The new HST/GST payment will start rolling out today to eligible Canadian taxpayers from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
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The GST payment for April 2024 will be sent on April 5, 2024. Eligible individuals can get up to $496, couples $650, and families with children an extra $171 based on their annual income.
If you live in Canada for income tax purposes, including international students and work permit holders, you can get GST payments based on your last year’s taxes. Newcomers to Canada need to apply for the GST payment, depending on whether they have kids or not.
Four times a year, people with low or modest incomes get the GST/HST credit, which is money from the government that helps with the goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) they pay.
What is GST?
GST, which stands for Goods and Services Tax, is a tax added to most things you buy or services you use in Canada. It’s like a 5% extra charge on a lot of stuff you get, like groceries, rentals, and imports.
The government, through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), manages this tax. They want it to cover almost everything from making a product to selling it.
One important thing about GST is the “input tax credit” method. This helps businesses get some money back for the GST they pay when buying things or covering expenses for their business. It’s like a credit that businesses can use to lower the overall tax they have to pay.
This helps businesses because they can balance out the GST they paid with the GST they collected from selling things. So, they end up paying less tax, which is good for them.
Even regular people in Canada get a bit of GST back. If you buy something from a business, you can get some of the GST back every few months. It’s a way to make sure the tax system is fair for everyone.
Who Can Get the HST/GST Payment?
You can get the HST/GST payment if, at the beginning of the month when CRA pays, you are considered a resident of Canada for income tax purposes.
You need to be at least 19 years old in that month before getting the quarterly payment.
If you are under 19, you can still get the payment if you meet one of these conditions:
- You are married or have a common-law partner.
- You are a parent and live with your child or used to.
You can’t get the HST/GST payment if at the start of the month when the CRA sends a payment every quarter, any of the following are true:
- You’re not living in Canada for tax purposes.
- You’re not required to pay tax in Canada because you work for another country (like a diplomat) or you’re a family member or employee of such a person.
- You’re in prison or a similar place for at least 90 days in a row.
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How to Get the GST Payment
Even if you didn’t earn money in 2022, you still need to file a tax return to get the GST/HST credit and other credits.
If you are new to Canada (foreign student, work permit holder, or permanent resident), follow these steps to get the GST/HST credit:
If you have children:
Send a completed Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, to apply for all child and family benefits. You must also fill out form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information for the Canada Child Benefits Application, which is for your citizenship and residency details.
If you do not have children:
Send a completed Form RC151, GST/HST Credit and Climate Action Incentive Payment Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada, for the year that you became a resident of Canada.
If you have children who are under 19 years of age
If you have children under 19, you can get a credit for each of them if the following conditions are met when the CRA makes a GST payment:
- The child is your child or depends on you, your spouse, or common-law partner for support.
- The child is under 19 years old.
- The child has never been married or lived with a spouse or common-law partner.
- The child has never been a parent to a child they lived with.
- The child lives with you.
In shared custody situations, each eligible parent may receive half of the GST/HST credit for the child. This also applies to related provincial and territorial credits.
You Need a Social Insurance Number (SIN):
To receive the HST/GST payment, both you and your spouse or common-law partner (if you have one) must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Simply visit a Service Canada office to apply in person and you’ll get your SIN during that visit.
Learn how to apply for a SIN number in Canada for work and benefits by clicking here.
How Much Money Can You Get?
For the 2022 base year (from July 2023 to June 2024), you could get:
- $496 if you are an individual
- $650 if you are married or have a common-law spouse
- $171 for each child under 19 years old
How Is the Payment Calculated?
In July 2023, you would have received a message if the CRA checked your 2022 tax return and found out you’re eligible for the GST/HST credit. This message tells you how much money you’ll get and gives the necessary info to figure out the amount.
You can use the official CRA Child and Family Benefits Calculator to estimate your GST/HST credit you might get.
Payment Dates in 2024
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will make quarterly GST/HST payments in 2024 on these dates:
- April 5, 2024 (Next Payment)
- July 5, 2024
- October 4, 2024
If the fifth falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made on the last working day before that.
If you haven’t received your payment after 10 working days, call CRA at 1-800-387-1193.