Here’s a clear, up-to-date breakdown of the new GST/HST rebate changes for low-income Canadians announced in early 2026 — including how these compare to the traditional GST/HST credit:
🧾 What the GST/HST Credit Is (Background)
The GST/HST credit is a tax-free benefit paid by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) four times a year to help people with low or modest incomes offset some of the sales tax (GST/HST) they pay. It’s automatically calculated based on the information from your tax return — you don’t normally have to apply separately.
Typical eligibility basics:
📌 What’s New in 2026
1. 💸 Increase to the GST/HST Credit Over 5 Years
The federal government announced a plan to boost the GST/HST credit amounts by 25% over the next five years. This means each eligible person or family could receive noticeably more money each year than before, helping with affordability challenges like groceries and other essentials.
2. 🎁 One-Time Extra Payment in 2026
In 2026, there’s a one-time top-up payment equal to 50% of your GST/HST credit amount. If approved and passed by Parliament, this extra lump sum will be paid in June 2026 on top of your regular credit payments.
3. 🛍️ Focus on Cost-of-Living Relief
The idea behind these changes is to give more support to Canadians facing high grocery and everyday costs — especially low- and modest-income households, seniors, and families with kids.
💰 How Much You Could Receive (Example)
Exact amounts depend on your income, family size, and filing status, but here’s a simplified idea based on recent adjustments the CRA made to the credit:
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If you’re single: credit amount goes up compared to the previous year
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Couples and families: combined credit increases
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Children under 19 also boost the total credit for families
The CRA adjusts these amounts yearly for inflation and other factors. For 2026, the credit amounts were increased from previous years.
🗓️ When You Get Paid
GST/HST credit payments are generally sent four times a year:
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January
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April
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July
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October
And if this new one-time top-up is passed, it would be added in June 2026.
📌 Important Tips
✔ File your taxes every year.
This is the key to receiving the GST/HST credit — even if you earned very little or no income.
✔ Your income matters.
The CRA calculates your credit amount based on your adjusted family net income from your latest tax return. Lower income generally means a higher credit, up to a point.
✔ You don’t need to apply separately — if you filed your taxes, the CRA will determine your eligibility and send payments automatically.
🧠 Quick Summary
✨ New changes (2026 onward):
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+25% boost to GST/HST credit over five years
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A one-time extra payment (50% boost) planned for June 2026
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Overall goal: help low- and modest-income Canadians with higher living costs
📅 Payments are quarterly, and filing taxes on time keeps you eligible.