GST/HST Credit Payment Dates 2026: Renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
Reviewed 4 November 2026
The CRA lists four quarterly payment dates for 2026: January 5, 2026 and April 2, 2026 as GST/HST credit payments, and July 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026 as payments of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), the name that replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026.
Next GST/HST credit or CGEB payment date
The next date is worked out in your browser from the CRA list of 2026 payment dates below (time zone America/Toronto).
GST/HST credit and CGEB payment dates 2026
| Date | Listed as |
|---|---|
| Monday, January 5, 2026 | GST/HST credit payment |
| Thursday, April 2, 2026 | GST/HST credit payment |
| Friday, July 3, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) |
| Monday, October 5, 2026 | Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) |
“Your benefit amount is recalculated every July based on your previous year's tax return. You will receive your payments 4 times in a year. The remaining 2 quarterly payments in 2026 are made under the CGEB.”
When we checked on November 4, 2026, the CRA listed no 2027 dates.
“Wait 10 working days from the payment date to contact us.”
The CRA lists the Canada child benefit separately: see CCB payment dates 2026. Canada Pension Plan dates are on CPP payment dates 2026, and all Canada pages are indexed on the Canada hub.
The GST/HST credit is now the CGEB
“The GST/HST credit has been renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) as of July 2026.”
“Last quarterly payment under the GST/HST credit was issued April 2, 2026.”
“The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. Under its new name, the eligibility, payment calculation, and structure is the same as it was for the GST/HST credit.”
“In July 2026, there was a 25% increase to the benefit amount which will remain for 5 years from 2026 to 2031.”
One-time top-up payment of June 5, 2026
“The additional one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment was issued on June 5, 2026 to provide immediate support before the CGEB took effect in July 2026. If you were entitled to receive the GST/HST credit in January 2026, you would have received this one-time payment.”
Frequently asked questions
What are the GST/HST credit payment dates for 2026?
The CRA's payment dates page on canada.ca (page dated 2026-10-14) lists January 5, 2026; April 2, 2026 as GST/HST credit payments, and July 3, 2026; October 5, 2026 as payments of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit).
Is the GST/HST credit still paid?
The CRA says on canada.ca: "The GST/HST credit has been renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) as of July 2026." The CRA's GST/HST credit page adds: "Last quarterly payment under the GST/HST credit was issued April 2, 2026." The CRA's CGEB page says: "The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. Under its new name, the eligibility, payment calculation, and structure is the same as it was for the GST/HST credit."
What was the one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment?
The CRA's GST/HST credit page on canada.ca (page dated 2026-07-08) says: "The additional one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment was issued on June 5, 2026 to provide immediate support before the CGEB took effect in July 2026. If you were entitled to receive the GST/HST credit in January 2026, you would have received this one-time payment."
How often is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit paid?
The CRA's CGEB payment dates page says: "Your benefit amount is recalculated every July based on your previous year's tax return. You will receive your payments 4 times in a year. The remaining 2 quarterly payments in 2026 are made under the CGEB." When we checked on November 4, 2026, the CRA listed July 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026 as the 2026 CGEB dates and no 2027 dates.
How long should I wait for a missing GST/HST credit payment?
The CRA's payment dates page for CRA administered benefits and credits says, in its footnote for the GST/HST credit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: "Wait 10 working days from the payment date to contact us."
More Canada pages
Sources
All figures and dates come from canada.ca pages, fetched on 4 November 2026:
- CRA: Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits (page dated 2026-10-14)
- CRA: Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, payment dates (page dated 2026-06-08)
- CRA: Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) (page dated 2026-06-08)
- CRA: GST/HST credit, no longer available (page dated 2026-07-08)
FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada. The canada.ca pages are the official reference. This page gives no financial or tax advice.