Key Takeaways
- The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment from the federal government that provides targeted inflation relief to low- and modest-income Canadians and families.
- The Grocery Rebate was issued on July 5, 2023, along with the quarterly GST/HST credit payment.
- To be eligible for the Grocery Rebate, you must have qualified for the GST/HST credit based on your 2021 tax return.
- The amount of the Grocery Rebate depends on your family situation and income in 2021. It is double the amount of your GST/HST credit payment from January 2023.
- If you missed the Grocery Rebate or have any questions or issues, you can contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for assistance.
- The Grocery Rebate is expected to be repeated in 2024, with the payment date set for July 2024. The eligibility and amount will be based on your 2022 tax return and your GST/HST credit payment from January 2024.
What is the Grocery Rebate and why was it introduced?
If you are a Canadian who shops for groceries, you may have noticed that food prices have been rising in the past year. According to Statistics Canada, the average annual food inflation rate in 2022 was 4.4%, which is higher than the overall inflation rate of 3.4%. This means that food costs have increased faster than other goods and services.
To help Canadians cope with the rising cost of living, the federal government announced the Grocery Rebate in Budget 2023. The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment that provides targeted inflation relief to low- and modest-income Canadians and families who need it most. It is designed to offset some of the increased expenses for food and other essentials.
The Grocery Rebate is part of the government’s plan to support Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. It is also aligned with the government’s commitment to reduce poverty and inequality, and to ensure that everyone has access to healthy and affordable food.
How do you qualify for the Grocery Rebate?
To qualify for the Grocery Rebate, you must have been eligible for the GST/HST credit based on your 2021 tax return. The GST/HST credit is a quarterly payment that helps people with lower incomes offset some of the GST or HST they pay on goods and services.
The eligibility criteria for the GST/HST credit are:
- You are a Canadian resident for income tax purposes.
- You are 19 years of age or older, or you have (or previously had) a spouse or common-law partner, or you are (or previously were) a parent and live (or previously lived) with your child.
- You are not claimed as a dependant by someone else.
To receive the GST/HST credit, you need to file a tax return every year, even if you have no income to report. The CRA uses the information from your tax return to calculate your GST/HST credit entitlement.
If you did not file a 2021 tax return, you can still do so to see if you qualify for the Grocery Rebate (and the GST/HST credit for 2021). However, you may not receive the payment until after you file your return and the CRA processes it.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- What Expenses Can You Deduct from Your Rental Income? (Updated 2024)
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- CPP, RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, AMT and OAS Changes: What You Need to Know for 2024
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- How to Get the Grocery Rebate Payments in Canada in January 2024
How much is the Grocery Rebate and when was it issued?
The Grocery Rebate was issued on July 5, 2023, along with the quarterly GST/HST credit payment. The Grocery Rebate was double the amount of your GST/HST credit payment from January 2023.
The amount of the Grocery Rebate depends on your family situation and income in 2021. It is calculated based on your adjusted family net income, which is your net income plus your spouse’s or common-law partner’s net income, minus any universal child care benefit (UCCB) and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income you or your spouse or common-law partner received.
Family situation | Maximum amount |
---|---|
Single (no children) | $234 |
Single (with 1 child) | $387 |
Single (with 2 children) | $467 |
Single (with 3 children) | $548 |
Single (with 4 children) | $628 |
Married or common-law (no children) | $306 |
Married or common-law (with 1 child) | $387 |
Married or common-law (with 2 children) | $467 |
Married or common-law (with 3 children) | $548 |
Married or common-law (with 4 children) | $628 |
The CRA sent you a Notice of (Re)determination that shows the amount of the Grocery Rebate you were entitled to receive and the details of how it was calculated. You can also find your notice online by logging into your CRA My Account.
How do you receive the Grocery Rebate?
The Grocery Rebate was delivered to you by direct deposit or cheque through the CRA. If you are signed up for direct deposit, you should have received the payment in your bank account on July 5, 2023. If you are not signed up for direct deposit, you should have received a cheque in the mail within 10 business days.
