New Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Coming on September 10

The Ontario Trillium Benefit can be confusing for many newcomers because it is a single monthly payment that combines up to three different provincial tax credits. Depending on your income, family situation, and where you live, you could qualify for one, two, or all three of the credits.

Here’s what the September Ontario Trillium Benefit payment includes, who qualifies, and how the benefit works.

Key Takeaways

• The next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment is scheduled for September 10, 2026.
• The OTB combines three Ontario tax credits into one monthly payment.
• Your eligibility and payment amount are based on your 2025 tax return.
• You must file a tax return and complete Form ON-BEN to receive the benefit.

What Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

The Ontario Trillium Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on behalf of the Ontario government.

Rather than being a single credit, the OTB combines up to three separate provincial tax credits into one payment:

• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
• Northern Ontario Energy Credit
• Ontario Sales Tax Credit

Not everyone qualifies for all three credits. The credits you qualify for, and your resulting payment depends on your income, family situation, and where you lived during 2025.

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit

The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit helps eligible Ontario residents with housing and energy costs.

You may qualify if you lived in Ontario on December 31, 2025, and during the year you:

• paid rent for your principal residence;
• paid property tax on your home;
• paid home energy costs while living on a reserve;
• paid accommodation costs in a public or non-profit long-term care home; or
• lived in a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence.

As a newcomer, you could qualify even if you only rented a home in Ontario for part of the year.

Northern Ontario Energy Credit

The Northern Ontario Energy Credit helps offset higher energy costs for residents of Northern Ontario. If you lived in Northern Ontario at the end of 2025, you may qualify for this additional credit.

Ontario Sales Tax Credit

The Ontario Sales Tax Credit is a tax-free payment that helps lower and moderate-income residents offset the cost of sales tax.

How Much Can I Get Through the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

The amount you receive depends on your individual circumstances. The CRA considers factors such as your adjusted family net income, family size, age, whether you rent or own your home, how much eligible rent or property tax you paid during 2025, and whether you lived in Northern Ontario. Depending on which credits you qualify for, your annual Ontario Trillium Benefit may include one, two, or all three components.

The CRA normally divides your annual entitlement into 12 monthly payments. If your total annual benefit is $500 or less, you generally receive it as a single payment instead of monthly installments.

For 2026 payments based on your 2025 tax return:

Ontario Sales Tax Credit Amount

The maximum annual credit is $378 each for eligible adult (including the applicant and their spouse or common-law partner) and for dependent children under 19.

The credit begins to decrease once income exceeds $29,047 for single individuals or $36,309 for families.

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit Amount

The maximum annual credit is:

• $1,307 for people under 65 (including up to $290 for the energy component and $1,017 for the property tax component); and
• $1,488 for seniors (including up to $290 for the energy component and $1,198 for the property tax component).

Your actual entitlement depends on your personal circumstances and eligible housing expenses.

Northern Ontario Energy Credit Amount

If you lived in Northern Ontario during 2025, the maximum annual credit is:

• $189 if you are single with no children; or
• $290 if you have a spouse, common-law partner, or at least one child.

The credit begins to phase out when adjusted family net income exceeds $50,833 for single individuals or $65,356 for families.

When is the September 2026 Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Coming?

The next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment is scheduled for September 10, 2026.

OTB payments are generally issued on the 10th day of each month. If the 10th falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the CRA usually sends the payment on the previous business day.

Your 2026 payments are calculated using information from your 2025 income tax return.

How Newcomers Can Qualify for the Ontario Trillium Benefit

File Your Income Tax Return

Filing a tax return is the most important step.

Even if you earned little or no income during 2025, you still need to file a return to receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit. The Ontario Trillium Benefit is determined using Form ON-BEN, which is filed along with your income tax return.

If you have not yet filed your 2025 return, the CRA cannot calculate your entitlement.

Many newcomers miss out on benefits because they assume they only need to file taxes if they owe money. In reality, filing a tax return is how the CRA determines eligibility for many federal and provincial benefit programs.

Complete Your Payment Information on CRA My Account

Although setting up direct deposit is optional, it is the quickest and most secure way to receive your payment (and any income tax refund you may be entitled to).

You can also register for a CRA My Account to:

• check your payment dates;
• track your benefit amounts;
• update your personal information; and
• view your notices from the CRA.

If you are not registered for direct deposit, the CRA will mail you a cheque instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Ontario Trillium Benefit

Do I Need to Apply Separately for Each Ontario Trillium Benefit Credit?

No. When you file your tax return and complete Form ON-BEN, the CRA automatically determines which Ontario credits you qualify for and combines them into one monthly Ontario Trillium Benefit payment.

Why Am I Not Receiving the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

There are several reasons why you may not have received your Ontario Trillium Benefit payment. One of the most common is that you haven’t filed your 2025 income tax return yet or your return is still being processed. If your tax return was assessed after June 19, 2026, your first payment will generally be issued four to eight weeks after you receive your notice of assessment, and it may include any missed payments.

Another common reason is that you didn’t complete Form ON-BEN when filing your tax return. While the Ontario Sales Tax Credit is calculated automatically, you must complete Form ON-BEN to claim the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit. If you forgot to report your eligible rent, property tax, or other required information, the CRA may not be able to calculate your entitlement.

You may also be ineligible if your adjusted family net income is above the program’s income thresholds, if your total annual entitlement is $2 or less, or if you are no longer an Ontario resident on the first day of the payment month.

If you believe you qualify but have not received your payment, you can check your benefit status through CRA My Account or contact the CRA for more information.