With prices inching higher every month, the government is stepping in to help Canadians stretch their budgets a little further. They’re rolling out a one-time extra GST payment in 2025, targeting low and middle-income families so they don’t have to worry about filling out new forms. The payout is intended to put some quick cash into wallets when grocery and utility costs rise.
Wondering if you can pocket the bonus? You don’t have to dig for fine print. If you live in Canada, filed your 2023 taxes, and earn within the low to moderate brackets, you’re probably in.
The Canada Revenue Agency will do the math for you behind the scenes. No extra application! People who live alone, households with kids, and couples can all qualify. Just remember, you need to be 19 in the month the payment arrives, unless you’re a married teen or a young parent—you’re good, too.
Canada’s Inflation Relief: Your 2025 Extra GST Payment Guide
How much will you get? That depends on your household size and where you live. A single adult could pick up a little over 133.25, 266.50.
When you add the provincial credits to the federal amount, some parents may see an extra $575.50 sent every three months—more than four times the usual federal grant. Since bigger households have to stretch every dollar further for groceries, rent, and other everyday bills, the boost makes a meaningful difference.
When can you expect to see the cash? The extra payment’s exact arrival day isn’t set, but the 2025 GST/HST credit schedule shows checks going out on January 3, April 4, July 4, and October 3. You can count on the boost to show up together with one of those regular dates.
If you use direct deposit, the money will land in your account marked “GST/HST tax credit” or “Canada FPT.” Don’t panic if you get a paper check; the envelope might arrive up to 10 business days later.
Here’s the easiest part: you don’t have to lift a finger. As long as you filed your 2023 taxes, the CRA figures out who qualifies and how much will land in your pocket. Just remember to tell the CRA right away if your paycheck, your partner, or the number of kids you claim changes, since those numbers hand the credit its final value.
This extra value in the GST payment is clearly aimed at giving families a hand right when bills feel their heaviest.