Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) 2026: payment dates, how much you get and how to apply
The OTB is the payment many Ontarians notice on the 10th without knowing what it is or why it changed. Here are the CRA payment dates, what each of the three credits pays for the 2026 benefit year, the exact sales tax credit formula with worked examples, and an estimator that tells you how and when it will be paid.
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Ontario Trillium Benefit estimator
What could your 2026 OTB look like, and how is it paid?
OSTC uses the CRA's formula for July 2026 to June 2027: $378 per adult and child, reduced by 4% of adjusted net income over $29,047 (single, no children) or adjusted family net income over $36,309 (single parent or couple). Seniors 64 and older may get more under a separate seniors' income threshold, which this tool does not apply. The OEPTC and NOEC depend on rent or property tax paid, so get that estimate from the CRA child and family benefits calculator. Estimates only; the CRA decides your entitlement.
OTB payment dates
The OTB is usually paid on the 10th of each month. If the 10th is a weekend or statutory holiday, it is paid on the last working day before. The CRA's 2026 dates are:
| Month | Payment date | Month | Payment date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | January 9, 2026 | July | July 10, 2026 |
| February | February 10, 2026 | August | August 10, 2026 |
| March | March 10, 2026 | September | September 10, 2026 |
| April | April 10, 2026 | October | October 9, 2026 |
| May | May 8, 2026 | November | November 10, 2026 |
| June | June 10, 2026 | December | December 10, 2026 |
The next payments are November 10 and December 10, 2026. The 2026 benefit year runs from July 2026 to June 2027, so payments continue monthly to June 2027. The CRA had not posted its 2027 calendar when we checked; we will add those dates once it does. If you chose one payment at the end of the year, it arrives on June 10, 2027. For federal dates such as the GST/HST credit and Canada child benefit, see our 2026 benefit payment dates.
Ontario says to contact the CRA if you qualify but have not received your payment by the 24th of the month.
What the OTB is made of
The OTB is one tax-free payment that combines three Ontario credits. You only need to qualify for one of them to get a payment. The CRA pays it on Ontario's behalf, and it is not taxable.
| Credit | Who it helps | 2026 benefit year maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario sales tax credit (OSTC) | Low to moderate income residents, for sales tax | $378 per adult and per child |
| Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC) | People who paid rent or property tax on their main home in 2025 | $1,307 (18 to 64), $1,488 (65+) |
| Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC) | Residents of the northern districts, for higher energy costs | $189 single, $290 families |
Other OEPTC maximums: $290 if you lived on a reserve or in a public long-term care home, and $25 for time spent in a designated college, university or private school residence in 2025. The NOEC districts are Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.
For the OSTC you need to be an Ontario resident and 19 or older, or have (or have had) a spouse or common-law partner, or be a parent who lives or lived with your child. For the OEPTC and NOEC you must have lived in Ontario (or Northern Ontario) on December 31, 2025, and the age test is 18.
How the sales tax credit is calculated
The OSTC is the one part you can work out with a pencil. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA uses this formula:
- Start with $378 for each adult and each child in the family.
- Single with no children: subtract 4% of your adjusted net income over $29,047.
- Single parent, married or common-law: subtract 4% of adjusted family net income over $36,309.
The OEPTC and NOEC depend on how much rent or property tax you paid, so the CRA has calculation sheets or the online calculator for those.
Worked examples
Leah is single with no children and had adjusted net income of $32,000 in 2025.
| Step | Arithmetic | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Income over the threshold | $32,000 − $29,047 | $2,953 |
| Reduction | $2,953 × 4% | $118.12 |
| OSTC | $378 − $118.12 | $259.88 |
If that were her whole OTB, it would be $500 or less, so the CRA pays it in one lump sum in July. If she also rents and the CRA calculator shows an OEPTC of, say, $600, her total is $859.88, which is more than $500, so it is paid monthly at about $71.66, unless she chose one June payment.
The Okafor family, a couple with two children under 19, had adjusted family net income of $45,000.
| Step | Arithmetic | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum for 4 people | $378 × 4 | $1,512 |
| Reduction | ($45,000 − $36,309) × 4% | $347.64 |
| OSTC for the year | $1,512 − $347.64 | $1,164.36 |
| Monthly OSTC | $1,164.36 ÷ 12 | $97.03 |
Monthly, lump sum or one payment in June
- More than $500 a year: paid monthly from July to June, or, if you ticked box 61060 on Form ON-BEN, in one payment on June 10, 2027. The total is the same either way, and no interest is paid for waiting.
- $500 or less: paid in one lump sum in the first payment month, usually July.
