Inflation Protection: How to Get the Grocery Rebate and More

Evelyn Jacks

The GST/HST credit system is being used to provide three inflation boosts recently, but late filers may be missing out.  A one time payment arrived in November; then, on October 18, 2022,  Bill C-30 received Royal Assent to double the amount of the GST tax credit eligible taxpayers were already receiving in January.  Next, the Bill to enable the new Grocery Rebate, will pass.  Money won’t be distributed until July 5, according to CRA.  But those who don’t get their tax returns  caught up will miss out on hundreds possibly thousands, of dollars. Details appear below:

One Time Payment November 2022. This was paid to eligible individuals who qualified for the October 2022 GST/HST credit. The maximum amount for a single person is $234 if there were no children or $387 (1 child), $467 (2 children), $548 (3 children) and $628 (4 children).

If married couples or those living common-law, that maximum was $306 with no children or $387 (1 child), $467 (2 children), $548 (3 children), and $628 (4 children).

The Doubling of the GST .  To get the first GST/HST enhanced payment you had to meet income-testing thresholds for the 2021 base year (see below), be a Canadian resident, have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), be at least 19 years old and have filed a 2021 tax return. Note that people confined to a prison or similar institution for 90 consecutive days or more or deceased taxpayers are not eligible.

Income thresholds for GST/HST credit payments for base year 2021 which began in July 2022 and will end in June of 2023: