Attention Ontarians: Extra Money Coming Your Way Soon!
During these financially challenging times, many of us are hoping for a little extra help. Good news! The upgraded GST/HST credit payments for April 2026 are arriving a bit early.
Keep an eye on your bank account or check your mail, as you can expect a direct deposit or a cheque from the federal government soon.
What is the GST/HST Credit and How Does it Relate to Income Taxes?
For those unfamiliar, the GST/HST credit is a tax-free payment provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to support individuals and families with modest incomes. It is designed to help offset the GST or HST that we pay on purchases.
Frequency of Payments:
The credit is paid quarterly and is based on your family’s net income from the previous tax year.
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify, you must be a tax-paying Canadian resident and meet certain criteria regarding age (at least 19 years old), marital status, and income level. The CRA automatically determines your eligibility when you file your taxes, making tax filing more important than ever. Claimants under 19 can also apply, but must currently have, or have had, a spouse or common-law partner, or be a parent currently living with or who has lived with their child/children.
For the current payment cycle, individuals earning more than $54,704 in 2023 do not qualify. However, the income threshold rises to $72,244 for families with four or more children.
How Much Money Can You Expect from the GST/HST Credit?
GST/HST credit payments are based on:
– Your adjusted family net income
– Your marital status
– The number of eligible children under 19 years old that you have registered for the Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, or both.
With the April payment, you could receive up to:
– $133.25 if you are a single individual
– $174.50 if you are married or have a common-law partner
– $46 for each child under the age of 19
Important: The final amount disbursed to you could include amounts from provincial and territorial programs, which could increase your total. Also note that GST/HST credit payments are not taxable, so you won’t see any deductions when you file your taxes.
Note:
Next GST/HST Credit Payment Date.
The next GST/HST credit payment will be made on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Payments are typically scheduled for the 5th of each benefit month, or the preceding Friday if that day is a weekend.
This April, payments will be issued earlier because April 5 falls on a Sunday, and the preceding Friday is a statutory holiday in Canada. The remaining quarterly payment dates for the current year are July 4 and October 3.
Important Update:
Starting in July 2026, the benefit will increase by 25% for five years. In addition, eligible recipients of the January 2026 GST/HST credit payment may receive a one-time top-up equal to 50% of the 2025-26 value, issued no later than June 2026.
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