Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Dates (2026)
The Ontario Trillium Benefit is usually paid on the 10th of each month. Here is the full 2026 schedule, why some months move, and how to plan around the payment.
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When is the Ontario Trillium Benefit paid?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit is paid monthly on the 10th of each month. When the 10th falls on a weekend or holiday, the CRA pays on the last business day before it. The next payment is Friday 9 October 2026. If your yearly amount is $360 or less, you get one lump sum in July instead.
Ontario Trillium Benefit payment dates for 2026
These are the Ontario Trillium Benefit payment dates for 2026, worked out from the CRA's rule of paying on the 10th or the last business day before it. Payments from January to June belong to the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year. Payments from July to December start the new benefit year. Always confirm on the CRA's benefit payment dates page.
| Month | Payment date | Why this date |
|---|---|---|
| January | Friday 9 January 2026 | The 10th is a Saturday |
| February | Tuesday 10 February 2026 | Business day |
| March | Tuesday 10 March 2026 | Business day |
| April | Friday 10 April 2026 | Business day |
| May | Friday 8 May 2026 | The 10th is a Sunday |
| June | Wednesday 10 June 2026 | Business day |
| July | Friday 10 July 2026 | First payment of the new benefit year |
| August | Monday 10 August 2026 | Business day |
| September | Thursday 10 September 2026 | Business day |
| October | Friday 9 October 2026 | The 10th is a Saturday |
| November | Tuesday 10 November 2026 | Business day |
| December | Thursday 10 December 2026 | Business day |
OTB dates 2026 follow the CRA's published rule. The CRA can change a date; check its benefit payment dates page before relying on a payment.
What is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit, or OTB, is a single monthly payment that combines three Ontario credits. The province funds it, and the CRA delivers it alongside federal benefits.
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit helps low- to moderate-income residents with sales tax on energy and with property tax. Renters qualify through the rent they pay.
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit helps people living in Northern Ontario with higher home energy costs.
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit is a tax-free payment that offsets some of the sales tax paid by low- to moderate-income households.
Your amount depends on your family's net income, where you live, and the rent or property tax you paid. Amounts change each year, so check your CRA notice of assessment or My Account rather than relying on last year's figure.
When does OTB pay monthly, and when as a lump sum?
OTB pays monthly when your yearly entitlement is more than $360. If it is $360 or less, the CRA pays the full amount in one payment with the July instalment, at the start of the benefit year. People who qualify for monthly payments can instead choose a single payment at the end of the benefit year in June.
| Your yearly OTB amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|
| $360 or less | One lump sum in July |
| More than $360 | 12 monthly payments, July to June |
| More than $360, single payment chosen | One payment in June at the end of the benefit year |
Choosing a June lump sum can work as forced savings, but most households find monthly money easier to budget. Whichever you pick, the benefit year always runs from July to June and is based on the previous year's tax return.
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How to make sure you get the Ontario Trillium Benefit
- File your income tax and benefit return every year, even with little or no income. The 2025 return sets payments from July 2026 to June 2027.
- Complete the ON-BEN application form that comes with your Ontario return, including the rent or property tax you paid.
- Set up direct deposit through CRA My Account or your bank so payments arrive on the day.
- Tell the CRA promptly about a new address, a change in marital status or a change in who lives with you.
Missing the ON-BEN form is the most common reason people who qualify receive only part of the benefit or nothing at all. Our tax filing deadline guide lists the return dates that keep payments flowing.
What to do if your OTB payment is late
Wait five working days after the scheduled date before contacting the CRA, as its guidance advises for benefit payments. Cheques can take longer than direct deposit, especially around holidays.
Check My Account first. It shows whether a payment was issued and its amount. If your payment stopped, common causes are an unfiled return, a missing ON-BEN form, or a change in income that reduced your entitlement to zero.
How to budget around OTB payments
Because the OTB lands around the 10th, it pairs well with bills due mid-month. Many Ontario households use it to cover part of hydro or rent, or to top up a savings goal.
Add the payment as expected income in EMOH Pay and link it to the bill it covers. The daily money digest then shows when it has arrived. For the bigger picture, see our guide to budgeting in Ontario and the Ontario take-home pay calculator.
- GST/HST credit: quarterly, around the 5th of January, April, July and October. See GST payment dates.
- Canada Child Benefit: monthly, usually around the 20th. See CCB payment dates.
- OTB: monthly, on or just before the 10th.
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Get started free➜Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Dates (2026): frequently asked questions
Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit taxable?
No. OTB payments are not taxable, and you do not report them as income on your return.
Why did my OTB amount change in July?
Each July the benefit year resets and your amount is recalculated using the previous year's tax return, including income, rent or property tax, and family details.
Do I need to apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
Yes, by completing the ON-BEN application form with your Ontario tax return each year. Filing the return alone may not be enough for the energy and property tax portion.
Can students get the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
Students living in a designated Ontario university, college or private school residence can claim a set amount for the energy and property tax credit portion. Other eligibility rules still apply.
Is OTB paid on the same day as the GST/HST credit?
No. The GST/HST credit is paid quarterly, around the 5th, while OTB is paid monthly around the 10th. The CRA's benefit payment dates page lists both.
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