Skip to main content

Agency Debt Referral Briefing Guide

Note: The Debt Collection Management Staff (DCM) provides the operational, litigation support, policy and client support services, training, and reporting needed to facilitate the collection of debts owed to the United States Government.

Per Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account” as of 9/30/2025, the DCM is only accepting electronic payments.  For more information please see DCM Bulleting on Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account.

Debt Collection

The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the efforts of the United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAO), Private Counsel, and DOJ’s litigating divisions, enforces the collection of court-ordered judgments, contractual agreements, and settlement agreements on behalf of the Department of the Treasury and other Federal Agencies. It collects from debtors who have defaulted on their responsibility to repay their debts, as well as ensures the timely collection of current judgments and settlements. The DOJ also collects money due and owing to the United States from fees, leases, services, overpayments, civil penalties, and other similar sources. It further enforces the financial judgments entered by the courts as a result of criminal litigation.

Nationwide Central Intake Facility (NCIF)

The Nationwide Central Intake Facility (NCIF) in Washington, D.C., serves as the DOJ’s central location for federal agencies to refer civil debts for litigation and enforced collection. By consolidating certain civil debt processing, the DOJ has improved tracking, standardized referral screening, reduced delays, and enhanced reporting. NCIF also notifies referring agencies when debts are received and provides information on the assigned USAO or Private Counsel.

Types of Cases to Send to the NCIF

Agencies should submit the following cases to the NCIF:

  • Referrals for litigation and collection of civil debts with a principal amount of $1,000,000 or less, as specified in Section 105.1(a) of the Federal Claims Collection Standards (31 C.F.R. § 904).
  • All foreclosure debts, regardless of amount.
  • Bankruptcy cases requiring any action by the USAO, including the filing a Proof of Claim on the agency’s behalf.
  • Referrals for which the principal amount is over $1,000,000, exclusive of interest and penalties. Upon receipt, NCIF will send these cases to the Civil Division.
  • Referrals seeking only DOJ concurrence on the agency's proposal to suspend or terminate collection action. NCIF will send such requests to the Civil Division as required by 31 C.F.R. §902 and 31 C.F.R. § 903.

Types of Cases Not to Send to the NCIF

Agencies are not to send exception cases to the NCIF, as the NCIF does not process such cases.

These exceptions include:

  • Antitrust Cases
  • Environment and Natural Resources Cases
  • Tax Cases
  • Fraud Cases
  • Interagency Claims
  • Referrals for Renewal of Judgment Lien Only

These cases will continue to be sent directly to the USAO of jurisdiction or the appropriate litigating division, and their data will not be entered into the CDCS initially.

If received by the NCIF, such cases will be forwarded to the appropriate litigating division or returned to the referring agency.

Debt Referral Process

Federal agencies should refer civil debts with a principal balance of less than $1,000,000 or less to the NCIF, not directly to a USAO. Upon receipt of the debt referral package, NCIF reviews the package for completeness, establishes the debt in the Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS), and assigns the referral to the appropriate USAO or Private Counsel.

Referral packages should include a Claims Collection Litigation Report (CCLR), a Certificate of Indebtedness (COI), and credit data obtained within the past six months that demonstrate the debtor's ability to pay. Agencies should also include any other available supporting information and materials. For more information on referrals to DOJ, see The Federal Claims Collection Standards at 31 C.F.R. § 904.

Agency Debt Management Portal

Agencies may submit referrals for debts with a principal balance of $1,000,000 or less, as well as foreclosure and bankruptcy cases requiring USAO action, to the NCIF via the Agency Debt Management Portal (ADMP). The ADMP is an online tool that enables federal agencies to refer debt to the DOJ for litigation and enforced collection, request preliminary debtor collectability assessments, submit the CCLR and supporting documents electronically, receive notification of referral statuses, and generate debt and collection reports as needed.

To learn more about and/or to request access to ADMP, please send an email to ADMP@usdoj.gov.

DOJ’s Submission Mailbox

To submit referrals for debts with a principal balance over $1,000,000, or for requests seeking DOJ Concurrence for Suspension or Termination of collection activity, agencies must use the PDF version of the CCLR provided below. Agencies have two submission options: (1) send the referral to the NCIF via the Submission Mailbox (CCLR.Submission@usdoj.gov); or (2) send it directly to the Civil Division at CorpFin.DebtCollection@usdoj.gov. If sent to the NCIF, the NCIF will forward any referral for debts exceeding $1,000,000 or any DOJ Concurrence request to the Civil Division, consistent with 31 C.F.R. 902 and 31 C.F.R. 903.

