TREADSTONE LAW · ONTARIO · DIGITAL LEGAL SERVICES · EST. MMXXI ·TSL
Learn/Ask a Lawyer/Tax/Can CRA still collect from me…
Tax

Can CRA still collect from me after I'm discharged from bankruptcy?

TSL Written by the Treadstone Law team· Updated August 2026

Generally, no, for debt that was actually discharged. Once you're discharged from bankruptcy, CRA generally cannot continue collecting a tax debt that was genuinely eliminated through that discharge, consistent with how bankruptcy discharge works for other unsecured debts you owed.

The important qualifier is "actually discharged," because not every tax obligation is necessarily wiped out by a given bankruptcy. Any tax debt or obligation that wasn't discharged, whether because it falls into one of the exceptions covered in a related question, or because it relates to a period after your bankruptcy rather than before it, can still be collected by CRA even after your discharge is complete. This means a discharge doesn't automatically mean every past or ongoing interaction with CRA is over; new tax obligations that arise after your bankruptcy are entirely separate and remain fully collectible in the ordinary way. If you've been discharged from bankruptcy and CRA is still pursuing you for something, working out whether that specific amount was actually part of what got discharged, or falls outside it for one of these reasons, is the key question to answer before assuming CRA is acting improperly.

Key takeaways

  • CRA generally can't continue collecting debt that was actually discharged through bankruptcy.
  • Debt falling into a bankruptcy exception, or arising after the bankruptcy, can still be collected.
  • A discharge doesn't cover future tax obligations that arise afterward.
  • Confirming whether a specific amount was actually discharged is the key question if CRA keeps pursuing you.
This is general information, not legal advice. It doesn’t create a lawyer–client relationship, and the rules can change. For advice on your situation, a Treadstone tax lawyer can help.
Was this helpful?Share:

Go deeper

Still have questions?

Search 6,000 answers, or send yours to a Treadstone lawyer — we answer in plain language.

All answersStart a File →