Key Highlights

  • If you have relied on the GST/HST Credit to help with everyday costs, there has been a significant change.
  • As of July 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency's long-standing GST/HST credit is no longer available on its own — it has been replaced by the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
  • The CGEB was built directly on the former GST/HST credit but comes with a 25% increase in support.
  • The enhanced benefit is scheduled to remain in place for five years, from 2026 to 2031, and represents about $8.6 billion in additional support over that period.

If you have relied on the GST/HST credit to help with everyday costs, there has been a significant change. As of July 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency's long-standing GST/HST credit is no longer available on its own — it has been replaced by the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. The good news is that the new benefit is larger and, for most eligible people, requires no new paperwork. Here is what Canadians need to know about the switch.

What Changed and Why It Matters

The GST/HST credit has been folded into the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which took effect in July 2026. The CGEB was built directly on the former GST/HST credit but comes with a 25% increase in support. In other words, the credit many Canadians counted on is now bigger and carries a new name. The enhanced benefit is scheduled to remain in place for five years, from 2026 to 2031, and represents about $8.6 billion in additional support over that period. The CRA confirms the GST/HST credit is "no longer available" as a separate payment.

The One-Time Transition Top-Up

As part of the move to the new benefit, the CRA issued a one-time GST/HST credit top-up on June 5, 2026. This payment reached about 12 million eligible Canadians and was designed to bridge the transition to the CGEB. The Department of Finance illustrated the impact with an example: a couple with two children and a Net Income of $40,000 received a one-time top-up of $533, along with a $272 increase for 2026–27 — a total of $805 more in support.

How the New Benefit Works

The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is tax-free and paid quarterly to individuals and families with low-to-modest incomes. For the base year from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum amounts are up to $679 for a single individual, up to $890 for a married or common-law couple, and up to $234 for each eligible child under 19. These are maximums, not guaranteed amounts. What you actually receive depends on your adjusted family net income, your marital status and the number of eligible children in your care. The next quarterly CGEB payment is scheduled for October 5, 2026.

What Canadians Need to Do

For most people, the transition requires no action. If you were receiving the GST/HST credit, the CRA automatically assesses your eligibility for the CGEB from your tax return — there is no separate application. The key is to keep filing your taxes every year, including both spouses or common-law partners, so the CRA can determine your eligibility and calculate your amount. Newcomers to Canada may need to complete a form to start receiving the benefit, such as Form RC151 for those without children. It is also worth confirming that your direct deposit and personal details are current with the CRA through CRA My Account, which helps ensure payments arrive quickly and securely.

Conclusion

The GST/HST credit has not disappeared so much as evolved: since July 2026, it has become the larger Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, with a 25% increase and a five-year commitment through 2031. A one-time top-up landed on June 5, 2026, and the next quarterly payment arrives October 5, 2026. Amounts depend on income and family circumstances, and filing your taxes remains the single most important step to keep the support flowing.