- More than $2 but less than $10: raised to $10. $2 or less: no payment.
The June choice can only be made when you first file your return. If you have not filed your 2025 return yet and want it, the deadline is December 31, 2026. You can switch back to monthly at any time by calling 1-877-627-6645. The CRA revokes the June choice if you move out of Ontario, become bankrupt, die or are incarcerated for 90 days or more.
How to apply (and get missed years)
You apply by filing your tax return, even if you have no income. The OSTC needs no application. For the OEPTC and NOEC, complete Form ON-BEN in the Ontario tax package. In a couple, the OSTC goes to whoever's return is assessed first, and the OEPTC and NOEC go to the partner who filled out ON-BEN; the total is the same. If only one partner is 64 or older, that partner applies for the family.
Forgot ON-BEN in a past year? You can usually ask the CRA to adjust returns for the 10 previous calendar years through My Account or Form T1-ADJ, with your rent or property tax receipts.
Moving? Your OEPTC and NOEC also depend on where you live on the 1st of each month. Ontario's example: move out of Ontario on November 10 and you still get the November payment, but none after. Tell the CRA the exact date of your move. Our moving provinces guide covers the rest of the paperwork.
Watch for scams: Ontario says it will not send texts asking for personal information or offering a tax credit or refund. A text about an "OTB refund notification" with a link is a scam. See our e-Transfer scams guide for the common patterns, and filing on a low income for why the return unlocks these credits. More calculators are on the tools page.
How to get the Ontario Trillium Benefit
- File your tax return by April 30 every year, even if you have no income.
- Complete Form ON-BEN with your rent or property tax paid to apply for the OEPTC and NOEC.
- Decide whether you want monthly payments or one payment in June (box 61060), if your entitlement is over $500.
- Set up direct deposit with the CRA so payments arrive on the 10th.
- Tell the CRA the exact date if you move, and check payments by the 24th of each month.
- If you missed ON-BEN in past years, request an adjustment in My Account or with Form T1-ADJ.
Questions people ask
When is the next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment?
The next payments are November 10, 2026 and December 10, 2026. The OTB is paid on the 10th of each month, or the last working day before if the 10th is a weekend or holiday.
How much is the Ontario Trillium Benefit in 2026?
It is the total of three credits. For July 2026 to June 2027 the maximums are $378 per adult and child for the sales tax credit, $1,307 (18 to 64) or $1,488 (65+) for the energy and property tax credit, and $189 single or $290 for families for the Northern Ontario energy credit. Most people get less than the maximum.
Why did I get my OTB in one payment in July?
If your annual entitlement is $500 or less, the CRA pays it in one lump sum in the first payment month, usually July.
How do I apply for the OTB?
File your tax return every year, even with no income. The sales tax credit needs no application. For the energy and property tax credit and the Northern Ontario energy credit, complete Form ON-BEN with your return.
Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit taxable?
No. The CRA says the OTB is not a taxable benefit.
Can I get my OTB in one payment instead of monthly?
Yes, if your entitlement is more than $500. Tick box 61060 on Form ON-BEN when you first file. The 2026 OTB would then be paid on June 10, 2027. For your 2025 return, the deadline to make this choice is December 31, 2026.
What happens to my OTB if I move out of Ontario?
The energy and property tax credit depends on where you live on the 1st of each month. If you move out of Ontario on November 10, you get the November payment but none after. Tell the CRA the exact date of your move.
Can I claim the OTB for past years?
Usually yes. You can ask the CRA to adjust a return for any of the 10 previous calendar years through My Account or Form T1-ADJ, with a completed Form ON-BEN and your receipts.
Looni reads your statements and flags bank fees, forgotten subscriptions and charges you might be paying without noticing, so the money that lands on the 10th stays yours. Read-only, no advice.
Sources
Canada Revenue Agency, Ontario Trillium Benefit Questions and Answers (10th of the month, $500 lump sum rule, June 10, 2027 single payment, box 61060, December 31, 2026 deadline, revocation, $2 and $10 rules, not taxable, 10-year adjustments), Province of Ontario programs (OSTC $378, 4% over $29,047 or $36,309), Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits (2026 OTB dates) and Child and family benefits calculator; Government of Ontario, Ontario Trillium Benefit (eligibility for the 2026 benefit year, OEPTC $1,307 / $1,488 / $290 / $25, NOEC $189 / $290 and districts, OSTC eligibility, 1st of the month rule, 24th of the month contact, text scam warning; updated April 27, 2026). The examples are illustrative; the arithmetic is ours.