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The Ontario sales tax credit pays up to $378 for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year. A spouse or common-law partner adds another $378, and so does each child under 19. You don’t apply for it on its own. It’s paid through the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which you claim on your tax return.
What the credit is for
Ontario describes the Ontario sales tax credit as help with the sales tax Ontarians pay. It’s one of three parts of the Ontario Trillium Benefit. The province says it doesn’t affect your GST/HST credit, so the two are separate pieces of money.
Don’t mix it up with the federal credit. The federal one is called the GST/HST credit, and it has its own rules, which you can test in our GST/HST credit calculator. The Ontario credit is a provincial amount, even though the CRA works it out.
How much could you get?
These are the maximums Ontario publishes for 2026.
| Who | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| You | $378 |
| Spouse or common-law partner | Add $378 |
| Each child under 19 | Add $378 |
| Couple with two children | $1,512 |
The last row is our own addition, four people at $378. These are ceilings. Ontario’s page gives the maximums but not the income levels where the credit shrinks, so we can’t tell you where your own amount will land. The CRA decides that from your return and sends a notice.
Who qualifies
You need to be an Ontario resident at some point before 1 June 2027. There’s no requirement to be living there on 31 December. On top of that you must meet one of these: you’re 19 or older, you’re or were married or in a common-law partnership, or you’re a parent living with your child.
So a 17-year-old who lives alone with no partner and no child doesn’t qualify. A 19-year-old does, even with no job.
How to claim it
File your personal tax return and complete the ON-BEN application form. Ontario’s deadline is 30 April each year. That goes for people with no income at all. If you skip the return, there’s no claim, and nobody tells you what you missed.
Want a picture of your whole return before you file? Try the income tax calculator, and the tax refund calculator to see whether money is coming back.
When the money arrives
How you’re paid depends on the size of your total Trillium amount. If it’s over $500, you pick monthly payments starting in July 2026 or one lump sum in June 2027. If it’s $500 or less, you get a single payment in July 2026. Payments go out on the 10th of the month, by direct deposit or mail.
Monthly is easier for a budget. The lump sum suits you if you’d rather have one larger cheque. Pick one and stick with it, because switching later isn’t something we’ve confirmed you can do.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the ON-BEN form is the big one, and it’s easy to do when you file in a hurry on the last weekend of April and think the return alone covers everything. Another is assuming a partner claiming the family amount means you can’t file. Both adults should still file their own returns, since that’s how the CRA sees each of you.
A third is treating the maximum as a promise. If your income is moderate or high, the real number can be much lower or zero. We couldn’t confirm the income cut-offs for this credit from the province’s page, so use the CRA notice as your answer.
Finally, this credit has nothing to do with the sales tax you pay at the till. Buying less won’t change it. Your return decides it. To see how the 13% HST works on purchases, open the GST/HST calculator.
Where the numbers come from
The $378 amounts, eligibility rules, application steps and payment schedule come from the Government of Ontario’s Ontario Trillium Benefit page, read in September 2026, for the benefit year July 2026 to June 2027. The family total is our own sum. This site isn’t connected to the CRA or any government.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Ontario sales tax credit?
Up to $378 for you, plus $378 for a spouse or partner and $378 for each child under 19, for July 2026 to June 2027.
Do I apply separately for the Ontario sales tax credit?
No. You file your tax return and complete the ON-BEN form by the April 30 deadline.
Is it the same as the GST/HST credit?
No. The Ontario credit is provincial and part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit. Ontario says it doesn't affect your GST/HST credit.
How is it paid?
If the total is over $500 you choose monthly or a June 2027 lump sum. At $500 or less it's paid once in July 2026.
Can an 18-year-old qualify?
Only if they are or were married or common-law, or are a parent living with a child. Otherwise the age rule is 19.
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Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.