Why did my GST/HST credit stop?

The most common reasons GST/HST credit payments stop: (1) You did not file your prior-year tax return — the GST credit is calculated annually based on your filed return; if you did not file, CRA has no basis to issue payment. (2) Your income exceeded the phase-out threshold — at higher income levels, the GST credit reduces and eventually reaches $0. Single individuals begin to lose the credit at approximately $40,000–$45,000 net income; the exact threshold depends on family size and current year parameters. (3) Your marital status changed — updating your marital status to "married" or "common-law" at CRA recalculates the credit based on combined family income; a higher-income spouse may reduce or eliminate the credit. (4) A child aged out — if a child turned 19, the "child" component of the credit ends.

What income level causes the GST credit to stop?

The GST/HST credit phases out based on net income (Line 23600 of your T1 return) and family composition. Approximate 2025–26 phase-out thresholds: single individual with no children: credit begins to reduce at approximately $40,000 net income; fully eliminated at approximately $48,000–$50,000. Married/common-law couple (no children): based on combined family net income; reduces at approximately $56,000 combined and eliminated around $65,000 combined. Couple with 2 children: higher thresholds; approximately $62,000 combined to fully lose the credit. The exact amounts are indexed to inflation annually. Check your CRA My Account (Benefits → GST/HST Credit) to see your entitlement for the current year.

Does getting married or moving in with a partner affect my GST credit?

Yes, significantly. The GST/HST credit uses "family net income" — the combined net income of you and your spouse or common-law partner. When you update your marital status at CRA to "married" or "living common-law," CRA recalculates your GST credit using combined income. If your partner earns significantly more than you, the combined income may exceed the phase-out threshold, reducing or eliminating your credit entirely. Important: if you do not update your marital status with CRA and CRA later discovers the change (e.g., through your tax return), you may be required to repay GST credits received during the period when you should have been assessed as married. Update your marital status promptly at CRA My Account to avoid future repayments.

What should I do if I have not received my GST credit?

Step 1: Confirm you are eligible — file your prior-year tax return if you have not already. The GST credit is calculated automatically after your return is assessed. Step 2: Verify your payment method — check CRA My Account under Benefits → Direct Deposit to ensure your banking information is current. If your bank account changed, CRA may be sending cheques to an old address or deposits to a closed account. Step 3: Check CRA My Account for your GST credit amount — log in to canada.ca/my-cra-account → Benefits and Credits → GST/HST Credit → Payment History. Step 4: If you show a $0 entitlement and believe you should qualify, call CRA at 1-800-387-1193 (individual benefits line) to inquire about the specific reason.

Can I get the GST credit if I didn''t file taxes?

No. The GST/HST credit requires a filed prior-year tax return. CRA cannot calculate or issue the credit without your income information. This applies even if your income is $0 — you must file a nil return (a return showing no income) to access the GST credit, CCB, OTB, and other income-tested benefits. Filing is especially important for: low-income Canadians who may owe no tax but are entitled to GST credit, CCB, and provincial benefits worth thousands per year; newcomers to Canada (you can file a return for the year you arrived); seniors accessing GIS and OAS (income confirmation required). Late filing still generates the credit retroactively — if you file 3 years of back returns, CRA may pay all 3 years of GST credits in a lump sum.

Why is my GST credit smaller than my neighbour''s?

The GST/HST credit amount varies based on: (1) Your net income — lower income = higher credit (up to the maximum). (2) Your marital status — single vs. married/common-law partners get different base amounts. (3) Number of children under 19 — each eligible child adds to the credit. (4) Province — the federal GST credit applies nationally; some provinces administer additional provincial components through the same payment. Approximate maximum annual payments (2025–26): Single adult: ~$519/year ($129.75/quarter). Married/common-law couple: ~$680/year. Each child under 19: ~$137/year. These amounts are indexed to inflation annually.

Will having a new baby increase my GST credit?

Yes. Each child under 19 adds approximately $137/year (~$34/quarter) to your GST/HST credit. When you register the birth of a child through your provincial vital statistics agency and CRA processes the CCB application, the GST credit is automatically recalculated to include the new child. You do not need a separate GST credit application for a new baby — it is added automatically when CCB is processed. If you had a baby and your GST credit did not increase within 3 months, log into CRA My Account to confirm the child has been added to your benefit filing.

Why Am I Not Getting My GST/HST Credit? Eligibility, Phase-Outs, and Fixes

The GST/HST credit is one of the simplest federal benefits — but it is easy to accidentally lose if you do not know what triggers eligibility changes. Start by cross-referencing the baseline eligibility rules in am I eligible for the GST credit and then confirm the timing using GST/HST credit payment dates.

