June 12, 2026 2 min read
CGEB vs GST/HST Credit: What Actually Changed in July 2026
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit replaces the GST/HST credit from July 2026. Same eligibility, 25% higher amounts — here are the numbers.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) →
Quarterly CGEB from July 2026 — up to $679 single, $890 couples, $234 per child; replaces the GST/HST credit
Starting July 3, 2026, the GST/HST credit is gone — replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). If you received the GST/HST credit, you don’t need to do anything: the CGEB uses the same eligibility rules, the same income test, and the same quarterly schedule. The only practical change is the amount: 25% higher, legislated for five years.
The numbers, side by side
For the July 2026 – June 2027 payment period (based on your 2025 tax return), versus the final GST/HST credit year:
| Component | GST/HST credit (Jul 2025–Jun 2026) | CGEB (Jul 2026–Jun 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible individual | $349 | $445 |
| Spouse / common-law partner | $349 | $445 |
| Each child under 19 | $184 | $234 |
| First child, single parent | $349 | $445 |
| Single supplement (max) | $184 | $234 |
| Supplement phase-in threshold | $11,337 | $11,564 |
| Phase-out threshold | $45,521 | $46,432 |
Maximums work out to $679 for a single individual (was $533), $890 for a couple (was $698), plus $234 per child (was $184). The phase-out rate is unchanged at 5 cents per dollar of adjusted family net income above the threshold.
Use the CGEB calculator to see your own quarterly amount.
What did NOT change
- Eligibility — same as the GST/HST credit: 19 or older (or with a spouse/child), Canadian resident for tax purposes, income under the family cutoff.
- No application — filing your tax return is the application.
- Quarterly schedule — July, October, January, April. See CGEB payment dates.
- Tax-free — payments are not taxable and don’t reduce other benefits.
- Provincial/territorial programs — related provincial credits continue to be paid alongside it.
Why your July payment looks different from April’s
Two things change at once in July 2026:
- The program switches from GST/HST credit to CGEB (+25% on the rates).
- The base year rolls from your 2024 return to your 2025 return — so if your income changed in 2025, your payment moves too.
If your 2025 adjusted family net income rose above $46,432, the 5% phase-out may offset some or all of the 25% uplift. The breakdown in the calculator separates the two effects.
Don’t confuse it with the June 5 top-up
The one-time payment many people received starting June 5, 2026 was a GST/HST credit top-up — 50% of your 2025-26 annual credit, paid once. The CGEB is the ongoing quarterly benefit that starts July 3. You get both.
Sources: CRA, CGEB payment amounts; Department of Finance, CGEB backgrounder.
Primary sources
Use our calculators to apply these concepts to your own income. Tax information is for general guidance only — consult a CPA for advice specific to your situation.
Tax rates and thresholds sourced from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Last verified for the 2025 tax year.