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 An out-of-date direct deposit account is the most common reason a payment goes missing.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.
Putting some of it toward a first home?
The Harmony Budget app turns a down payment into a plan with a real date, works out your FHSA contribution room, and logs every month automatically. No bank login, no spreadsheet. Free on the App Store.
Free on the App Store. No bank connection, ever.
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.