Canada Revenue Agency · Verified July 2026
GST/HST credit payment dates 2026
The goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that offsets some of the GST or HST you pay. You don't apply — the CRA works out your eligibility from your tax return, which is why filing matters even with no income.
From July 2026 the GST/HST credit is called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, and the government is increasing it by 25% for five years. A one-time top-up worth 50% of the 2025–26 amount was also issued to people who received the January 2026 GST/HST credit payment. The payment dates and the way you qualify are unchanged — only the name and the amount.
Read the announcement on canada.caAll 2026 GST/HST credit payment dates
Every date the Canada Revenue Agency has published for 2026. Payments land on the date shown by direct deposit; a mailed cheque takes a few days longer.
| Month | Day | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| January | Monday | |
| April | Thursday | |
| July | as Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit | Friday |
| October | as Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit | Monday |
Provincial and territorial credits that piggyback on this quarter — such as the BC family benefit — arrive in the same deposit.
If your GST/HST credit payment doesn’t arrive
Wait 10 business days from the payment date before getting in touch with the Canada Revenue Agency about a missing payment. Weekends and statutory holidays don’t count toward that.
Before you call, check your online account — the payment status is usually shown there, along with the address and bank details on file. An out-of-date direct deposit account is the most common reason a payment goes missing.
If the payment stopped altogether rather than arriving late, an unfiled tax return is the usual cause. Entitlement is recalculated from your latest return, so a missed filing pauses payments until you catch up.
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Other 2026 payment dates
Common questions about the GST/HST credit
When is the GST/HST credit paid in 2026?
4 GST/HST credit payments are issued in 2026, starting Monday, January 5, 2026 and ending Monday, October 5, 2026. The full list is: January 5, April 2, July 3, October 5.
Is the GST/HST credit changing in 2026?
From July 2026 the GST/HST credit is called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, and the government is increasing it by 25% for five years. A one-time top-up worth 50% of the 2025–26 amount was also issued to people who received the January 2026 GST/HST credit payment. The payment dates and the way you qualify are unchanged — only the name and the amount.
Who gets the GST/HST credit?
Individuals and families with low or modest incomes. The goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that offsets some of the GST or HST you pay. You don't apply — the CRA works out your eligibility from your tax return, which is why filing matters even with no income.
My GST/HST credit payment is late — what should I do?
Wait 10 business days from the payment date before contacting the Canada Revenue Agency. Direct deposit normally arrives on the date itself; a mailed cheque takes longer. Checking your online account is usually faster than calling.
Sources
- Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — the official 2026 schedule these dates are copied from.
- GST/HST credit — eligibility, amounts, and how to apply.
Last checked in July 2026. Nothing on this page is estimated: if a date isn’t on the official calendar, it isn’t here. canada.ca is the authority if the government amends a date. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Looking for a different benefit? See every 2026 benefit payment date.