Doing your taxes has its benefits. You may be eligible for benefit and credit payments!

Don’t miss out on benefit and credit payments you may be eligible for by doing your taxes every year. You could be eligible for payments even if your income was tax-exempt or you had no income.

Benefit and credit payments you could get

• Payment - Canada child benefit (CCB)
  • How often – Monthly
  • Helps to - support the needs of children under 18
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year and apply using Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application or when you register the birth of your child with your province/territory
• Payment - Goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit
  • How often - July, October, January, and April
  • Helps to - offset the cost of GST or HST paid on products and services
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year
• Payment - Advanced Canada workers benefit (includes a disability supplement if you’re eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC))
  • How often – July, October and January
  • Helps to - reduce the cost of living for individuals and families who are working and earning a low income
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year and be eligible for the Canada workers benefit
• Payment - Provincial and territorial benefit and credit payments
  • How often - Varies
  • Helps to - offset certain costs by province and territory (payments calculated based on your tax return)
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year

* In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria

Credits and deductions

Disability tax credit (DTC)

Helps people with disabilities, or a supporting family member, reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay.

DTC eligibility can help you access other federal programs, such as the child disability benefit and a registered disability savings plan.

You can apply for the DTC even if your income was tax-exempt or you had no income. For more information, go to canada.ca/disability-tax-credit

Northern residents deductions

You may be able to claim if you lived in a prescribed zone for a continuous period of at least six consecutive months. It can help lower your taxable income.

For more information, go to canada.ca/taxes-northern-residents

What you need to do your taxes

Social insurance number (SIN)

To work in Canada or access certain government programs and benefits, you need a SIN. If you do not have a SIN or have lost it, contact Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627 or go to an office near you.

Tax slips

At the beginning of the calendar year, you should receive tax slips with the information you need to do your taxes. If they are missing, get them online in My Account or call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-959-8281.

Do your taxes by April 30 each year to keep getting your payments: If you are married or in a common-law relationship, both you and your partner need to file. In Quebec, you also need to file a separate provincial tax return with Revenu Québec. Find more information at canada.ca/taxes-get-ready

“Let us help you get your benefits!” Indigenous credit and benefit short return: You may be eligible to do your taxes using a short return form available to Indigenous Peoples. Go to canada.ca/indigenous-peoples-short-return

Protect yourself from scams

Beware of scammers pretending to be the CRA. When in doubt, call the CRA. Learn about what to expect if the CRA contacts you, go to canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention

Need help or support?

Jordan’s Principle: provides funding that helps with health, social and educational needs for First Nations children living in Canada. Go to canada.ca/jordans-principle

Inuit Child First Initiative: ensures Inuit children have access to the essential government funded health, social and educational products, services and supports. Go to canada.ca/supporting-inuit-children

Northern Service Centres: provide support for individuals in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Get more information

Online

Before calling, check Canada.ca! You may be able to find what you need at canada.ca/benefits-credits-in

To order CRA publications in alternate formats, including large print and braille, go to canada.ca/cra-multiple-formats

Free tax help: You may be eligible to get your tax return filed for free by a volunteer. Find out if you are eligible at canada.ca/get-tax-help

By phone

Questions about benefits: 1-800-387-1193

Residents of the territories with an 867 area code: 1-866-426-1527

General questions or to get forms: 1-800-959-8281

TTY (teletypewriter): 1-800-665-0354

Canada Video Relay Service (VRS): 1-800-561-6393

Questions about social insurance numbers (SIN): 1-866-274-6627 (Service Canada)

Questions about doing taxes in Quebec: 1-800-267-6299 (Revenu Québec)