Contact Canada Revenue Agency About Your Debt
If you owe money to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), it’s important to contact them as soon as possible to discuss your situation and payment options. The CRA can help you explore arrangements such as deferring your payment, setting up a payment plan, reducing penalties and interest, or finding other solutions based on your financial circumstances. ([Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/when-you-money-collections-cra/contact-canada-revenue-agency-about-your-debt.html))
Before You Call
When calling the CRA about debt, be ready to provide the following: your Social Insurance Number (or Business Number), full name and date of birth (or business name), complete address, and documents such as your Notice of Assessment, Notice of Reassessment, or other CRA correspondence. ([Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/when-you-money-collections-cra/contact-canada-revenue-agency-about-your-debt.html))
Phone Numbers for Personal Debt
Contact CRA by telephone to discuss:
- Personal income tax debt (general tax amount owed)
- Overpayments or benefit repayments (e.g., child or family benefit overpayments)
- CERB or COVID‑19 benefit debts issued by CRA
- CPP/EI, student or apprentice loan overpayments and other Government program debts
Call the CRA contact lines listed on the official page to reach agents who can discuss your debt and options. Hours generally run Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET for most categories. ([Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/when-you-money-collections-cra/contact-canada-revenue-agency-about-your-debt.html))
Phone Numbers for Business Debt
Separate contact numbers exist for businesses owing amounts such as:
- Corporate income tax debt
- GST/HST debt
- Payroll source deduction debt
- CRA‑administered COVID‑19 support payments for businesses
Business debt lines are also staffed Monday to Friday during standard business hours (typically 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET) and are accessible using the official CRA contact page. ([Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/when-you-money-collections-cra/contact-canada-revenue-agency-about-your-debt.html))
What You Can Discuss
When contacting CRA about a debt, you can ask about:
- Arranging a payment plan tailored to your ability to pay
- Deferring a payment to a later date
- Confirming where to send a payment
- Confirming that your recent payment has been received and applied
- Verifying that correspondence or phone contact is legitimately from the CRA
Acting early and discussing your situation can help avoid additional collection actions.
Options if You Cannot Pay
If you cannot afford to pay your debt in full or on time, the CRA may allow payment arrangements, assess your ability to pay, or offer deferred payment options. Payment plans can include scheduled regular payments or authorization for pre‑authorized debit through CRA online services such as *My Account*.
Important Notes About CRA Contact
Always verify that any communication you receive about a debt is genuinely from the CRA. The CRA will not demand immediate payment via unconventional methods (e.g., gift cards, cryptocurrency) and will never threaten arrest for unpaid tax debt. If uncertain, contact the CRA at established official lines to confirm.