What to Expect After Sending a Referral to the NCIF

Referral packages received at the NCIF through ADMP go to the new claims entry processing section where Case Processing enters the claim information into the Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS).

Referral packages are reviewed for completeness and screened for the following:

  • A completed CCLR;
    • A signed and dated COI;
    • Statute of Limitations date greater than 6 months of the referral date;
    • The amount of principal referred must be $2,500 or greater;
      • A "piggyback" claim (a claim that accompanies one or more other claims for the same debtor from the same agency);
      • Other exception as noted on CCLR by the referring agency.
    • Credit report on the debtor obtained within the past 6 months or evidence of verified employment or debtor asset information. (Please see CCLR instructions for exceptions.)

Referrals meeting the NCIF screening criteria are entered into CDCS, and the following steps are taken:

a) "Client Agency Acknowledgment" letters are generated and sent for each claim. These letters confirm NCIF's receipt of the claim and specify the referral date and judicial district.

b) The referral package is added to the debt in CDCS.

c) The debt is assigned to the appropriate USAO or Private Counsel Office representing the DOJ. The assignment is based on the debtor's address zip code, or property address for foreclosure cases. If already filed in federal or state court, the case is assigned to the area where the judgment was issued.

d) Referrals meeting NCIF criteria may be declined immediately after USAO review. The USAO returns declined claims to the referring agency and closes the debt in CDCS.

Referrals that do not meet the screening criteria are recorded as declinations. "Client Agency Declination" letters are then sent to the referring agencies.

What Agencies Can Do to Help

  • Ensure that debts with principal balances of $1,000,000 or less, as well as foreclosure or bankruptcy cases requiring USAO action, are submitted to the NCIF through the ADMP.
  • Ensure debts with a principal balance over $1,000,000, or requests seeking DOJ Concurrence for suspension or termination of collection activity, are sent to the NCIF via the Submission Mailbox (CCLR.Submission@usdoj.gov) or directly to the Civil Division using the PDF version of the CCLR.
  • Prevent duplicate referrals to USAO and NCIF.
  • Discontinue all debtor contact and direct all debtor inquiries to the assigned USAO or Private Counsel.
  • Terminate use of any administrative collection activities.
  • Promptly notify DOJ of any payments received after DOJ referral.
  • Send all follow-up documents and information directly to the responsible USAO or Private Counsel.
  • Contact the assigned USAO or Private Counsel to renew a Judgment Lien referred to DOJ.
  • Refer to the Federal Claims Collection Standards (31 C.F.R. § 904), Referrals to the Department of Justice

Bankruptcy Referral Procedures

If your agency files a Proof of Claim, DOJ does not need to be notified.

If your agency requests the USAO to file only a Proof of Claim on your behalf, you must complete the following steps:

  • Step 1: Complete only the first page of the CCLR (Claim at a Glance). Enter the pertinent bankruptcy information in Blocks 1-11. In Block 8-b, write "POC only" in the blank space.
  • Step 2: In Block 9-a (Amount of Claim), enter the amounts from the Proof of Claim or an estimate of the amount owed. Do not modify Item 9-a, as its financial components are linked to fixed database fields.
  • Step 3: Attach a copy of the Proof of Claim.

If your agency requests the USAO to take action beyond filing a Proof of Claim, you must complete the following steps:

  • Step 1: Complete all applicable sections of the entire CCLR.
  • Step 2: Attach a copy of the Proof of Claim and any other relevant documents.

Important: If the filing deadline is within thirty (30) days, send the original information directly to the USAO.

If your agency receives notice of a bankruptcy filing for a case already referred to the Department through the NCIF, notify the USAO directly to avoid duplicate case counts.

Debarment Provision of the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (FDCPA)

A debarment provision within the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act of 1990 (FDCPA) 28 U.S.C. § 3201(e), provides that people who have defaulted on their obligations to repay previous federal financial assistance, and against whom the DOJ has secured a judgment for their federal debt, may not be eligible for certain further federal financial benefits, until the judgments outstanding against them are paid in full or otherwise satisfied.

U.S. Department of Justice
Debt Collection Management
Nationwide Central Intake Facility
November 2025

Updated May 14, 2026