What’s changing?
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaces the GST/HST credit effective July 3, 2026, with higher quarterly payments (25% increase over the prior benefit) for five years. (canada.ca)
- A one-time top-up payment equal to 50% of the 2025-26 GST/HST credit, issued June 5, 2026. (canada.ca)
- Eligibility remains similar: filing your previous tax return (2024 or 2025, depending) and meeting income criteria like before. (canada.ca)
Tax-filing implications
- Make sure that your 2024 tax return is filed in time to qualify for the June top-up. If not, the benefit might be delayed or forfeited. (canada.ca)
- Income information from 2025 return will be used to determine CGEB eligibility and payment amounts for subsequent years. (canada.ca)
Examples: What you could receive
| Family Type | One-time top-up (June 5, 2026) | Annual benefit starting July 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | ~$267-300 (if entitlement existed under GST/HST) | ~ $400-$800 per year, depending on income |
| Family of four | ~$533 top-up | up to $1,890 in 2026, roughly $1,400 thereafter |
Actionable advice
- File your 2024 tax return ASAP if you haven’t yet—do so before June 5 to receive the top-up. Filling the return late may delay CGEB payments.
- Confirm that your current address and marital status are up to date with CRA—they affect eligibility and benefit amount.
- If you receive benefits by direct deposit, expect the top-up to show under a line item for the GST/HST credit on your notice.
- Plan ahead: since the benefit is increasing and payments will be quarterly, budget accordingly.
Why this matters
- Offsetting inflation: food prices have risen more than overall inflation; this policy aims to ease pressure on households. (canada.ca)
- Social equity: more than 12 million Canadians will benefit, particularly lower-income and fixed-income households. (canada.ca)
- Tax system simplification: CGEB keeps structure of GST/HST credit but renames it, with higher support built in.