What is Canada’s Groceries and Essentials Benefit and where did the GST/HST credit go? (opens original article in a new tab)

Canada is replacing the GST/HST credit with the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, increasing it by 25% for five years starting July 2026, while maintaining the same eligibility and payment structure.

• The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaces the GST/HST credit starting July 2026 with a 25% increase for five years.
• Eligibility and payment calculations remain the same as the previous GST/HST credit, with maximum annual amounts of $679 for singles and $1,826 for singles with four or more children.
• A one-time top-up payment of 50% of the 2025-26 GST credit value was issued to recipients, with an estimated average of $252 per person.