The Canada Revenue Agency reminded newcomers to Canada that tax filing and benefit applications can affect access to income-tested payments.
Newcomers may be eligible for payments such as the GST/HST credit, the Canada Carbon Rebate, the Canada Child Benefit, and related provincial or territorial benefits.
The application path depends on the household. CRA guidance distinguishes newcomers with children from those without children because child-benefit applications and GST/HST-credit applications can involve different forms.
Annual tax filing remains important after the first application. CRA uses income and family information from tax returns to calculate continuing benefit and credit payments.