🍁 civid v1

Status and purpose

• The Act received royal assent on February 12, 2026.
• It amends the Income Tax Act to increase the maximum annual GST/HST credit amounts by 50% for the 2025–26 benefit year, and by 25% for five years beginning in 2026–27.

Income Tax Act changes

• The Act provides an additional amount for January 2026, calculated using the 2024 taxation year. It also sets out quarterly amounts from July 2026 through April 2031.
• The amounts affect eligible individuals who file an income tax return. Calculations depend on income, adjusted income, whether the individual has a qualified relation, and the number of qualified dependants. Special calculations apply to shared-custody parents.
• For the five-year period, the formula’s annual base amounts are $445 for an individual, potentially another $445 for a qualified relation or certain dependants, and $234 for each other qualified dependant. Other amounts can apply to individuals without a qualified relation. The formula reduces the amount by 5% of adjusted income above $46,432; one-quarter of the resulting amount is used for each specified payment month.
• Dollar amounts in the five-year formula are subject to the Act’s indexing provision for taxation years beginning after 2026.
• The Act extends existing advance-payment, assessment, redetermination and overpayment-related provisions to the new amounts. For the specified months from July 2026 to April 2031, the ordinary GST credit amount under subsection 122.5(3) is deemed to be nil.

Coordinating amendments

• If Bill C-15, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1, receives royal assent, coordinating amendments adjust Income Tax Act assessment and redetermination provisions to account for changes in both Acts.

Costs

• The text recommends an appropriation of public revenue but does not state a total cost.