The GST/HST credit is one of those quiet government payments that shows up four times a year without much fanfare. Since July 2026 it has had a new name, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, and a 25% larger payment. For low- and moderate-income Canadians, those quarterly deposits can add up to several hundred dollars annually, and you don’t have to do anything special to receive them beyond filing your taxes. If you want to know exactly when the 2026 gst payment dates land, how much you can expect, and what happens when a payment doesn’t arrive, this guide covers all of it.
What Is the GST/HST Credit?
The GST/HST credit, now officially the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), is a tax-free quarterly payment administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Most people still call it the GST credit, and this guide uses both names. It is designed to help individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset the GST or HST they pay on everyday purchases throughout the year. It may also include additional payments from provincial or territorial programs, depending on where you live.
You are automatically assessed for the credit when you file your federal income tax return. There is no separate application. If you qualify based on your income and family situation, the CRA calculates your amount and sends a notice outlining your payment schedule.
One important change: the federal government renamed and expanded the GST/HST credit in July 2026. The program is now called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) and payment amounts rose 25%. The structure, eligibility rules, and quarterly payment schedule stay the same under the new name.
2026 GST/HST Credit Payment Dates
The CRA issues GST/HST credit payments four times per year. Here are the confirmed 2026 payment dates, as published on Canada.ca:
| Payment | Date | Program name |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 5, 2026 | GST/HST credit |
| Q2 | April 2, 2026 | GST/HST credit |
| Q3 | July 3, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit |
| Q4 | October 5, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit |
The January and April payments were based on your adjusted family net income from your 2024 tax return. The July and October payments switch to your 2025 tax return, and are issued under the CGEB name with the 25% increase included.
If you are enrolled in direct deposit through your CRA My Account, the funds typically clear on the payment date itself. Mailed cheques can take several additional business days depending on Canada Post service in your area.
If your total quarterly entitlement works out to less than $50 per quarter, the CRA will not issue four separate payments. Instead, the full annual amount is paid as a single lump sum in the July payment.
How Much You Can Get (2026-2027 Benefit Year)
The benefit is recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax return. For the benefit year running from July 2026 to June 2027, payments are based on your 2025 adjusted family net income. According to Canada.ca, the maximum annual amounts are:
| Situation | Maximum annual amount |
|---|---|
| Single individual | $679 |
| Married or common-law couple | $890 |
| Per child under 19 | $234 |
These figures include the 25% increase that came with the CGEB in July 2026. Under the old GST/HST credit the same maximums were $533, $698 and $184.
These are the upper limits. Your actual payment depends on your family net income. Higher income reduces the credit, and at a certain threshold the credit phases out entirely.
A few points worth understanding:
- Your payment is split across four quarters. A single person receiving the maximum annual amount of $679 would receive approximately $169.75 per quarter.
- Children registered for the Canada Child Benefit are automatically included in the CRA’s CGEB calculation. You do not need to register them separately.
- In shared custody situations, each parent may be eligible to receive half of the child’s portion of the credit.
What changed in July 2026
The July 3 payment was the first under the CGEB, calculated from your 2025 tax return and carrying a 25% increase on the old base amounts. Canada.ca states the increase “will remain for 5 years from 2026 to 2031”, so this is not a one-off top-up.
Who Is Eligible
To receive the GST/HST credit, you must meet all of the following conditions at the time of each payment:
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes in the month before the payment is issued and at the start of the payment month.
- You are at least 19 years old.
If you are under 19, you may still qualify if you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or if you are a parent living with your child.
You are not required to have employment income. The credit is available even if your income for the year is zero, provided you file a tax return. This matters for students, people taking time away from work, and anyone relying on government support as their primary income.
Income thresholds determine whether you receive the full credit, a partial amount, or nothing at all. The CRA publishes the exact thresholds each benefit year. As a general rule, the credit phases out as income rises, and at higher income levels the entitlement reaches zero.
How to Get the Credit
Filing your annual federal income tax return is all that is required. The CRA reviews your filing and automatically determines your eligibility and entitlement. You do not need to complete a separate application form, check a specific box on your return, or contact the CRA to request the credit.
If you are a newcomer to Canada and are filing for the first time, you may still be eligible for the credit. Check the CRA’s guidance for new residents, as slightly different rules apply around residency timing.
If you turn 19 during the year, file your tax return for the previous year even if you had no income. The CRA will determine your eligibility and issue your first payment on the scheduled date that falls after your 19th birthday.
What to Do If a Payment Is Late or Missing
If a scheduled GST/HST credit payment does not arrive on the expected date, here is a practical checklist:
- Wait ten business days past the payment date before contacting the CRA. Processing and mail delivery delays do occur.
- Sign in to your CRA My Account to check your payment status. The account shows your next expected payment date, the amount, and your full payment schedule for the benefit year.
- Verify your personal information is current: mailing address, banking information for direct deposit, and marital status.
- Confirm your tax return for the relevant year has been filed and assessed. If the CRA has not assessed your return, it cannot calculate or issue your payment.
- Check whether your income increased significantly. A higher income for the base year may reduce or eliminate your entitlement.
If none of those explain the issue, call the CRA at 1-800-387-1193 for individual tax and benefit enquiries.
GST Credit Payments and Borrowing
For Canadians receiving GST/HST credit payments as part of a broader income picture that includes other government benefits, understanding how lenders view those payments can matter when you are considering a loan.
The GST/HST credit itself is relatively modest compared to programs like Old Age Security or the Canada Child Benefit. On its own, it is unlikely to be a primary income source for a lender’s assessment. However, when you receive multiple benefit streams together, the combined picture can make a meaningful difference.
Alternative lenders in Canada are generally more flexible than banks in how they assess income from government sources. They look at total recurring cash flow rather than applying strict income-type filters. If your regular income includes a combination of benefits, the GST/HST credit payments showing up quarterly on your bank statements become part of that documented cash flow.
See our guide to Canadian government benefits and financial assistance programs for a plain-English overview of which federal and provincial benefits most Canadians qualify for. And if you are exploring personal loan options at Lend For All, understanding your full benefit income picture before you apply helps match you to the right lender.
Keeping Your Payments on Track
A few habits keep your GST/HST credit arriving without interruption:
- File your tax return every year, even if you had no income. The CRA uses your filing to calculate your credit each July.
- Update your CRA My Account whenever your marital status, address, or banking details change. Stale information delays payments.
- Set up direct deposit through CRA My Account for the fastest, most reliable delivery.
- Sign up for CRA benefit payment reminders, which are sent about one week before each payment date.
For related government benefit guides, see our posts on OAS payment dates and amounts and the full breakdown of Canadian government benefits.
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