Official letters from Canada, explained in English

Official letters in Canada come from federal, provincial and city offices, and many now arrive online first — for example in your CRA My Account or your IRCC account. Briefly covers letters in English; letters in French, like most letters from Quebec, are not covered yet.

Offices that write to you

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) — Federal tax office. Handles income tax and pays many benefits, like the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit. It also collects some government debts.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — Immigration office. Decides on visas, work and study permits, permanent residence and citizenship.
Service Canada — Federal benefits office. Handles Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and Social Insurance Numbers (SIN).
Provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP …) — Provincial health insurance. Your province’s public health insurance. It pays for doctor and hospital care that you need.
Ministry of Finance / Revenue (your province) — Provincial finance office. Handles some provincial taxes and collects money owed to the province.
ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office — Driver and vehicle licensing. Issues driver’s licences, licence plates and vehicle registration. Each province has its own office.
City or town — property tax department — City tax office. Sends the yearly property tax bill to home owners. Tenants don’t usually pay it directly.
City bylaw enforcement / parking — City bylaw and parking office. Enforces city rules, like parking, noise, garbage and snow removal. It sends parking tickets and bylaw fines.
Police service / Provincial Offences Court — Police and traffic court. Police write tickets for traffic and other provincial offences. The provincial offences court handles payments, disputes and trials.
Small Claims Court / tribunal — Small claims court or tribunal. Courts and tribunals for money and housing disputes, for example unpaid bills, damage or deposits. You can go without a lawyer.
Collection agency — Debt collection agency. A company that collects unpaid debts for others, like phone companies, banks or utilities. It must be licensed in your province.
Landlord / property management — Landlord or property manager. The person or company you rent your home from. Tenancy rules and forms are different in each province.
Utility company (hydro, gas, water) — Electricity, gas or water company. Sends bills for electricity (often called hydro), natural gas or water.
National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) / OSAP — Student loans. Manages government student loans and grants, like Canada Student Loans and your province’s student aid.
WSIB / WorkSafeBC / WCB — Workplace injury insurance. Pays benefits and health costs if you are hurt or get sick because of your job.

Common kinds of letters

Notice of assessment / reassessment — Tax notice. The result after the CRA checked your tax return. It shows whether you owe money, get a refund, or owe nothing.
Statement of account / overdue notice — Payment reminder. You still owe money. Interest or late fees are usually added until you pay.
Legal warning / requirement to pay — Collection action. They are about to take the money by force, for example from your wages or your bank account.
Review letter / request for information — Request for documents. They need papers or information from you before they can decide, or to check something you claimed.
Overpayment / notice of debt — Request to pay money back. They believe they paid you too much — for example EI, a pension or a benefit — and want the money back.
Biometric instruction letter (BIL) — Biometrics instruction. IRCC asks you to give your fingerprints and photo. You usually have 30 days from the date of the letter.
Interview notice / notice to appear — Appointment or interview. They want you to come to an interview, test or ceremony at a set date and time. Missing it without a good reason can delay your file or lead to a refusal.
Procedural fairness letter — Chance to explain. They have concerns and may decide against you, but first give you a chance to answer in writing.
Refusal letter — Rejection. Your application or claim was turned down. The letter should say if you can ask for a review, appeal or apply again.
Approval / confirmation — Approval. Your application was accepted. The letter shows what you get, how much and from when.
Ticket / offence notice / penalty notice — Fine or ticket. A fine for a traffic, parking or bylaw offence. You can pay it or dispute it — but only for a short time.
Claim / notice of hearing — Court papers. Someone is taking you to court or a tribunal, or a hearing date was set. If you ignore it, they can decide against you.
Notice to end your tenancy — Eviction notice. Your landlord wants to end your tenancy. The rules and forms are different in each province.
Hydro, gas or water bill — Utility bill. A bill for electricity (hydro), natural gas or water. It shows your usage, the amount due and the due date.

English office words

notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, notice of objection, My Account, balance owing, arrears, instalments, payment arrangement, garnishment, legal warning, requirement to pay, taxpayer relief, Receiver General for Canada, CCB, GST/HST credit, T4 slip, T1 return, RRSP — see all 49 words.

Reply templates in English

Questions

How long do I have to answer an official letter in Canada?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “deadline”, “pay by”, “due date”, “within”, “no later than” — they mark the deadline. In Canada, many deadlines count from the date printed on the letter, not from the day it arrives — for example, the 90 days to object to a tax notice. Mail can take several days, so check the date on the letter and act early. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“notice of objection”, “request for reconsideration”, “appeal”, “objection”, “review”, “dispute”).

How does Briefly help with official letters in Canada?

Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain words, finds the deadline and the amount, tells you what to do and gives you a ready-made reply.

Is my letter uploaded anywhere?

No. Briefly runs completely in your browser. The letter never leaves your device, there is no account, and it works offline after the first visit.