The Liberal government will deposit a one‑time GST/HST credit top‑up into eligible Canadians’ bank accounts on June 5, with a groceries benefit arriving in July.
The payments aim to ease household budgets as grocery prices keep rising, giving families a short‑term cushion while the broader benefit provides ongoing assistance.
A family of four with a net income of $40,000 will receive $533, and a single person earning $25,000 will get $266 under the one‑time top‑up [1].
More than 12 million Canadians qualify for the payment, according to the Canada Revenue Agency’s eligibility list [2].
The top‑up represents 50 % of the regular GST/HST credit for the 2025‑26 benefit year [3]—a sizable increase for many low‑income households.
Payments will be deposited directly into bank accounts beginning June 5, 2024 [1], and the separate groceries benefit is slated to start in July 2024, providing an additional monthly credit for essential food items [4].
The government said the combined measures will help Canadians keep up with food costs as inflation eases but remains above target.
**What this means** The early‑June cash infusion gives immediate relief to millions of Canadians facing higher grocery bills, while the July groceries benefit creates a longer‑term safety net. By tying the top‑up to half of the existing GST/HST credit, the policy leverages an established program, ensuring rapid delivery through the CRA’s existing infrastructure.
“The top‑up equals half of the regular GST/HST credit.”
The early‑June cash infusion gives immediate relief to millions of Canadians facing higher grocery bills, while the July groceries benefit creates a longer‑term safety net. By tying the top‑up to half of the existing GST/HST credit, the policy leverages an established program, ensuring rapid delivery through the CRA’s existing infrastructure.
