GST refund, solidarity tax credit, family allowance… Several allowances and tax credits are offered by the federal and state governments. Here is a brief guide summarizing the eligibility criteria, amounts and dates of upcoming payments in 2023 for some of these benefits.
Federal
GST/HST discount
- Eligibility criteria
To receive the GST/HST tax credit, you must be a resident of Canada, have filed a tax return and earn less than $52,255 per year for an individual, have a family income of less than $55,335 for a couple without children, and a family income of less than $62,175 for a couple with two children.
Single people can receive up to $496, and married or unincorporated people can receive $650. To these amounts we add $171 per child under 19 years of age.
- Next payment date
October 5, 2023
Child benefit in Canada
- Eligibility criteria
To receive the benefit, you must live with a child under 18, be the primary person responsible for the child’s care and education, and be a resident of Canada.
When determining the amount of the exemption, several criteria are taken into account, including the number of dependent children, their age, marital status and the adjusted net family income reported on the previous year’s tax return.
A household is entitled to maximum benefits, namely $7,437 per year ($619.75 per month) for a child under 6 years old and $6,275 per year ($522.91 per month) for a child aged 6 to 17 years, if the family income is less than $34,863.
The amounts gradually decrease as family income exceeds $34,863. The custody situation, for example if the parents separate, can also affect the amount of the grant.
- Dates of the next payments
September 20, 2023
October 20, 2023
November 20, 2023
December 13, 2023
Workers in Canada benefit from this
- Eligibility criteria
The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit for individuals and households with modest incomes. To be eligible, you must have declared income, been a resident of Canada for the full year and be at least 19 years old. Please note that full-time students are not eligible.
A single person will receive the benefit if they have a net income of less than $33,015, while the maximum family net income for a family is $43,212.
The maximum total amount for an individual is $1,428 and for a family is $2,461.
The amount of the subsidy may gradually decrease depending on the income of the individual or household.
- Dates of the next payments
October 12, 2023
January 12, 2024
Provincial
Solidarity tax credit
- Eligibility criteria
This refundable tax credit is intended to reduce the impact of the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) and housing costs and is intended for low- and middle-income households. You must be a Quebec resident and of legal age on December 31 of the previous tax year.
For those living alone, the maximum net income to receive the solidarity tax credit is $57,877, while for a household with two children, the maximum net family income is $67,560. Once you reach a certain income limit, the loan amount gradually decreases.
A single person can receive a maximum of $1,123, while a couple with two children is entitled to $1,767.
- Dates of the next payments
October 5, 2023
November 3, 2023
December 5, 2023
Family allowance
- Eligibility criteria
All families are entitled to this benefit, regardless of income. You must have at least one child under 18 years old.
Even if it is a universal benefit, the net family income has an influence on the amount of the benefit. For each child, the maximum amount is $2,782 and the minimum is $1,107, paid quarterly. Surcharges can be added for single parents, for the purchase of school supplies or for a disabled child.
- Dates of the next payments
October 2, 2023
Refundable tax credit that provides a work bonus
- Eligibility criteria
The aim of this tax credit is to encourage people to forego the last financial support in order to enter the job market. A single person or a single-parent family must earn more than $2,400 in earned income, while a couple must earn more than $3,600 to be eligible. Full-time students are not eligible unless they live with someone or have a dependent child.
The work premium increases when social assistance benefits decrease. When no social assistance is paid, the labor premium is highest and then gradually decreases as labor income increases.
A single person can receive a maximum bonus of $1,025, a couple without children can receive $1,601, a single-parent family can receive $2,651, and a couple with children can receive $3,450.
- Dates of the next payments
Payments can be made each month in advance.
September 15, 2023
October 13, 2023
November 15, 2023
December 15, 2023