Newcomer Digest – Thursday's Edition

Featured Story

Up to $890, Tax-Free — If the CRA Has Your Name

A tax-free payment lands October 5, but only for people the CRA has on file.

You have a job, a SIN and a bank account. You have been in Canada for months. Nobody has told you there may be a payment you are missing.

The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. It is paid four times a year, and the next payment is October 5. It is not taxable, so you do not report it on your tax return.

The CRA works out your amount from your tax return every July. For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is up to $679 for a single person, $890 with a partner, and $234 for each child under 19. Your real amount depends on your income and family.

Read the full guide on our website

What This Means for You

The rule is about residency, not your permit

The CRA's test is about tax residency and income. It asks whether you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes, are at least 19 (with some exceptions), and have income under a limit. People with no income may still be eligible.

Where newcomers commonly go wrong:

• Waiting for the first tax return. New residents can apply before they file one.
• Skipping the return because income was low. The CRA says to file every year, even with no income, to avoid interrupted payments.
• Thinking the payment is taxable. It is not.
• Forgetting family changes. Marital status and children change your amount.

This is general information, not personal tax or immigration advice. Check the CRA's eligibility page for your situation.

What You Can Do Now

Five steps for this week

1. Set up CRA My Account. It shows your payment dates and status.
2. Newly resident? Read the RC151 rules. This is the CRA's application for people who became residents of Canada.
3. Check the payment dates. The next one is October 5.
4. Put April 30 in your calendar. File a return every year, even with no income. If you arrived in 2026, your first return is due April 30, 2027.
5. Update your family details in My Account after any change.

Sign in or register for CRA My Account
See the benefit payment dates
Check who is eligible
Read about Form RC151 for new residents

Helpful Resource

Benefits Finder

The Benefits Finder is a free tool from the Government of Canada. It helps you find federal benefits and services and links to provincial and territorial programs. You can filter the results by "newcomers."

• Website: canada.ca/en/services/benefits/finder.html
• Phone: 1-800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232), in English and French

Know a newcomer who has never heard of this benefit? Forward this edition to them.

Have you tried to get benefits since arriving in Canada? Reply to this email and tell us how it went.

From the publisher

Before you go

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