Canadians getting rebranded GST credit payment this week
Canadians eligible to receive the quarterly Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit payment from the government might want to check their bank account this week.
The GST credit payment has been renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, and it will go out on Thursday, April 2. This benefit is for Canadian families with low and modest incomes and is meant to offset the cost of taxes they’ve paid.
You could even get a one-time top-up equivalent to a 50 per cent increase in the annual 2025 to 2026 value of the GST credit. It’s unclear if this amount will come with the Groceries and Essentials Benefit; the government hasn’t mentioned specific dates, but mentions that this will be paid as early as possible this spring, and no later than June 2026.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the one-time top-up in January to help more than 12 million Canadians with $3.1 billion total in hopes of bringing some financial relief as food prices keep climbing.
According to Statistics Canada, prices for groceries rose by 4.1 per cent in February compared with the same month last year, after a 4.8 per cent increase in January.
How much could your GST payment be?
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The amount you receive depends on several factors, such as your family’s net income, marital status, and the number of eligible children under 19 years old. The amount is also calculated based on your previous year’s tax return.
As a result, you could receive the following:
- $533 if you are single
- $698 if you are married or have a common-law partner
- $183 for each child under the age of 19
April’s GST credit payment is based on the indexation increase of 2.7 per cent for the 2025 benefit year, with payments recalculated every July.
Canadians could receive more money soon
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With GST payments recalculated in July, the next payment (scheduled for July 3) will be significantly higher. The new grocery rebate will increase by 25 per cent for five years, delivering $8.6 billion in support, including 500,000 additional individuals and families over the next few years.
After the April 2 and July 3 payments, the next payment date is on October 5.
Eligible Canadians will also receive other types of benefits in April.
With files from Isabelle Docto