GST Payment Dates 2026
2026 is the year the GST/HST credit changed its name. The quarterly payment schedule carried on unbroken, but from July 3, 2026 the deposit arrives as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit — 25% larger, same eligibility.
2026 payment schedule
| Quarter | Payment date | Paid as |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 5, 2026 | GST/HST credit |
| Q2 | April 2, 2026 | GST/HST credit |
| Q3 | July 3, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) |
| Q4 | October 5, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) |
For reference, the 2025 GST/HST credit dates were January 3, 2025, April 4, 2025, July 4, 2025, October 3, 2025 — all four under the original name. Source: Canada.ca — Benefits payment dates.
What actually changed on July 3, 2026
- The name. Bank statements and CRA letters now say Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, not GST/HST credit.
- The amount. Entitlements are 25% higher than the credit would otherwise have paid, for five years.
- Nothing else. The same return-based income test, the same July-to-June benefit year, the same quarterly dates, and no application to submit.
A separate one-time top-up of 50% of the prior year's value also went out by June 5, 2026 to people who received the January 2026 payment.
How much arrives each quarter
Maximums for the July 2026 – June 2027 benefit year, assessed from your 2025 return. These are annual figures paid in quarterly instalments, and they taper as family net income rises.
Per eligible adult
$445/year
Also the amount for a spouse or common-law partner.
Per child under 19
$234/year
Added for each eligible child in the family.
Work out your own entitlement with the CGEB calculator, or see the pre-rename figures in the GST/HST credit calculator. Provincial and territorial credits — including the Ontario Trillium Benefit — run on their own calendars and are unaffected by the rename.
Frequently asked questions
What are the GST payment dates for 2026?
There are 4 quarterly payments in 2026: January 5, 2026, April 2, 2026, July 3, 2026, October 5, 2026. The first two were issued as the GST/HST credit; from July 3, 2026 onward the same quarterly payment is called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
Why is my GST credit now called something else?
The federal government renamed the GST/HST credit the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and increased it by 25% for five years, starting with the July 3, 2026 payment. Nothing about how you qualify changed — same income test, same quarterly schedule, no new application. Only the name on your deposit and the amount are different.
Did I miss a payment — I only see two under the old name?
No. The official calendar deliberately lists only 2 GST/HST credit dates for 2026 (January 5, 2026 and April 2, 2026) because the program was renamed mid-year. The 2 later payments appear under the new name instead. Together they are still the normal four-per-year cadence.
What was the extra payment in June?
A one-time top-up worth 50% of the prior benefit year's value was issued to people who received the January 2026 GST/HST credit, no later than June 5, 2026. It was a bridge to the higher ongoing amounts and is not part of the regular quarterly schedule.
How much is the benefit for the July 2026 – June 2027 period?
Based on your 2025 return, the maximum is $445 for an eligible adult (and the same again for a spouse or common-law partner) plus $234 for each child under 19. Payments phase out as family net income rises — our calculator works out your own figure.
Do I have to apply?
No. Filing your tax return is the application. The CRA assesses your return, decides your entitlement for the July-to-June benefit year, and starts paying automatically. If you did not file, you are not paid — which is the single most common reason a payment stops.
Why did my payment go to the CRA instead of my bank?
Benefit payments are applied against amounts you owe the CRA and its partners, including arrears on family support orders, before anything is deposited. If you had a balance owing, some or all of the quarterly payment can be redirected without a separate notice arriving first.
Are these payments taxable?
No. The GST/HST credit and its successor are tax-free and are not reported as income on your return. They do not reduce other credits either — they are calculated from your net income rather than counted in it.
Sources
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