Top reasons Canadians stop receiving the GST credit

Reason	What happened	How to fix
Did not file prior-year return	CRA cannot calculate credit	File your return — retroactive payments follow
Income exceeded threshold	Phase-out based on net income	RRSP contribution reduces net income; file accurately
Marital status not updated	CRA used wrong family income	Update at CRA My Account immediately
Bank details changed	Payment going to old account	Update direct deposit at CRA My Account
Address changed	Cheque sent to old address	Update address at CRA My Account
Child turned 19	Child component removed	No fix — child component ends at 19
Recipient under 19	Under-19s are not eligible themselves	File return; credit begins after age 19
Separation / divorce not reported	Combined income still pulling down credit	Update marital status; receive higher single credit

How the GST credit amount is calculated

CRA calculates your GST/HST credit each year when your return is assessed, using a formula based on your net income (Line 23600) and family composition.

2025–26 maximum credit amounts

Family type	Annual credit	Per quarter
Single adult	~$519	~$130
Married / common-law (combined)	~$680	~$170
Each child under 19	~$137	~$34
Single parent with 1 child	~$656	~$164
Couple with 2 children	~$954	~$239

These amounts are indexed to CPI annually. The credit begins to phase out above approximately $40,000 net income (single) or $56,000 combined (couple, no children).

Phase-out example

Single adult with $45,000 net income
Maximum credit: $519/year
Income above phase-out start (~$40,000): $5,000
Phase-out rate: approximately 5% of excess income
Reduction: $5,000 × 5% = $250
Estimated credit: $519 − $250 = ~$269/year (~$67/quarter)

At approximately $48,000–$50,000 net income for a single adult, the credit reaches zero. The exact phase-out point shifts each year with indexing.

GST credit payment schedule 2026

Quarter	Payment date
Q1 2025–26	July 4, 2025
Q2 2025–26	October 4, 2025
Q3 2025–26	January 3, 2026
Q4 2025–26	April 4, 2026

Allow 5 business days after the payment date before contacting CRA about a missing payment. If you filed your return late, retroactive GST credits may arrive as a lump sum rather than on the quarterly schedule.

How to check your GST credit entitlement

Log into CRA My Account at canada.ca/my-cra-account
Select Benefits and Credits → GST/HST Credit
Review your entitlement amount and payment history
If it shows $0, look for an explanation message — it will indicate why (no return filed, income too high, marital status issue)
If you disagree with the $0 assessment, call 1-800-387-1193 (CRA benefits line)

Special situations

Newcomers to Canada

If you are new to Canada and have not yet filed a Canadian tax return, you can still apply for the GST credit by completing Form RC151 (GST/HST Credit Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada). You do not need to wait until you file your first return. Include documentation of your arrival date.

Students and young adults

The GST credit begins at age 19. If you turned 19 in the prior tax year:

You must file a tax return for that year to trigger the credit
CRA does not automatically apply the credit at age 19 — it requires a filed return
Many students miss years of GST credit simply by not filing returns with no tax owing

Seniors on GIS

If you receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), your combined GST credit + GIS is designed to ensure low-income seniors have adequate income support. Filing your return annually is required to maintain both benefits.

RRSP contributions to recover phase-out credit

If your income is slightly above the phase-out threshold, an RRSP contribution can reduce your net income and restore part or all of the GST credit. For a single adult at $45,000 income, a $5,000 RRSP contribution reduces net income to $40,000 and can restore approximately $250/year in GST credit — in addition to the tax refund.

Provincial GST/HST-linked credits

Some provinces piggyback additional credits onto the federal GST payment:

Province	Provincial benefit	Delivered with GST?
Ontario	Ontario Sales Tax Credit (part of OTB)	Monthly via OTB — separate from GST
BC	BC Climate Action Tax Credit	Combined with federal GST payment
Alberta	No provincial sales tax credit	GST only
Quebec	Quebec Solidarity Tax Credit	Separate from GST
Other provinces	Various	Check province’s benefit website

What to do if you think your GST credit is wrong

Confirm your net income (Line 23600) on your most recently assessed T1 return — this is the income CRA used
Confirm your marital status and number of children on file at CRA My Account
If the return was assessed with incorrect information, file a T1-ADJ (adjustment request) or use ReFILE in your tax software
Call CRA benefits line at 1-800-387-1193 if you cannot resolve it online
File a formal objection (Form T400A) within 90 days of your Notice of Assessment if you disagree with the assessed amount