The GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
Yan Zhou (周艳) · Licensed Life & Health Insurance Agent, Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA)
The short version
- The GST/HST credit was renamed in July 2026. It is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
- Only the name changed. Eligibility, the calculation and the payment structure are the same.
- Amounts rose 25% in July 2026, and that increase holds for five years, 2026 to 2031.
- There is nothing to apply for. File a return and you are assessed automatically.
If something here applies to you, just ask me. Plain answers, no sales pitch.
(General tax information only. It is not tax advice. Circumstances differ — check the CRA website or speak to a qualified accountant before you act.)
What happened
CRA’s page carries a line at the top: “Previous name: GST/HST credit”.
And in the body: “The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026.”
So this is not a new benefit. It is the same quarterly payment under a different name.
Most of what you will find written about it still uses the old name, which makes searching confusing.
Source: CRA, “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)”, checked 11 August 2026.
What changed and what did not
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Name | Changed, July 2026 |
| Who qualifies | Unchanged |
| How it is calculated | Unchanged |
| How it is paid | Unchanged — quarterly, tax-free |
| Amount | Up 25% from July 2026 |
The 25% increase is not a one-off. CRA states it holds for five years, from 2026 to 2031.
Do you have to apply?
No. Filing a return gets you assessed for it, and for the related provincial programs.
The condition is that you file. Even with no income, file — otherwise there is no data to calculate from.
New residents are the exception: you can apply on arrival rather than waiting for a first tax season.
Why your amount differs from someone else’s
It is calculated on family net income and tapers off as income rises.
It uses last year’s return, so a change in your income this year shows up next year.
Marital status and custody arrangements both affect it, and CRA needs to be told when they change. Overpayments get clawed back later.
If a payment does not arrive
- Check the payment record in your CRA account first — faster than phoning.
- Confirm your direct deposit details are still current.
- Confirm your address, if you are paid by cheque.
- Answer any CRA review letter. Ignoring one stops the payments.
And if someone phones offering to help you “claim your grocery benefit” and asks for bank details, it is a scam. CRA does not work that way.
If something here applies to you, just ask me. Plain answers, no sales pitch.
(General tax information only. It is not tax advice. Circumstances differ — check the CRA website or speak to a qualified accountant before you act.)
