The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) continues its quarterly disbursements of the GST/HST Credit in 2025, designed to support low- and modest-income Canadians by easing the burden of goods and services tax (GST) or harmonized sales tax (HST). Though an article titled “CRA Announces 2025 Payment Dates for $496 GST/HST Credit—Know Eligibility” appeared on TCL India Unofficial on August 12, 2025, stating that the maximum annual amount is $496 per person, this figure appears to diverge from official government data and likely reflects a simplified summary rather than the CRA’s comprehensive breakdown.
CRA Announces 2025 Payment Dates
In 2025, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scheduled key benefit disbursements across multiple programs: the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) on January 20, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 20, June 20, July 18, August 20, September 19, October 20, November 20, and December 12; the Goods and Services Tax/HST (GST/HST) credit on January 3, April 4, July 4, and October 3; the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) on January 10, February 10, March 10, April 10, May 9, June 10, July 10, August 8, September 10, October 10, November 10, and December 10; and the final Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) on January 15 and April 22 2025.
Credit Amounts
Per CRA’s official guidelines, the maximum annual GST/HST credit amounts for 2025–2026 are:
- $533 for a single individual
- $698 for a married or common-law couple
- $184 for each child under the age of 19
This structure more accurately reflects CRA’s benefit design compared to the $496 figure cited in the TCL India piece.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the GST/HST credit, you must fulfill the following criteria:
Canadian Resident for Tax Purposes
You must reside in Canada for tax purposes during the month before and at the start of the CRA payment month.
Age or Family Status
- You are at least 19 years old, or
- You have a spouse or common-law partner, or
- You are (or were) a parent living with your (or had) child under 19
Filing Your Tax Return
- Most Canadians only need to file their annual tax return (e.g., 2024) for CRA to assess eligibility automatically.
- Newcomers must manually apply using CRA Form RC151 (or RC66 if applying with children), and then CRA will consider them for credits
How Payments Are Calculated & Issued
Amounts are calculated based on your adjusted family net income from the previous year (e.g., 2024), which determines your entitlements for the payment period from July 2025 to June 2026. If your 2025 payment is less than $50 per quarter, the CRA will issue the total amount for the payment period in a single lump sum in July 2025.
Recalculation
Your payment may be recalculated if your spouse’s tax return is reassessed, marital status changes, number of eligible children changes (e.g., a child turns 19) or when recipient passes away.
Delays
If you don’t receive your payment on the expected date, wait 10 working days before contacting CRA. In some rare circumstances, such as wildfires, mail delivery delays have impacted recipients—CRA suggests calling if direct deposit is unavailable and mailed cheques are delayed.
Automatic Enrollment
There’s no need to apply annually for the GST/HST credit—filing your income tax return is enough for automatic consideration. Provincial and territorial credits related to GST/HST (e.g., Ontario Sales Tax Credit, Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax Credit) are processed concurrently and included in your quarterly payment, unless noted otherwise..
Final Thoughts
The GST/HST credit remains a vital financial support for Canadians with modest incomes. With a clear quarterly schedule and automatic assessment tied to tax returns, it offers predictable relief across the year. While third-party articles—such as the one citing $496—may offer simplified summaries, it’s essential to reference CRA’s official figures to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.