GST/HST Credit Payment Dates 2026
The GST/HST credit is paid four times a year, around the 5th of January, April, July and October. Here is the 2026 schedule, how the dates are set and what to check if a payment does not arrive.
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When is the next GST/HST credit payment?
The next GST/HST credit payment is scheduled for Monday 5 October 2026. The CRA pays the credit quarterly, on or near the 5th of January, April, July and October. When the 5th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment goes out on the last business day before it. Always confirm on the CRA's benefit payment dates page.
GST payment dates 2026
The GST payment dates for 2026 follow one simple rule: the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays on the 5th of January, April, July and October, or on the last business day before the 5th if that day is a weekend or a federal holiday. That makes the schedule predictable, so the table below applies the rule to the 2026 calendar.
| Quarter | Payment date | Why this date |
|---|---|---|
| January | Monday 5 January 2026 | The 5th is a business day |
| April | Thursday 2 April 2026 | The 5th is Easter Sunday and 3 April is Good Friday |
| July | Friday 3 July 2026 | The 5th is a Sunday |
| October | Monday 5 October 2026 | The 5th is a business day |
The January 2027 payment should follow the same rule. Tuesday 5 January 2027 is a business day, so that is the expected date, but the CRA publishes the official list and it is the only source to rely on.
When is GST paid, and why the payment year starts in July
GST is paid in July, October, January and April because the credit runs on a benefit year from July to the following June. Each benefit year is calculated from the tax return you filed that spring, so the July 2026 to June 2027 payments are based on your 2025 return.
This is why filing matters even with little or no income. If you do not file, the CRA has nothing to assess and the payments stop. Filing on time, by 30 April, keeps the July payment on schedule.
If your yearly credit is small, the CRA may pay it as a single lump sum in July rather than splitting it into four instalments. Your notice of determination tells you which applies.
Who qualifies for the GST/HST credit
You generally qualify if you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes, are at least 19 years old (or have a spouse, common-law partner or child you live with), and your adjusted family net income is below the phase-out level for your family size. You do not apply separately: the CRA checks eligibility when you file.
- Singles and couples get a base amount, with an extra amount for each child under 19 registered with the CRA.
- Couples receive one payment, sent to whichever partner's return is assessed first.
- Newcomers can apply in the year they arrive with Form RC151, since there is no prior Canadian return to assess.
- Young adults become eligible for the payment after their 19th birthday, provided they filed a return for the base year.
For the July 2025 to June 2026 year the maximum was about $533 for a single adult. Amounts are indexed to inflation each July and the federal government can add top-ups or change the credit, so check the CRA page for the current figures.
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What to do if your GST credit payment is late
Wait 10 working days after the scheduled date before contacting the CRA. Direct deposit usually arrives on the day, but cheques can take longer, and bank holidays can delay posting. After that, work through these checks in order.
- Sign in to CRA My Account and open the benefits section to see whether a payment was issued and for how much.
- Check that your direct deposit details and mailing address are current. Old bank details are the most common cause of a missing payment.
- Confirm that you and your spouse or partner both filed a return for the base year. A missing partner return can pause the credit.
- Look for a notice of redetermination. Changes in marital status, income or children can reduce or stop a quarterly amount.
- If everything looks right and the money has not arrived, call the CRA benefits line listed on its contact page.
How to budget around quarterly GST payments
A quarterly payment is easy to spend without noticing. One approach is to divide it by three and treat each third as a monthly top-up to groceries or utilities. Another is to send the whole payment to a savings goal, such as an emergency fund or a winter heating bill.
If you run a small business, remember the difference between this credit, which is a benefit for individuals, and the GST/HST you collect from customers, which belongs to the CRA. Our GST/HST expense tracker keeps sales tax paid and collected separate from personal income. For the tax itself, see our guide to GST, HST and PST.
In EMOH Pay you can log each credit as income on the day it lands and assign it to a budget category, so the money has a job before it disappears into everyday spending. The app is free to start on iPhone, Android and the web.
Other benefit dates to know in 2026
The GST/HST credit is one of several federal and provincial payments on a fixed calendar. Families also receive the Canada Child Benefit on or near the 20th of each month; see our CCB payment dates page. Ontario residents may receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit around the 10th of each month, listed on our Ontario Trillium Benefit dates page.
Most benefits depend on filing on time, so the tax filing deadline is the date that protects every other payment on this list.
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Get started free➜GST/HST Credit Payment Dates 2026: frequently asked questions
Is the GST credit paid monthly?
No. The GST/HST credit is paid quarterly, in January, April, July and October. Monthly benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit are a separate program.
Do I need to apply for the GST/HST credit?
Most people do not. The CRA checks eligibility automatically when you file your income tax return. Newcomers in their first year can apply with Form RC151.
Why did I get a GST payment on the 2nd or 3rd instead of the 5th?
When the 5th falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the CRA pays on the last business day before it. In 2026 that moved the April payment to 2 April and the July payment to 3 July.
Is the GST/HST credit taxable?
No. The credit is not taxable income, and you do not report it on your next return.
Why did my GST credit stop?
The most common reasons are an unfiled return, a change in marital status or income, or outdated banking details. Check CRA My Account for a notice of redetermination.
Sources and further reading
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