CRA Payment Dates 2026: Full Calendar & Eligibility Guide

If you’ve ever tried to figure out when your next CRA payment lands, you know the confusion between federal benefits, provincial programs, and the rumored extra payments floating around social media can be maddening. This guide lays out every verified 2026 payment date for the biggest federal benefits — GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, Canada Workers Benefit, CPP, and OAS — alongside Ontario-specific Trillium dates, and clears up which viral cash promises are real.

CRA-administered benefits: Includes GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, Workers Benefit, and Trillium payments ·
Total payment dates per year: Between 4 and 12 per benefit, depending on schedule ·
Most common payment day: 5th of the month (or previous business day if weekend/holiday) ·
Source: Canada.ca – Benefits Payment Calendar 2026

Five benefits, one pattern: the CRA clusters payments on two days per month — the 5th (for quarterly benefits) and the 20th (for CCB) — while CPP/OAS arrive on the 27th. Ontario’s Trillium follows its own quarterly beat on the 10th.

What are the main CRA payment dates for 2026?

Each benefit runs on its own schedule, so here’s the breakdown by program.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB) dates

• CCB 2026 payment months: July through December, paid on the 20th of each month (Canada.ca – CRA official payment calendar)
• May 2026 CCB payment: Scheduled for May 20, 2026 (Immigration News Canada – benefit reporting)
• If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment moves to the previous business day.

GST/HST credit dates

• GST/HST credit 2026 payment dates: January 5, April 5, July 6, October 5 (iFinance Canada – financial analysis)
• July’s payment moves to July 6 because July 5, 2026 is a Sunday.
• Amount depends on family net income and number of children.

Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) dates

• Advanced Canada Workers Benefit 2026 payment dates: January 5, April 5, July 6, October 9 (iFinance Canada – financial analysis)
• Same quarterly rhythm as the GST/HST credit, with October’s payment shifting to the 9th (the 5th is a Monday, but the 9th aligns with the Advanced CWB schedule).
• Only available to lower-income workers who apply for the benefit.

Trillium Benefit dates (Ontario)

• Ontario Trillium Benefit 2026 payment dates: January 10, April 10, July 10, October 10 (Immigration News Canada – benefit reporting)
• If the 10th falls on a weekend, payment moves to the last business day before. For example, the May 2026 Trillium payment was scheduled for Friday, May 8 because May 10 fell on a Sunday (Immigration News Canada – benefit reporting).
• Trillium combines the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and Northern Ontario Energy Credit.

Is there any payment coming from CRA in 2026?

Yes — the regular benefits continue on schedule. But three viral payment rumors need a reality check.

One-time GST/HST credit top-up – status

• The one-time GST/HST credit top-up was paid in late 2022 as part of a cost-of-living measure. No repeat has been announced for 2026 (Canada.ca – CRA).
• Any new top-up would require federal budget legislation.

Who is eligible for the $2,200 payment?

• No official CRA source confirms a universal $2,200 payment for 2026 (Canada.ca – CRA). The claim appears to stem from social media misrepresenting an older benefit or a provincial program.
• The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) can pay up to roughly $2,200 annually for a single low-income worker — but that’s an earned benefit, not a universal payout.

$250 rebate – fact check

• A $250 federal rebate was proposed in the fall 2024 economic statement, but it has not been legislated. If enacted, it would apply to individuals who worked in 2023 and earned under $150,000. No payment date exists.
• Unclear status: The rebate is not confirmed for 2026.

Ontario Taxpayer Rebate (200) – fact check

• The Ontario Taxpayer Rebate of $200 was issued mid-2025 and is not an ongoing program. No 2026 payment is scheduled.

The takeaway: if a payment does not appear on the official CRA calendar, it is not a confirmed deposit for 2026 — no matter how many times it circulates on social media.

What date is the extra GST payment coming?

One-time GST/HST credit top-up – past and future

As noted, the one-time GST/HST credit top-up was a 2022 measure. For 2026, there is no extra GST payment beyond the regular quarterly schedule (Canada.ca – CRA).

Regular GST credit quarterly dates

• January 5, 2026
• April 5, 2026
• July 6, 2026 (July 5 is Sunday)
• October 5, 2026

Each payment covers a three-month period. The amount depends on your family net income from the previous tax year and the number of children you have.

The pattern: GST/HST credit amounts have not changed dramatically in recent years, but the eligibility threshold does creep up with inflation. For 2026, the full credit is available to single individuals with net income under about $50,000 and families under about $65,000.

What day does the Canada pension come in this month?

CPP monthly payment dates 2026

CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and OAS (Old Age Security) are paid on the same day every month: the 27th (iFinance Canada – financial analysis). Here are the confirmed 2026 payment dates:

• January 28 (27th is Saturday)
• February 25
• March 27
• April 28 (27th is Monday, but payment date is 28th for April)
• May 27 (Immigration News Canada – benefit reporting)
• June 26
• July 29
• August 27
• September 25
• October 28
• November 26
• December 22 (iFinance Canada – financial analysis)

OAS monthly payment dates 2026

OAS follows the same schedule as CPP — the 27th of every month. Non-residents collecting OAS may see deposits slightly later due to international banking, the payment date from Service Canada remains the 27th.

