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GST/HST Credit Top-Up June 2026: Amounts & Eligibility

By June 3, 2026 No Comments
GST/HST credit top-upGST/HST credit top-up
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified accounting professional before making any tax or financial decisions.

Quick Answer

The one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment is issued starting Friday, June 5, 2026. It equals 50% of your total GST/HST credit for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year, so the maximum ranges from about $267 for a single person with no children to $717 for the largest families. You receive it automatically if you filed your 2024 tax return and were entitled to the January 2026 GST/HST credit, with no application required. Direct-deposit recipients are paid into their bank account, while everyone else receives a cheque by mail. The payment is part of the transition to the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which replaces the GST/HST credit in July 2026.

Why this payment matters right now

Groceries and everyday essentials cost more than they did a few years ago, and most households have felt it at the checkout. To help, the federal government is sending a one-time GST/HST credit top-up that starts landing in bank accounts on June 5, 2026. If you already receive the GST/HST credit, this is extra money on top of your usual payment.

More than 12 million Canadians with low and modest incomes are expected to benefit. It is also the first step in a larger shift, as the familiar GST/HST credit is being replaced by a new program built to keep pace with rising essential costs. Below is when the money arrives, how much you might see, and what to check so nothing holds it up.

Jun 5Payment date, 2026
50%Top-up of your annual credit
$717Maximum one-time top-up
12M+Canadians eligible

Quick Start: Pick Your Path

Most people do not need to do anything. If you filed your 2024 tax return and received the GST/HST credit in January 2026, your top-up typically arrives automatically on June 5, 2026. The step that matters most is making sure your 2024 return is filed and your CRA details are current.
Already filing
You already file taxes and receive the GST/HST credit: there is nothing to do. Watch your account around June 5.
Not filed yet
You have not filed your 2024 return: file it as soon as you can, because the CRA cannot assess you until it is in. This makes filing your 2024 tax return the single most important step.
New resident
You recently became a resident of Canada: you may need to apply using Form RC151, since the CRA may not yet have enough information to assess you automatically.
Owe the CRA
You owe a balance to the CRA: your payment may be applied to that debt instead of being deposited, so it helps to know where your account stands.

When the payment arrives, and how you’ll get it

The one-time GST/HST credit top-up is issued starting Friday, June 5, 2026. If you are set up for direct deposit with the CRA, it goes straight to your bank account. If you are not, a paper cheque is mailed, which can take additional days to reach you.

Because banks are still updating their systems, the deposit may still appear under the name GST/HST credit. That is normal and does not mean you received the wrong payment.

If you took your 2025 GST/HST credit as a single lump sum in July rather than in quarterly instalments, you are still entitled to the top-up. Direct deposit is the fastest and most secure way to receive it; mailed cheques take a few extra days.

How much could land in your account

Your top-up equals 50% of your total GST/HST credit for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year. Maximums range from about $267 for a single person with no children to $717 for the largest families. Your exact amount depends on your family situation and income.

The benefit year is the 12-month period from July to June that the CRA uses to calculate GST/HST credit payments. Here is the math in plain terms: if your total GST/HST credit for the year was $400, your one-time top-up is 50% of that, or $200, for a combined $600 in 2026.

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How the 50% top-up is calculated
Illustrative examples. Your one-time top-up is always half of your total annual GST/HST credit.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, “One-time GST/HST credit top-up payment” (canada.ca). Dollar values illustrative. ClearWealth Accounting Advisors · clearwealth.tax · For informational purposes only.

Your amount is based on your family situation in January 2026 and your 2024 adjusted family net income, which is the combined income of you and your spouse or common-law partner after certain deductions. Understanding how your income tax return is calculated makes it easier to see why two households can receive different amounts.

Single people and single parents could receive up to $267 with no children, rising with each child to a maximum of $717. Couples could receive up to $349 with no children, also rising to $717 for larger families. With shared custody, each parent typically receives half of the full-custody amount.

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Maximum one-time top-up by family situation
The most you could receive in the June 5, 2026 payment, by household type and number of children.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, “One-time GST/HST credit top-up payment” (canada.ca). ClearWealth Accounting Advisors · clearwealth.tax · For informational purposes only.

You may have seen figures of up to $950 for a single person or $1,890 for a family. Those are the total GST/HST credit plus top-up across 2026, not the one-time payment alone.

What’s changing: the GST/HST credit becomes the CGEB

The one-time top-up is not a standalone bonus. It is part of the transition to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), the new program that replaces the GST/HST credit starting in July 2026. If you already understand how the GST/HST credit works today, the change is straightforward: the structure and eligibility stay the same, but the payments grow.

Starting with the first CGEB payment on July 3, 2026, quarterly amounts increase by 25% and continue at that higher level for five years. You do not need to apply or re-register, because the CRA moves eligible recipients over automatically.

FeatureGST/HST credit (until June 2026)Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (from July 2026)
What it isTax-free quarterly payment that offsets GST or HSTSuccessor program with the same purpose and higher amounts
EligibilityBased on income and family situation; automatic when you fileSame eligibility and structure
Payment amountStandard quarterly amountQuarterly amount increased 25% for five years
How you qualifyFile your tax returnFile your tax return, with no re-application
One-time top-up50% top-up issued June 5, 2026Reflected in higher ongoing payments
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Your benefit timeline: GST/HST credit to the CGEB
How the one-time top-up bridges the final credit cycle and the new benefit. The 25% quarterly increase continues for five years, through 2031.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit” (canada.ca). ClearWealth Accounting Advisors · clearwealth.tax · For informational purposes only.

