Ontario Trillium Benefit payments arrive this week. Here's what to know

July is the start of the fiscal year for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB), which means those who are registered and qualified to receive it should be seeing a deposit in their bank accounts on Thursday, July 10.

What is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

The OTB combines three government payments: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit. You must be eligible for at least one of the three to receive it.

Who is eligible?

To qualify for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit you must have been an Ontario resident on Dec. 31, 2024, and one of the following must apply before June 1, 2026: you’re over the age of 18, you’re in (or have been in) a marriage or common-law relationship, or you live with (or have lived with) your child.

For the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, the qualifications are the same except the age limit is 19 and over.

For the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, the same qualifications apply (18 and over in this case), but you must also live in one of the designated northern communities: Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay or Timiskaming.

How does one apply?

You must have filed your tax return for the previous year (2024 in this case) to be eligible, even if you have no income to report. The government will then calculate the amount you’re owed.

What is the benefit worth?

The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit tops out at $1,283 for those under 65 and $1,461 for seniors, while the Northern Ontario Energy Credit can be up to $185 for single people and $285 for families. The Ontario Sales Tax Credit has a maximum payout of $371 for each qualified individual.

The government has a calculator you can use to determine your own payout. Variables include age, income, family size, residence, and amount paid in rent or property tax. You can also use the calculator to figure out child benefit payments.

When does the benefit arrive?

If your benefit is under $360, it will arrive in a lump sum on July 10. If it’s more, it will arrive in monthly instalments on the 10th of each month (or the last working day before that if the 10th is a weekend or holiday).

What should you do if it doesn’t show up?

The Canada Revenue Agency requests that you wait 10 working days from the payment due date before contacting them if it didn’t arrive.

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