Canada Child Benefit Calculator

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency to families raising children under 18. It replaced the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit in July 2016, which is why people still search for it as the "child tax benefit". It is income-tested against your adjusted family net income (AFNI), it is not reported as income on your return, and it is recalculated every July for a benefit year that runs July 2026 – June 2027.

For the 2026-27 benefit year (July 2026 – June 2027), the maximum CCB is $8,157 per year for each child under age 6, and $6,883 per year for each child aged 6 to 17. The actual amount you receive depends on your adjusted family net income — higher income reduces the benefit according to a two-phase reduction formula.

You must live with a child under 18 and be primarily responsible for their care and upbringing, and you must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. You (and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one) must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months with a valid permit in the 19th month, or an individual registered under the Indian Act. Both of you must file a tax return every year, even with no income — the CRA uses your 2025 return to set your 2026-27 payments.

For the 2026-27 benefit year, the full CCB is paid when adjusted family net income is $38,237 or less. Above this threshold, the benefit is reduced at a rate that depends on the number of children — families with one child see a 7% reduction rate in the first phase, while families with more children face higher reduction rates. A second, lower phase-out rate applies above $82,847.

Three routes. At birth, tick the Automated Benefits Application box on the provincial birth registration and the CCB is set up for you. Otherwise sign in to your CRA account and use "Apply for child benefits", which is the fastest option. If you cannot use either, mail Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, to your tax centre — with Form RC66SCH as well if you or your partner became a resident of Canada in the last two years. You apply once; after that, filing your return each year keeps the payments coming.

No. The Canada Child Benefit is completely tax-free. You do not report CCB payments as income on your tax return, and receiving CCB does not affect other income-tested benefits or credits.

CCB payments are made monthly, typically around the 20th of each month. The benefit year runs from July to June — for example, payments for July 2026 – June 2027 are based on your 2025 tax return. You must file your taxes every year to continue receiving CCB. If your total annual entitlement is under $240, the CRA pays it as a single lump sum in July instead of monthly.

The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is an extra tax-free amount — up to $3,480 per child ($290.00 a month) for the 2026-27 benefit year — added to the CCB for a child who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit. It phases out at higher family incomes above $82,847 (3.2% for one eligible child, 5.7% for two or more).

When a child lives roughly equally with two parents, each parent is treated as having shared custody and receives 50% of the CCB they would get as the sole caregiver, based on their own adjusted family net income.

No. You apply once — at birth through the Automated Benefits Application, or any time through your CRA account. After that, file your tax return each year and the CRA recalculates your payments for the new July–June benefit year.

Yes. The maximum amounts and income thresholds are indexed each July. For 2026-27 the maximums rose to $8,157 (under 6) and $6,883 (aged 6-17) from $7,997 and $6,748 the prior year.