Key Takeaway Box
- The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment issued by the CRA to provide financial support to low- and modest-income Canadians and families who faced higher grocery costs due to the pandemic.
- The Grocery Rebate for 2024 will be issued on July 5, 2024, alongside the July 2024 quarterly GST/HST credit payment¹². The Grocery Rebate will be equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount you received for January 2024¹².
- To get the Grocery Rebate, you need to file a tax return for 2022, even if you have no income to report for that year. You also need to meet the eligibility criteria for the GST/HST credit for January 2024.
- The maximum payment amount for the Grocery Rebate for 2024 will be up to $628 for eligible couples with four children, up to $234 for single Canadians without children, and an extra $225 for seniors, on average³.
- You can check the status of your Grocery Rebate payment by logging into your CRA My Account or calling 1-800-387-1193.
If you are one of the 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families who faced higher grocery costs due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for a one-time Grocery Rebate from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This Rebate was introduced as part of Budget 2023 to provide targeted inflation relief for those who need it most¹².
In this article, we will guide you through the necessary steps to claim your Grocery Rebate for 2024, as well as the procedures, documentation, and compliance requirements involved. We will also answer some of the frequently asked questions about this Rebate, and provide you with some useful resources to help you navigate the CRA’s processes with ease.
What is the Grocery Rebate and how much can you get?
The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment that will be issued on July 5, 2024, alongside the July 2024 quarterly GST/HST credit payment¹². The Grocery Rebate will be equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount you received for January 2024¹². The GST/HST credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST that they pay.
The amount of the Grocery Rebate you will receive depends on your family situation in January 2024 and your 2022 adjusted family net income. You could receive a maximum payment of up to:
| Family situation | Maximum payment amount |
|---|---|
| Single | $234 (no children) |
| $387 (with 1 child) | |
| $467 (with 2 children) | |
| $548 (with 3 children) | |
| $628 (with 4 children) | |
| Married or common-law | $306 (no children) |
| $387 (with 1 child) | |
| $467 (with 2 children) | |
| $548 (with 3 children) | |
| $628 (with 4 children) |
If you received your GST/HST credit payment as a lump sum in July 2023, you would still benefit from the Grocery Rebate¹². However, if you had any outstanding balances with the CRA, your Grocery Rebate payment may be applied to pay off your debt¹².
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- What Expenses Can You Deduct from Your Rental Income? (Updated 2024)
- How to Get Your EITC Refund Faster in 2024
- CPP, RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, AMT and OAS Changes: What You Need to Know for 2024
- What Happens to Your CPP and OAS Benefits When Your Spouse Dies?
- How to Get the Grocery Rebate Payments in Canada in January 2024
How to qualify for the Grocery Rebate?
To qualify for the Grocery Rebate, you need to meet two main criteria:
- You need to file a tax return for 2022, even if you have no income to report for that year. This is because the CRA uses the information from your tax return to determine your eligibility and payment amount for the Grocery Rebate. If you have not filed your 2022 tax return yet, you should do so as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this Rebate.
- You need to be entitled to receive the GST/HST credit for January 2024¹². This means that you and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must meet the eligibility criteria for the GST/HST credit for the 2022 base year. These criteria include:
- Being a resident of Canada for income tax purposes⁴.
- Being 19 years of age or older, or having (or previously had) a spouse or common-law partner, or being a parent and living with your child⁴.
- Having a valid social insurance number (SIN)⁴.
- Having an adjusted family net income below the income threshold for your family size.
You can use the calculation sheet provided by the CRA to estimate your Grocery Rebate payment amount based on your family situation and income.
How to claim your Grocery Rebate?
If you meet the eligibility criteria for the Grocery Rebate, you do not need to apply for it separately. The CRA will automatically issue the payment to you on July 5, 2024, along with your GST/HST credit payment¹². You will receive the payment by direct deposit or cheque, depending on how you receive your GST/HST credit payment¹².
You can check the status of your Grocery Rebate payment by logging into your CRA My Account or calling 1-800-387-1193¹². You can also find your Notice of (Re)determination in your CRA My Account, which will show you how much you were entitled to receive and when, and any changes to your payments¹².
Frequently asked questions about the Grocery Rebate
Q: What if I did not receive the Grocery Rebate or received less than I expected?
A: If you did not receive the Grocery Rebate or received less than you expected, there may be several reasons for that, such as:
You did not file your 2022 tax return or file it late.
You were not entitled to receive the GST/HST credit for January 2024.
Your family situation or income changed since January 2024.
Your payment was applied to pay off your outstanding balance with the CRA.
If you think you should have received the Grocery Rebate or received more than you did, you can contact the CRA at 1-800-387-1193 to verify your eligibility and payment amount. You can also request a reassessment of your GST/HST credit and Grocery Rebate entitlement by sending a letter or a completed Form RC151, GST/HST Credit Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada, for the year that you want reassessed to your tax centre.
Q: Is the Grocery Rebate taxable?
A: No, the Grocery Rebate is not taxable and you do not have to report it as income on your tax return.
Q: Will the Grocery Rebate affect my eligibility or the amount for other benefits and credits?
A: No, the Grocery Rebate will not affect your eligibility or amount for other benefits and credits, such as the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit, or the Old Age Security pension.
Conclusion
The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment that provides financial support to low- and modest-income Canadians and families who faced higher grocery costs due to the pandemic. To get the Grocery Rebate for 2024, you need to file a tax return for 2022 and be entitled to receive the GST/HST credit for January 2024. The CRA will automatically issue the payment to you on July 5, 2024, along with your GST/HST credit payment. You can check the status of your payment by logging into your CRA My Account or calling 1-800-387-1193.
We hope this article has helped you understand the steps and requirements to claim your Grocery Rebate for 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the CRA or visit their website for more information. You can also check out our other articles on HustleHub, where we share tips and insights on how to make the most of your money and time. Remember, you are not alone in this. We are here to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of life as a hustler. 💯
Source: (1) CRA Grocery Rebate 2024 – When can the payment be released?. https://www.gmrit.org/cra-grocery-rebate/. (2) Grocery Rebate – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/goods-services-tax-harmonized-sales-tax-gst-hst-credit/grocery-rebate.html. (3) Canada Grocery Rebate 2024: How Much Will You Recieve?. https://www.savvynewcanadians.com/canada-grocery-rebate/. (4) How to Get the Grocery Rebate Payments in Canada in January 2024. https://hustlehub.ca/how-to-get-the-grocery-rebate-payments-in-canada/. (5) Grocery Rebate – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/goods-services-tax-harmonized-sales-tax-gst-hst-credit/grocery-rebate.html.
