Collections Enforcement
Lucas Ward
Lucas Ward, Section Chief
Section Chief
William Cahill
William Cahill, Assistant Section Chief
Asst. Section Chief

Section Phone Number: 888-301-8885
AGO Help Center: 800-282-0515
 

Please note that our Collections team is only available between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST. You are also free to submit an inquiry using the webform.

Any information obtained from a live chat agent is informal guidance. It is not legal advice.The transcript of the live chat is considered a public record, please do not provide credit card numbers or full social security numbers over live chat.

 
Business > Collections

Collections Enforcement

 

SCAM WARNING

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office warns consumers that phony notifications may be mailed directly to homeowners by scam artists pretending to be from the government. These phony notices – with official-looking government logos and official-sounding departments or agency names – may appear to be legitimate. Here is an example.

If you receive an official-sounding notice or warning and need help, you may contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Help Center toll-free at 800-282-0515. Be sure to verify any government phone number before dialing, as scam call centers are often established to answer calls from Ohioans who receive fraudulent mailings.

Our Mission

The Ohio Attorney General's Office has the authority by law to collect debt owed to the state.  The Collections Enforcement Section is responsible for collecting outstanding debt owed to the State of Ohio for state agencies, institutions, boards, commissions, public university and hospitals, and local government entities.

Collections Enforcement interprets and enforces the state’s debt collection laws and is committed to provide quality collection services for the State of Ohio and to assist individuals and businesses seeking to resolve their financial obligations to the State by working matters internally or by working with private collection entities. It operates the “Offer in Compromise” program which allows debtors to settle with the state.  Collections Enforcement offers taxpayers, who have had their income tax refund taken to pay off a state debt, the ability to make a written “Request For Administrative Review of Income Tax Refund Offset”.

Additionally, you can access an on-line payment system 24/7 or contact Collections Enforcement Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 888-301-8885.

If visiting the Attorney General Collections Enforcement section in Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo or Youngstown, valid photo identification is required to be able to access the floor.  It must be presented to building security for registration and issuance of a visitor pass.

AGO Regional Taxpayer Assistance for Collection Matters

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, limited Collections staff will be available in the Cleveland, Toledo, Boardman/Youngstown and Cincinnati Ohio AG offices to assist tax payers with the following services:


You are strongly encouraged to contact the AG office before visiting to confirm staff availability at the following phone numbers:
 

Columbus: 614-466-8360
Cleveland: 216-787-3030
Cincinnati: 513-852-3497
Toledo: 419-245-2550 
Boardman/Youngstown: 330-884-7500*


 

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Pay Online

The Attorney General's office has created a quick, safe, and reliable service that allows citizens to pay outstanding debts to the State of Ohio online. Under Ohio law, state agencies turn over their outstanding accounts to the Attorney General's office for collection. You can use this site to safely and confidentially pay outstanding obligations that have been certified to the Attorney General's office. It is our aim to make payment as convenient as possible.

Please make a payment here  or contact us at 888-301-8885.

 

There is a $4.00 transaction fee for Internet Checks.

Effective July 5, 2023, the fee for Credit Cards is 3.40%; Debit Cards is 1.99%. There is a minimum fee of $1.00 for credit/debit card use. The Attorney General’s Office does not keep this fee. It is paid to third parties for processing your card payment.