The implication: seniors and pensioners should mark the 27th as their monthly deposit day and contact Service Canada, not CRA, for any delays or missing payments.

Can you collect Canada pension if you live outside of Canada?

CPP/OAS eligibility for non-residents

• CPP: Yes, you can receive CPP outside Canada if you contributed to the plan and are eligible. There are no residency restrictions on CPP payments (Canada.ca – CRA).
• OAS: To receive OAS outside Canada, you need at least 20 years of residence in Canada after age 18. If you live in certain countries (including the U.S., U.K., and many European nations), the requirement drops to 10 years.

Payment dates for non-residents

The payment date from Service Canada remains the 27th of each month. However, if you live in a country with a different banking system, the deposit may take 1-5 business days longer to appear in your account. The schedule itself does not change.

The trade-off: non-residents collecting OAS are subject to a recovery tax (the OAS pension recovery tax) if their worldwide income exceeds the threshold. That threshold in 2026 is approximately $85,000 CAD. Staying under it means keeping the full amount.

Who is eligible for the $250 rebate in Canada?

Proposed $250 rebate – current status

The $250 rebate was proposed in the fall 2024 federal economic statement but has not been passed into law. It would provide a one-time, tax-free payment of $250 to individuals who met certain criteria.

Eligibility criteria if enacted

• Must have worked in 2023 and earned employment income below $150,000.
• Would be administered by the CRA based on 2023 tax returns.
• No application required — eligible individuals would receive it automatically by direct deposit or cheque.

Status in 2026: Unclear. The rebate has not been legislated, and the CRA’s official calendars make no mention of it (Canada.ca – CRA).

When to expect GST in October?

October GST/HST credit payment date for 2026

The October 2026 GST/HST credit payment will be made on October 5, 2026 (iFinance Canada – financial analysis). October 5 is a Monday, so no adjustment is needed.

How the GST credit amount is calculated

• The GST/HST credit is based on your family net income from the previous tax year (2025 for 2026 payments).
• Single individuals receive up to $519 in 2026 (approximate).
• Married or common-law couples receive up to $680 combined.
• An additional $179 per child under 19 is added.
• The credit is reduced by 2% of net income above the threshold (around $50,000 for singles).

Why this matters: if your income went up significantly in 2025, your October 2026 payment could be lower than earlier ones in the year. The CRA recalculates eligibility each July based on the latest tax return.

CRA Payment Timeline 2026

Eleven key dates, two patterns: quarterly benefits cluster on the 5th, while the 27th belongs to CPP and OAS. Weekend shifts affect only a handful of dates.

• January 5, 2026: GST/HST credit, Workers benefit payment (iFinance Canada – financial analysis)
• January 10, 2026: Trillium benefit payment (Ontario) (Immigration News Canada – benefit reporting)
• January 27, 2026: CPP and OAS payment
• April 5, 2026: GST/HST credit, Workers benefit payment
• April 10, 2026: Trillium benefit payment
• July 6, 2026: GST/HST credit, Workers benefit payment (July 5 is Sunday)
• July 10, 2026: Trillium benefit payment
• July 20, 2026: CCB payment begins (monthly through December) (Canada.ca – CRA)
• October 5, 2026: GST/HST credit, Workers benefit payment
• October 10, 2026: Trillium benefit payment
• December 22, 2026: CPP and OAS payment (last of year — 27th is Sunday)

The implication: nearly every benefit lands within three days — the 5th, the 20th, or the 27th. That makes budgeting easier, but a weekend or holiday can shift a payment by up to 3 business days, which catches many off guard.

What’s confirmed vs. unconfirmed

The distinction: confirmed dates come from official government calendars with published schedules, while unconfirmed claims lack any federal backing or legislative mandate.

What the authorities say

The CRA benefit payment dates for 2026 are published annually on the official Benefits Payment Calendar page. For the most accurate information, always refer to Canada.ca.

Canada Revenue Agency — Official Payment Calendar

CPP and OAS are monthly payments made on the same day, usually the 27th. If that day falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made the previous business day.

Government of Canada – Service Canada — Benefits Payment Schedule

The consensus: both CRA and Service Canada direct citizens to Canada.ca as the single authoritative source for all federal benefit payment dates.

What this means for your 2026 budget

For any Canadian household relying on federal benefits, the 2026 schedule is predictable but demands a bit of calendaring. The 5th, 20th, and 27th are your beat — set up automatic reminders for those dates, and build in a 2-business-day cushion after weekend or holiday shifts. Ignore viral claims about one-time payments until they appear on Canada.ca. For Ontario residents, the Trillium’s 10th adds a fourth beat. For non-residents collecting CPP or OAS, the payment date stays the same but international banking may add a delay. Canadians who bookmark the official Benefits Payment Calendar and check it once each spring will have a reliable budget tool — no social media rumor chasing required.

Frequently asked questions