This guide has all the important tax deadlines and benefit payment dates for Canadian taxpayers and benefit recipients in 2026. Knowing these dates will help you stay tax compliant and ensure that you receive all benefit payments.
Personal Tax Deadlines
- April 30, 2026: Standard deadline for most Canadians to file their 2025 personal tax return and pay any balance owing
- June 15, 2026: Extended deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses, but taxes owed are still due April 30, 2026
- March 2, 2026: Last day to contribute to an RRSP for the 2025 tax year
Tax Instalments for Individuals
Individuals who have to make instalments must pay on these dates:
- March 15, 2026
- June 15, 2026
- September 15, 2026
- December 15, 2026
GST/HST Filing and Payment Due Dates
- June 15, 2026: Deadline for self-employed annual filer to file GST/HST return, but payment is due on April 30, 2026
GST/HST Instalment Due Dates
Self-employed businesses that have to remit GST/HST instalments must pay on these dates:
- April 15, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- January 15, 2027
Federal Benefit Payment Dates for 2026
GST/HST Credit
The GST/HST credit provides quarterly payments to low and modest-income Canadians. Payments are issued on the 5th of the month:
- January 5, 2026
- April 3, 2026 (if the 5th falls on a weekend)
- July 5, 2026
- October 3, 2026 (if the 5th falls on a weekend)
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
Monthly tax-free payments for families with children under 18. Payments usually arrive around the 20th of the month:
- January 20, 2026
- February 20, 2026
- March 20, 2026
- April 17, 2026
- May 20, 2026
- June 20, 2026
- July 18, 2026
- August 20, 2026
- September 19, 2026
- October 20, 2026
- November 20, 2026
- December 12, 2026
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB)
Three annual payments for advance funding for the Canada Workers Benefit:
- January 10, 2026
- July 11, 2026
- October 10, 2026
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
The CDB provides monthly tax-free payments to eligible Canadians with disabilities. Payments are made on the 3rd Thursday of each month:
- January 15, 2026
- February 19, 2026
- March 19, 2026
- April 16, 2026
- May 21, 2026
- June 18, 2026
- July 16, 2026
- August 20, 2026
- September 17, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- December 17, 2026
Pension and Retirement Benefits
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS)
Both programs pay on the same dates, usually the 3rd to last business day of each month:
- January 29, 2026
- February 26, 2026
- March 27, 2026
- April 28, 2026
- May 28, 2026
- June 26, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 29, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
Veterans Disability Pension
Monthly tax-free payments for eligible Canadian Armed Forces veterans and RCMP members. Payments are usually made on the last business day of each month:
- January 30, 2026
- February 27, 2026
- March 31, 2026
- April 30, 2026
- May 29, 2026
- June 30, 2026
- July 31, 2026
- August 31, 2026
- September 30, 2026
- October 31, 2026
- November 30, 2026
- December 31, 2026
Provincial Benefits Payment Dates for 2026
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)
The OTB provides monthly payments that combine three Ontario tax credits for eligible residents. Payments are made on the 10th of each month:
- January 10, 2026
- February 10, 2026
- March 10, 2026
- April 10, 2026
- May 8, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- July 10, 2026
- August 8, 2026
- September 10, 2026
- October 10, 2026
- November 8, 2026
- December 10, 2026
Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)
The program provides quarterly payments to support Alberta families with children under the age of 18. Payments are made four times per year:
- February 27, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- November 27, 2026
Important Payment Considerations
Weekends and Holidays
When payment dates fall on weekends or statutory holidays, payments are made on the previous business day.
Direct Deposit
Setting up direct deposit through your CRA My Account or relevant government portal has many benefits: faster payment processing, more secure than paper cheques, automatic deposits without waiting for mail, and access to funds on payment date.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for most government benefits, you must file your tax return by April 30 even if you have no income or no taxes owing. Make sure to keep your personal and banking information up to date with the CRA. Also, report income changes or family status changes as soon as possible.
Benefit Updates
Most 2026 benefits will be calculated based on your 2025 tax return. This includes family net income, number of eligible children, province of residence, and marital status.
Benefits are recalculated in July of each year based on the previous year’s tax return information.
Cost of Living Adjustments
Several benefits are indexed annually for inflation:
- OAS and GIS: Quarterly (January, April, July, and October) based on the Consumer Price Index
- Veterans Disability Pension: Annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to maintain purchasing power
- Canada Disability Benefit: Indexed annually for inflation
- GST/HST Credit: Updated based on cost of living changes
Payment Issues
If you don’t receive your payment:
- Wait 5-10 business days before contacting the agency
- Check your banking information is up to date
- Make sure your tax returns are filed and processed
- Check for any correspondence from the paying agency
- Contact the Canada Revenue Agency or Veterans Affairs Canada for assistance
Careful preparation around how to handle government benefits can help you get the most out of your money and keep your eligibility for important supports. Canadians should check the tax status of any benefit they get, whether it’s taxable, non-taxable, or reportable. You should also know how each benefit could affect your tax return or your eligibility for provincial programs. Talk to a CPA accountant to make sure you understand what you need to disclose, look for ways to lower your taxable income, and maximize your access to non-taxable supports.
