Changes to the Civil Litigation Filing Levy Process
Changes to the Civil Litigation Filing Levy Process
With the introduction of the new Alberta Law Portal, some changes are coming to how Subscribers are required to report and pay the Civil Litigation Filing Levy (CLFL).
Currently, Subscribers are obligated to report and pay civil litigation filings on a quarterly basis through the Lawyer Portal. Subscribers who are required to pay the CLFL may charge it to their client as a disbursement, but only after they have submitted payment to ALIA each quarter.
Introducing Pay-as-You-Go
When the new Portal launches in January 2027, Subscribers will be able to report their filings and pay the CLFL using a pay-as-you-go model. This means as soon as a civil litigation filing is reported, a corresponding invoice will be generated that the Subscriber can pay at any time prior to June 30 of each policy year, rather than in quarterly intervals. This allows Subscribers to manage their cash flow more effectively and charge clients for the CLFL sooner.
New 2027 Deadlines
To align with the new model, effective January 2027, ALIA will also eliminate quarterly deadlines for the CLFL.
As of January 2027, there will be a single deadline for reporting and payment and a single annual administrative suspension if the payment deadline is missed: all reporting will be due by May 31 and corresponding payment due by June 30 annually. This aligns with the annual indemnity levy payment deadline to make it easier for Subscribers to keep track of key dates. Subscribers may report and pay CLFL at any time throughout the year, as long as all reporting is complete by the May 31 deadline and any outstanding payments are made by June 30.
Q1 2026–2027 Deadline Still in Effect
Please note that the quarterly reporting and payment schedule will remain in place until the end of 2026, meaning that Subscribers are still obligated to report and pay the CLFL for Q1 of the 2026–2027 ALIA policy year as normal.
Failure to pay CLFL for Q4 2025–2026 (April–June) and/or Q1 2026–2027 (July–September) prior to December 31, 2026, will still result in administrative suspension.
Subscribers can continue to report civil litigation filings as normal through the Lawyer Portal until the end of the year. More information will be shared closer to the launch of the Alberta Law Portal so that Subscribers know what to expect and how the transition to the new Portal will work.