Plain meaning
A tax-free quarterly payment that helps eligible individuals and families offset GST/HST costs.
Also called
GST credit
HST credit
Key points
- The GST/HST credit is an income-tested payment intended to offset sales tax costs for lower- and modest-income households.
- Eligibility is generally determined from the annual income tax return.
- Payments may include additional amounts for a spouse or common-law partner and eligible children.
- Payment amounts and thresholds can change through indexation or budget measures.
Why it comes up
GST/HST credit changes affect household affordability and often appear in federal benefit and cost-of-living announcements.