A complete guide to understanding Canada's GST/HST credit — including exact payment dates and eligibility rules for this year.
Struggling to keep up with rising grocery costs and housing bills?
Canada's GST/HST credit offers a quiet but powerful tax-free boost if you qualify.
Here's when it arrives and how to make sure you're on the list for 2025–2026.
1. What Is the GST/HST Credit?
The Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit is a quarterly, tax-free payment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to help low- and modest-income Canadians offset the cost of sales tax.
Understanding how much HST you pay throughout the year can help you appreciate the value of this credit. Tools like hstcalculator.onl make it easy to calculate your actual HST burden on purchases, giving you a clearer picture of how much this quarterly credit truly helps your budget.
It's automatic — but only if you file your taxes.
2. Who Qualifies for the GST/HST Credit?
To be eligible in the 2025–2026 cycle, you must:
Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
Be at least 19 years old, OR have (or had) a spouse/common-law partner, OR be (or have been) a parent living with your child
File a 2024 income tax return — even if you had no income
Have net income below set thresholds (e.g. ~$52,000 for singles, ~$69,000 for families, with adjustments for children)
Pro Advice: If you're new to Canada or have a child, you may need to fill out Form RC151 or RC66 manually.
3. When Will I Receive the GST/HST Credit in 2025–2026?
The GST/HST credit is issued four times a year. If you're eligible based on your 2024 return, you'll start receiving payments in:
Quarter
Payment Date
Q1 – Winter
January 3, 2025
Q2 – Spring
April 4, 2025
Q3 – Summer
July 4, 2025
Q4 – Fall
October 3, 2025
Q1 (Next Cycle)
January 3, 2026
Direct deposit hits your account that day; mailed cheques may take longer.
Note: If your annual credit is under $50, CRA may pay it as a lump sum in July instead of quarterly.
Drive HST success in 2025—explore the 8 must-track metrics → https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/8-hst-metrics-that-will-shape-your-2025-success-pdf/280703698
4. How Much Will I Get?
For the 2025–2026 cycle, CRA estimates:
$519 per eligible adult
$680 per couple
$179 per child under 19
Your exact amount depends on family size, marital status, and net income. CRA automatically recalculates each year after you file taxes.
Want to put this in perspective? Consider that if you're running a business or dealing with international transactions, you might also be managing VAT obligations. Quick calculations using tools like vatcalc.onl can help you understand your total tax landscape — both the taxes you pay and the credits you receive work together in your overall financial picture.
5. Common Reasons You Might Miss Out
You didn't file your 2024 tax return
Your address or bank info is outdated in CRA's system
You moved to Canada recently and haven't submitted required forms
Your income is above the threshold (even slightly)
Discover the surprising tactics behind Tesla’s GST reversal—dive in → https://open.substack.com/pub/grazianosalem/p/how-tesla-reversed-indias-2025-gst?r=5vd82n&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
This little-known benefit can add hundreds to your budget — but only if you file your return and stay eligible.
Take 10 minutes to check your CRA My Account or call their support line. You might be one form away from getting paid.
For those managing both personal tax credits and business tax obligations, having reliable calculation tools at your fingertips makes tax planning much smoother. Whether you're calculating HST on purchases with hstcalculator.onl or managing VAT for international business with vatcalc.onl, accurate calculations help you make informed financial decisions.
Simplify VAT compliance—see our 7 favorite threshold-alert apps → https://sites.google.com/view/vatalitix/vat-registration-limts-obligations/7-smart-apps-that-warn-you-before-you-hit-the-vat-threshold
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