See roughly how the money you pay into a consumer proposal splits between the administrator's tariff fees, fixed costs and your creditors.
Use this estimator to see where the money in a consumer proposal goes. Consumer proposal fees are not negotiated freely: section 129 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules sets the administrator's fees at $750 when the proposal is filed with the official receiver, $750 when it is approved by the court (or deemed approved), and 20% of the money distributed to creditors, plus the counselling costs ($85 per individual session), the OSB consumer proposal filing fee ($123.17 from 31 March 2026; the base of $100 in the Rules is adjusted for inflation each 31 March) and applicable GST/HST.
How the tool calculates. It applies your percentage to the whole amount you pay in, adds the fixed fees and subtracts the other costs. Because the real 20% applies only to money that reaches creditors, this is a slightly conservative estimate: it shows creditors a little less than they would actually get.
Worked example (illustrative). You offer $300 a month for 60 months, $18,000 in total. The tool shows fees of $18,000 × 20% + $1,500 = $5,100 and $18,000 − $5,100 − $293 (filing fee $123.17 plus $170 of counselling, rounded) = $12,607 for creditors. The exact tariff calculation, ignoring tax, is: $18,000 − $1,500 − $123.17 − $170 = $16,206.83; that equals distributions D plus 20% of D, so D = $16,206.83 ÷ 1.2 = $13,505.69. The OSB levy of 5% of distributions ($675.28) leaves about $12,830.41 for creditors. See how a proposal offer is sized.
Limits. GST/HST on the fees reduces what creditors get (in Ontario about $535 of HST in this example, which leaves creditors about $423 less). The tariff amounts are those in force on 27 October 2026; proposed amendments published in 2025 would change them only after they are finalized.
Pitfalls, Failed Plans and Official Sources
What happens in Canada when you miss consumer proposal payments, the three-payment annulment rule in BIA s. 66.31, amendments, revival and the consequences of a failed proposal.
Calculations and Checklists
How a Licensed Insolvency Trustee sizes a consumer proposal offer in Canada: the bankruptcy benchmark, fees, the OSB levy, affordability and lump-sum offers, with worked numbers.
Options, Costs and 2026 Rules
Who can make a consumer proposal under the BIA in 2026, how the $250,000 limit is counted, the step-by-step timeline, creditor voting and the proposed $325,000 change.
Options, Costs and 2026 Rules
How a consumer proposal and personal bankruptcy compare in Canada in 2026 on eligibility, cost, assets, income, duration and credit impact, with the alternatives.
Calculations and Checklists
What happens to your house, home equity, mortgage, car loan and leased vehicle in a Canadian consumer proposal or bankruptcy, with a worked equity calculation.
Options, Costs and 2026 Rules
The trustee fee tariff in the BIA General Rules for consumer proposals and summary bankruptcies, the 5% OSB levy, filing and counselling fees, and the changes proposed in 2025.
