June 12, 2026
The June 5, 2026 GST/HST Credit Top-Up: Why You Got an Extra Payment
The one-time GST/HST credit top-up paid from June 5, 2026 equals 50% of your annual credit. How it works, who got it, and how it relates to the CGEB.
GST/HST Credit Calculator →
Quarterly GST/HST credit for 2025-26 — up to $533 single, $698 couples, $184 per child; phase-out and payment dates
If an unexpected deposit labelled GST/HST credit arrived in your account in early June 2026, it’s the one-time top-up the government issued ahead of the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. Here’s what it is and what comes next.
What the top-up is
Starting June 5, 2026, the CRA paid a one-time amount equal to 50% of your annual GST/HST credit for the July 2025 – June 2026 period. No application was needed; anyone entitled to the 2025-26 credit got it automatically.
Examples (based on 2025-26 annual credit amounts):
| Situation | 2025-26 annual credit | One-time top-up |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children (max) | $533 | $267 |
| Couple, no children (max) | $698 | $349 |
| Couple, two children (max) | $1,066 | $533 |
If your credit was reduced by the income phase-out, your top-up is 50% of your reduced amount, not the maximum.
It’s separate from the CGEB
The top-up is a bridge payment. The ongoing change is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit that replaces the GST/HST credit from July 3, 2026, with quarterly amounts 25% higher for five years — up to $679 for singles, $890 for couples, and $234 per child for 2026-27.
You receive both: the one-time top-up in June, then the regular CGEB quarterly payments from July. Estimate your ongoing quarterly amount with the CGEB calculator.
Common questions
Is the top-up taxable? No. Like the credit itself, it’s tax-free and doesn’t appear on your return.
I didn’t get it — why? The two usual reasons: your 2024 return (which determines 2025-26 credit entitlement) wasn’t assessed yet, or your 2024 adjusted family net income was above the cutoff for your family size. Late-filed returns trigger retroactive payments.
Does it reduce my CGEB? No. The July 3 CGEB payment is calculated independently, from your 2025 return — see CGEB payment dates for what feeds each payment.
Source: CRA, one-time GST/HST credit top-up; CRA news, top-up coming June 5.
Use our calculators to apply these concepts to your own income. Tax information is for general guidance only — consult a CPA for advice specific to your situation.
Tax rates and thresholds sourced from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Last verified for the 2025 tax year.