1

    Indicate your assignment number on the memo line of your cheque or money order.

    Payment via credit card can be made by contacting Employment Standards Collections via phone or e-mail.

    Inquiries regarding payment options and your account can be made via:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-3655
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Unable to pay

    If you are unable to pay in full, contact Employment Standards Collections to discuss payment options.

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-427-3655
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay your balance, TRA may take legal action, which could result in serious financial or legal consequences. 

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-427-3655
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

  • Fines Enforcement Program / Traffic Safety Act fines

    The Fines Enforcement Program (FEP) works alongside the Alberta Courts to collect overdue criminal code fines, traffic tickets, provincial and federal non-cash bail forfeitures, occupational health and safety fines, and public health act fines. FEP is responsible for enforcement of traffic tickets once they become one year past due. For criminal code fines and no cash bail forfeitures, they begin enforcement once the appeal period has expired.

    Debt repayment

    For more information on paying your fines visit:

    Unable to pay

    If you are unable to pay and are experiencing financial hardship, contact the issuing courthouse.

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay, actions will be taken against you such as registering debt with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and additional enforcement actions under the Civil Enforcement Act. For more information, visit consequences of not paying.

    Contact

    Email: [email protected]
    Fax: 780-415-6026
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Please include your name, date of birth, address and ticket/docket number on all written requests.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident Recoveries

    Motor Vehicle Accident Recoveries (MVAR) is tasked with the recovery of judgment debts that arise from the settlement of lawsuits under section 4 of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act. MVAR collects judgment debts resulting from lawsuits where the at-fault motorist and/or vehicle owner was uninsured.

    Debt repayment

    To pay in full, visit MVAC debt repayment

    Unable to pay

    If you are unable to pay in full, you may apply for a repayment plan. Contact TRA, Motor Vehicle Accident Recoveries for information:

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-422-5458
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay your debt to MVAR, collection actions will be undertaken. Collection action may include suspension of your driver’s licence and vehicle registrations across Canada and enforcement actions under the Civil Enforcement Act. The debt will also be registered with Canada Revenue Agency Refund Set-off Program.

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-422-5458
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Fax: 780-427-9549
    Email: [email protected]

  • Restitution Enforcement

    The Restitution Enforcement Program (REP) serves as the recovery component of the Restitution Recovery Program. It works in conjunction with the Alberta Courts and Victim Services to collect overdue restitution orders owed to the victim and the Director of Recoveries.

    Debt repayment

    To pay your restitution order in full, visit your local courthouse or mail your payment to the Restitution Enforcement Program.

    If paying through mail, ensure your cheque, money order or bank draft is payable to the “Government of Alberta”. Include the docket number with your payment, and send to the following address:

    Restitution Enforcement Program
    P.O. Box 11421
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3K6

    Unable to pay

    If you are unable to pay in full, you may apply for repayment plan. Contact TRA, Restitution Enforcement Program for information:

    E-mail: [email protected]
    Phone: 780-415-1958
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay your debt to REP, collection actions will be taken against you. These can include enforcement actions under the Civil Enforcement Act.

    Contact

    Phone: 780-415-1958
    Fax: 780-427-9549 
    Email: [email protected]

  • Taxes and Levies

    TRA administers several programs in which registrants are required to file, collect and remit a tax or levy to TRA. This includes corporate income tax, fuel tax, tobacco tax, International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), tourism levy, health cost recovery and insurance premiums tax. A debt will occur if the principal balance and/or any penalties and interest are not paid in full by the required date.

    Paying your debt in full helps you avoid interest and other financial and legal consequences. For payment options, visit: Making payments to Tax and Revenue Administration or call 780-422-1782.

    If you cannot pay the full amount, you may be eligible for a payment arrangement. A payment arrangement lets you make payments over time until the entire debt, including interest, is fully paid.

    In some corporate income tax cases, you may be able to enter your own payment arrangement online. To learn more, visit Tax and Revenue Administration Client Self-Service (TRACS).

    To inquire about setting up a payment arrangement or if your situation changes and you cannot continue with the payment arrangement, contact Filing Compliance and Collections at 780-422-1782.

    Contact

    Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
    Phone: 780-422-1782
    Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
    Email: [email protected]

    Unable to pay

    If you cannot pay your tax or levy obligations, contact Filing Compliance and Collections at 780-422-1782.

    Consequences of not paying

    If you do not pay your balance, TRA may take legal action, which could result in serious financial or legal consequences.

    Before commencing legal action, attempts may be made to provide written and/or verbal legal warning.

    To learn more about paying your corporate taxes, visit Corporate Taxes on Time.