Who qualifies, and why some Canadians won’t get it

You qualify automatically if you filed your 2024 tax return and were entitled to the GST/HST credit in January 2026. You generally must also have been a resident of Canada for tax purposes. No separate application is required for most people.

Eligibility comes down to two things working together: a filed 2024 return and entitlement to the January 2026 GST/HST credit. The CRA determines this once your return is assessed, which is why filing matters even if you had little or no income.

Most new residents are the exception. If you recently arrived in Canada, the CRA may not have enough information to assess you, so you may need to apply using Form RC151.

You may not receive the top-up, or may receive less than the maximum, if any of these apply:

  • →You did not file your 2024 tax return.
  • →You were not entitled to the GST/HST credit in January 2026.
  • →Your spouse or common-law partner received the payment on behalf of your household.
  • →You owe a balance to the CRA, and the payment was applied to that debt.

If a payment is applied to a debt and that causes financial hardship, you can contact the CRA to discuss your options.

Your roadmap to getting paid on June 5

To make sure the top-up reaches you, confirm your 2024 return is filed and assessed, check that your direct deposit and personal details are current in your CRA account, and address any balance you owe. Most people are already set, so this is usually a quick confirmation.
  1. 1
    Confirm your 2024 return is filedThe CRA cannot determine your eligibility without it. If you have not filed yet, our tips for if you still need to file can help you catch up quickly.
  2. 2
    Check your spouse or partner filed tooIf applicable, both returns generally need to be in for a household to be assessed.
  3. 3
    Verify your CRA account detailsSign in and confirm your direct deposit information and mailing address, which is the simplest way to avoid delays.
  4. 4
    Confirm your January 2026 entitlementCheck that you received the GST/HST credit in January 2026, since this is the entitlement the top-up is built on.
  5. 5
    Review any CRA balanceIf you owe the CRA, the payment may be applied to that balance rather than deposited.
  6. 6
    Watch your account around June 5Remember the deposit may still be labelled GST/HST credit while banks update their systems.

Is this payment real? How to spot the fake $2,000 version

Yes, the one-time GST/HST credit top-up is a real government payment announced by the CRA. It is not the $2,000 relief payment circulating on social media, which the Government of Canada has confirmed does not exist.

Scams and misinformation tend to spike whenever a real benefit is in the news. The CRA has specifically warned about false claims that the government is issuing a new $2,000 payment by direct deposit. There is no such payment.

The real top-up never requires you to click a link, share banking details, or pay a fee, because the CRA already has your information. When in doubt, ignore unsolicited texts or emails and verify any benefit through canada.ca or your CRA account.

Common mistakes that delay or block your top-up

A few avoidable missteps are behind most missed or delayed payments:

  • →Not filing the 2024 tax return, which leaves the CRA unable to assess eligibility at all.
  • →Assuming a separate application or form is required, when the payment is automatic for most people.
  • →Leaving outdated direct deposit or address information in your CRA account, which can misroute or delay funds.
  • →Forgetting that a spouse or common-law partner must also file for the household to be assessed.
  • →Overlooking a CRA balance, which the agency may use the payment to offset.
  • →Falling for the fake $2,000 payment scam and sharing personal or banking details.
  • →Not updating the CRA after a change in marital status or the birth of a child, which can affect the amount.

Frequently asked questions

When exactly will the GST/HST credit top-up be paid in 2026?

The one-time top-up is issued starting Friday, June 5, 2026. Direct-deposit recipients typically see it on or around that date, while paper cheques are mailed and can take additional days to arrive. The deposit may still appear labelled as the GST/HST credit.

How much money will I actually get?

Your top-up equals 50% of your total GST/HST credit for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year. Maximums range from about $267 for a single person with no children to $717 for the largest families. Your exact amount depends on your 2024 income and family situation.

Do I have to apply for the top-up or fill out a form?

For most people, no. The payment is automatic once your 2024 tax return is assessed and you were entitled to the January 2026 GST/HST credit. New residents of Canada are the main exception and may need to apply using Form RC151.

I haven’t filed my 2024 taxes yet, can I still get it?

Yes. File your 2024 return as soon as possible, even if you had no income to report. Once the CRA assesses it, the agency will determine your eligibility and issue any amount you are owed. Filing late simply delays when you receive the payment.

Why didn’t I receive my GST top-up payment?

Common reasons include an unfiled 2024 return, not being entitled to the January 2026 credit, your spouse receiving it for the household, or the payment being applied to a balance you owe. Checking your CRA account is the fastest way to see your status.

Is this the same as the $2,000 payment I saw online?

No. The Government of Canada has confirmed there is no new $2,000 relief payment, and the CRA has flagged that claim as disinformation. The real benefit is the one-time GST/HST credit top-up, which arrives automatically and never requires you to share banking details.

Will the top-up change my regular quarterly GST/HST credit?

No. The top-up is a one-time addition and does not reduce or replace your normal quarterly payments. Your ongoing payments continue as usual until the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit takes over in July 2026.

What happens to the GST/HST credit after July 2026?

The GST/HST credit is being replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit starting in July 2026. Eligibility and structure stay the same, but quarterly amounts increase by 25% for five years. You do not need to re-apply, since the CRA moves you over automatically.

Make sure nothing holds up your payment

If your 2024 return is outstanding, a CRA balance might absorb your top-up, or you want to plan for the move to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, ClearWealth Accounting Advisors can help. You can book a consultation or explore more guides in our insights.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified accounting professional before making any tax or financial decisions.

Sources & References

  1. Canada Revenue Agency, One-time GST/HST credit top-up payment
  2. Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
  3. Canada Revenue Agency news release, one-time top-up coming June 5 (April 17, 2026)
  4. Canada Revenue Agency, Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits, including the disinformation notice
  5. Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST credit, How much you can get