Does Debt Go Away After 7 Years in the US?

A collector calls about a debt from years ago and says it’s still yours. A friend told you it expired after seven years. Both can be partly right, because seven years is a credit report rule, not a deadline for owing the money.

Got more than one debt? The free AI Debt Payoff Planner shows which to tackle first. For the wider picture of options, see our US debt relief guide.

Two clocks, two different jobs

Sources: CFPB, CFPB.

The CFPB says a credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years (CFPB). Experian says the seven years run from the original delinquency date, which means the first missed payment that led to the charge-off, and selling the debt doesn’t change that (Experian). A charge-off is when a lender writes the debt off as a loss but you still owe it, which our charge-off guide explains.

An example, with my own dates: say your first missed payment was in March 2019. Under the seven-year rule the account should leave your report around March 2026. Whether anyone can still sue is a separate question, and the answer depends on your state.

What a collector can and can’t do on an old debt

The CFPB says that once a debt is time-barred, collectors can usually still contact you by letter or phone if they follow the law, but they can’t sue or threaten to sue. One detail people miss: a court may still enter a judgment if you don’t appear and raise the statute of limitations yourself (CFPB). Ignoring court papers is how an old debt turns into a judgment.

Before you pay or agree to anything, ask for written proof of the debt with a debt validation letter. If a collector is pushing you, our know your rights guide and the collector harassment guide cover what’s allowed.

The trap: paying a little

This is the one that catches people. The CFPB says a partial payment or acknowledging the debt, even after the period has expired, may restart the statute of limitations. In some states the clock starts at the first missed payment and in others at the most recent payment (CFPB). Check the statute of limitations rules for your state first. If the debt is already time-barred, a small goodwill payment could be the move that gives a collector the right to sue again.

Old debt, off your report

Once a debt has dropped off your report you may feel safe ignoring it. The CFPB says a debt doesn’t generally expire until it’s paid, so it can still be owed after the mark is gone. Whether to pay is a money decision, not a rule: ask what a collector would actually do, whether the statute of limitations has run, and whether a settlement is realistic. Our guide to what happens if you never pay a debt walks through it. Medical debt has had its own recent changes, so see our medical debt guide rather than assuming the same rules apply.

One exception: a court judgment is a different clock

If a creditor already sued and won, the time limit that applies is no longer the one for suing. A judgment (a court order saying you owe the money) has its own life, and in many states it can last ten years or longer and be renewed. That is separate from the credit report, where the seven years are counted from the first missed payment, with a further 180 days for collection accounts. Check your own state’s rules, and see the statute of limitations by state.

Still unsure? Start here

Do I still owe it after 7 years?

Yes, in general. The CFPB says a debt doesn’t generally expire or disappear until it’s paid, even though the time to sue may run out (CFPB).

Can they sue me over a very old debt?

Not if it is time-barred. The CFPB says collectors can’t sue or threaten to sue over time-barred debt. But a court may still enter a judgment if you don’t show up and raise the statute of limitations yourself (CFPB). If you get court papers, read our getting sued for debt guide and respond.

If I pay a small amount, does the clock restart?

It may. The CFPB warns that a partial payment or acknowledging an old debt may restart the clock, and the rules depend on your state (CFPB). Check your state’s rules, or talk to a lawyer or legal aid office, before paying or promising anything.

Does paying remove it from my credit report?

No. The CFPB says no one has the right to remove accurate negative information from a report (CFPB). Experian says a paid collection is updated to show paid, which is still negative but viewed more favorably than an unpaid one (Experian).

If the debt is sold to a new collector, does the 7 years restart?

No. Experian says a resold debt can create a new collection entry, but it must keep the delinquency date from the original charge-off, so it expires along with it (Experian).

How long does bankruptcy stay on my report?

The CFPB says bankruptcy can be reported for up to ten years (CFPB).

The collector says I have a judgment. Does the 7 years still protect me?

Not the way you hope. A judgment has its own lifespan, which in many states is ten years or more and can be renewed. Look up the date and your state’s rule, or ask a legal aid office.

Related reading

• What Happens If You Never Pay a Debt? (US 2026)

AI Debt Payoff Planner

See your exact debt-free date free.