The Canada Revenue Agency reminded taxpayers that filing a return is necessary to receive or keep many federal benefits and credits.
The reminder focused on the transition from the GST/HST credit to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
CRA said a one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment connected to the new benefit would be issued to eligible individuals on June 5, 2026.
The agency said people who received the January 2026 GST/HST credit payment would automatically receive the top-up payment.
Starting in July 2026, eligible individuals would begin receiving Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments after GST/HST credit payments ended. CRA said the first quarterly payment would be issued on July 3, 2026.
CRA also pointed taxpayers to electronic notices of determination, which show which benefits and credits a person qualifies for and how much they can receive from July 2026 to June 2027.
The filing point is practical: benefit systems depend on current income information. If a taxpayer does not file, CRA may not be able to calculate or continue payments even where the person would otherwise qualify.