As Canadian households face mounting grocery bills, the announcement of the one-time grocery rebate of up to CAD $628 by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers welcome relief. Targeted at low- and modest-income individuals and families in Canada, this payment is designed to ease the burden of rising food costs and inflation. If you’ve filed your tax return and qualify under the rules, understanding the timing, amount and eligibility of this rebate becomes essential. Let’s explore how this payment works, who gets it, and when you can expect it in Canada.
What is the Grocery Rebate and how does it work?
The Grocery Rebate is a federally-administered, tax-free payment intended to help eligible Canadians offset rising food and grocery costs. According to the CRA, this payment was issued once, on July 5 2023, and was calculated as double the amount of the individual’s January 2023 GST/HST credit. Because this is a one-off measure and not a recurring benefit, it’s important to clarify that there is no new confirmed rebate for 2025 despite recent speculation. If you received it in 2023, you did not need to apply separately — the CRA processed it automatically for qualifying individuals and families.
Eligibility criteria: Are you eligible in Canada?
To qualify for the rebate, you must meet several criteria: you must be a resident of Canada at the time the payment is issued, you must have filed the relevant tax return (for the base year used by CRA), and you must have been eligible for the GST/HST credit in that base year. For example, for the 2023 rebate your 2021 tax return mattered. The catalogue of eligibility includes being at least 19 years old in the payment month (unless you have a spouse or child), and not being incarcerated for 90+ consecutive days. Note: because there is no confirmed new rebate for 2025, eligibility for 2025 remains speculative at best. It’s wise to keep your tax filings, direct deposit info and CRA “My Account” details updated as a general best practice.
Payment amounts and timing — what you should know
The payment size of this rebate depends on your family status (single, married/common-law, number of children) and past eligibility for the GST/HST credit. According to CRA’s official breakdown for 2023: singles with no children could receive up to CAD $234; with four or more children, up to CAD $628. For married/common-law couples the same maximum of CAD $628 applied (with four children). In terms of timing: the rebate was issued along with the July 5 2023 quarterly GST/HST credit payment. Because there is currently no official payment date announced for 2025, any mention of a “July 2025 up to CAD $1,000 rebate” appears unconfirmed and should be treated with caution.
Quick comparative breakdown
| Household type | Maximum Rebate (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $234 | Individual alias |
| Single parent, 1 child | $387 | Based on 2023 data |
| Couple/common-law, 2 children | $467 | Middle family size |
| Couple/common-law, 4+ children | $628 | Largest family tier |
| Married/common-law, no children | $306 | Adult couple only |
FAQs
Q1: Do I need to apply separately for the rebate?
A: No, the rebate was issued automatically to eligible Canadians by CRA.
Q2: Will this payment affect my other federal benefits?
A: No, the rebate is tax-free and does not reduce other benefits if issued.
Q3: Is there a new grocery rebate for 2025?
A: Not officially — no confirmed announcement from CRA for 2025 yet.
Q4: What if I filed my taxes late? Will I still get the payment?
A: If you missed the filing deadline, you may experience delays or may become ineligible until you file.
