Can you get imprisoned for not paying debt?
Daniel Santos
Updated on February 13, 2026
The Bill of Rights (Art. III, Sec. 20 ) of the 1987 Charter expressly states that “No person shall be imprisoned for debt…” This is true for credit card debts as well as other personal debts. Romel Regalado Bagares, “non-payment of debts are only civil in nature and cannot be a basis of a criminal case.
Can a person be imprisoned for debt?
No one can be imprisoned for non-payment of debt. The remedy of the creditor is civil in nature. Let’s examine some laws that were questioned, albeit unsuccessfully, on the ground that these laws violate the constitutional prohibition against non-imprisonment for debt.
Can you go to jail for not paying your credit card debt?
There are consequences for failing to make your debt payments as they become due; however, you do not go to jail just because you default on a credit card debt, bank loan, student debt or bill payment or don’t pay a collection agency in Canada. The days of debtor prison are long past us.
Can a person go to prison for another debt?
You can’t get sent to prison for other debts. This includes: any money you owe to a business or an individual. All these debts are dealt with in a County Court not a Magistrates’ Court. (There is an exception.
Can you go to jail for not paying a judgement?
If you don’t make arrangements for payment or partial payments or a schedule etc, you can be held in contempt of court. Contempt is punishable by a fine or jail or both. If a person is truly broke and cannot pay, consult a bankruptcy attorney. Some but not all debts can be discharged that way even if they reach the judgement stage. Yes.
Can you go to jail for not paying your taxes?
The CRA does not call or email taxpayers about going to jail to collect tax debts. An exception to the above would be the case of outright fraud. In this case, you could be charged with the criminal offence of having committed fraud. If found guilty the related jail sentence would be for fraud, not the unpaid debt.