The Government of Canada's Grocery Rebate will be starting on July 5, alongside the next quarterly GST/HST credit payment. The rebate was announced earlier this year as part of Budget 2023, to provide financial support to eligible Canadians.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency, The Grocery Rebate will be equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount that residents received for January 2023. The CRA also underlined that residents will receive the Grocery Rebate if they were entitled to receive the GST/HST credit for January 2023.

"To get the Grocery Rebate, you have to file a tax return for 2021, even if you have no income to report for that year," the CRA stated on its website.

The website also underlined that it is possible that residents may be entitled to the Grocery Rebate, but not the July GST/HST credit or vice versa.

"The Grocery Rebate is calculated based on your 2021 tax return, but the next quarterly GST/HST credit payment in July 2023 is calculated based on your 2022 tax return. Please check your Notice of (Re)determination for more information. You and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must meet the eligibility criteria for the 2021 base year to qualify for this rebate."

The Grocery Rebate will be double the amount of a resident's GST/HST credit payment from January 2023.  The amount is calculated based on the family situation in January 2023 and one's 2021 adjusted family net income. You could receive a maximum payment of up to:

If you are single

  • $234 (no children)
  • $387 (with one child)
  • $467 (with two children)
  • $548 (with three children)
  • $628 (with four children)

If you are married or have a common-law partner

  • $306 (no children)
  • $387 (with one child)
  • $467 (with two children)
  • $548 (with three children)
  • $628 (with four children)

The Grocery Rebate will be issued on July 5 and if you do not receive the Grocery Rebate on the expected date, it is advised to wait 10 business days before contacting the CRA. The CRA is also encouraging residents to review the Notice of Redetermination for more information about how much they are entitled to receive and when, and any changes to their payments.  

"If you received your GST/HST credit payment as a lump sum in July 2022, you will still benefit from the Grocery Rebate. Tax refunds, benefit and credit payments may be applied to pay outstanding balances."

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