GST Payment Dates in Canada: Your 2026 Schedule and Key Changes

Quarterly GST credit payments, now paid as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), help millions of low and modest income Canadians offset the cost of everyday goods and services. If you are tracking the 2026 GST dates or want to know what the July rename means for your bank account, here is the complete picture straight from the CRA.

The CRA pays the GST/HST credit, now called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), four times a year, in January, April, July, and October. The confirmed payment dates for 2026 are:

• January 5, 2026 (GST/HST credit)
• April 2, 2026 (GST/HST credit)
• July 3, 2026 (first CGEB payment)
• October 5, 2026 (CGEB)

The next payment is October 5, 2026. The January and April payments were paid as the GST/HST credit and based on your 2024 tax return. The July 3 and October 5 payments are paid as the CGEB and based on your 2025 tax return. This shift happens every July as the CRA updates the benefit using the most recently filed return.

If your annual benefit works out to less than $50 per quarter, the CRA does not split it across four installments. The full annual amount is paid as a single lump sum in July.

Before the July transition, the CRA issued a one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment starting June 5, 2026. This additional payment went to Canadians who were entitled to the January 2026 GST/HST credit payment.

The top-up amount is generally equal to 50% of your total annual GST/HST credit for the July 2025 to June 2026 period, which works out to roughly twice your January 2026 payment if your family situation has not changed.

To have been eligible, you needed to have filed your 2024 tax return. If you were entitled but did not receive the payment, log into CRA My Account to check your payment status and confirm your banking information is current.

In July 2026, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit. Amounts are 25% higher than the previous GST/HST credit for five years, beginning with the July 3, 2026 payment.

The structure stayed the same. Payments remain quarterly, eligibility is still determined automatically when you file your tax return, and no separate application is needed. The July 3 payment was the first to include the 25% increase.

CGEB payments are tax-free, so you do not report them on your tax return. To see your next expected payment date and amount, sign in to CRA My Account and open Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) under Benefits and credits.

For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, based on your 2025 tax return, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is up to:

• $679 for single individuals
• $890 for married or common-law couples
• $234 per eligible child under 19

These amounts apply to the payments from July 2026 through June 2027. The January and April 2026 payments were based on your 2024 tax return, with GST/HST credit maximums of $533 for single individuals, $698 for couples, and $184 per child.

Your actual payment depends on your adjusted family net income. As income rises above the phase-out threshold, the benefit gradually reduces. The CRA calculates this automatically.

To receive the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit), you must be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes at the end of the month before and at the beginning of the month in which the payment is made, be at least 19 years old (or have or have had a spouse or common-law partner, or be or have been a parent living with your child), and have filed your income tax return for the previous year.

There is no minimum income requirement. Even individuals with zero income can qualify if they file a return. The CRA determines eligibility automatically based on your filed return, which is why filing every year matters even when you have little or nothing to report.

Newcomers to Canada who have not yet filed a Canadian return can apply for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit by completing Form RC151 and submitting it to the CRA.

For everyone else, the credit flows automatically from your filed return, which means the real task is making sure that return is complete. Gathering the right slips and receipts ahead of time is what prevents missed credits and delays, and our free checklist walks you through exactly what to have ready.

If a scheduled payment date has passed and you have not received your credit, allow up to 10 business days before contacting the CRA. Direct deposit payments arrive faster than mailed cheques.

A few common reasons payments are delayed or missing. Your 2025 tax return may not have been assessed yet, since the CRA cannot issue a payment until your return has been processed. Your banking information may be outdated, so log into CRA My Account and confirm your direct deposit details are current. You may also have an outstanding balance with the CRA, as benefit payments can be applied to tax debts or government overpayments automatically. If none of these apply, contact the CRA directly at 1-800-387-1193.

Every Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment, like every GST credit payment before it, flows directly from a filed tax return. If you miss filing, file late, or file with errors, your payment is delayed or reduced. The CRA has no way to calculate what you are entitled to without your return on file.

This matters especially for self-employed Canadians, newcomers, students, and anyone who may assume they do not need to file because their income is low. Filing is exactly what triggers the benefit calculation and ensures you receive every dollar you are entitled to.

Your Modern Accountant‘s tax preparation services cover individuals, students, employed Canadians, and self-employed filers across Canada. Whether you are filing to receive the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, claim a refund, or simply stay current with the CRA, our team ensures your return is accurate and submitted on time. Learn more about how we support tax preparation for self-employed Canadians, who often have the most at stake when a filing deadline is missed.

If you would rather have your return handled properly the first time, we are here to help.