If you have not received the Grocery Rebate or have any questions or issues, you can contact the CRA for assistance. You can call 1-800-387-1193 for general inquiries, or 1-888-863-8662 for benefit debt. You can also visit the CRA website for more information.
How can you use the Grocery Rebate wisely and responsibly?
The Grocery Rebate is meant to help you with your increased expenses for food and other essentials. However, how you use the money is ultimately up to you. You can spend it, save it, invest it, or donate it to a cause you care about.
Whatever you decide to do with the Grocery Rebate, here are some tips to help you use it wisely and responsibly:
- Make a budget and track your spending. A budget is a plan that shows how much money you have and how you will spend it. It can help you manage your money better and achieve your financial goals. You can use a budgeting app, a spreadsheet, or a pen and paper to create and track your budget.
- Prioritize your needs over your wants. Needs are things that are essential for your survival and well-being, such as food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education. Wants are things that are nice to have, but not necessary, such as entertainment, hobbies, travel, and luxury items. When you have limited money, you should focus on paying for your needs first, and then use the leftover money for your wants.
- Save for emergencies and long-term goals. Emergencies are unexpected events that require immediate action and money, such as a car breakdown, a medical emergency, or a job loss. Long-term goals are things that you want to achieve in the future, such as buying a home, starting a business, or retiring. You should have some money set aside for emergencies and long-term goals, so that you are prepared for the unexpected and can achieve your dreams.
- Pay off high-interest debt. Debt is money that you owe to someone else, such as a credit card, a loan, or a mortgage. Debt can be useful when used wisely, but it can also be costly and stressful when it accumulates. High-interest debt is debt that charges a high rate of interest, such as a payday loan, a cash advance, or a store card. High-interest debt can quickly grow and eat up your income, leaving you with less money for other things. You should try to pay off high-interest debt as soon as possible, or at least make the minimum payments on time to avoid fees and penalties.
- Seek professional advice if you need help. Managing money can be challenging, especially if you have a lot of debt, a low income, or a complex financial situation. If you need help with your money, you can seek professional advice from a financial planner, a credit counsellor, or a tax expert. They can help you create a realistic and personalized plan that suits your needs and goals. You can also find free or low-cost financial education and counselling services in your community or online.
What’s new for the Grocery Rebate in 2024?
According to the latest information from the CRA¹, the Grocery Rebate is expected to be repeated in 2024, with the payment date set for July 2024. The eligibility and amount of the Grocery Rebate will be based on your 2022 tax return and your GST/HST credit payment from January 2024.
The CRA states that the Grocery Rebate for 2024 will provide an additional $225 to $628 to eligible Canadians, depending on their family situation and income in 2022. The Grocery Rebate for 2024 will be equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount you will receive for January 2024.
To qualify for the Grocery Rebate for 2024, you must file a tax return for 2022 and be eligible for the GST/HST credit for January 2024. The CRA will use the information from your 2022 tax return to calculate your Grocery Rebate entitlement and send you a Notice of (Re)determination in June 2024.
The Grocery Rebate for 2024 will be issued on July 5, 2024, along with the quarterly GST/HST credit payment. The Grocery Rebate for 2024 will be delivered to you by direct deposit or cheque through the CRA. If you have not received the Grocery Rebate for 2024 or have any questions or issues, you can contact the CRA for assistance.
Conclusion
The Grocery Rebate is a one-time payment from the federal government that provides targeted inflation relief to low- and modest-income Canadians and families. It is designed to help you with your increased expenses for food and other essentials. To qualify for the Grocery Rebate, you must have been eligible for the GST/HST credit based on your 2021 tax return. The amount of the Grocery Rebate depends on your family situation and income in 2021. It is double the amount of your GST/HST credit payment from January 2023. The Grocery Rebate was issued on July 5, 2023, by direct deposit or cheque through the CRA. If you have not received the Grocery Rebate or have any questions or issues, you can contact the CRA for assistance. How you use the Grocery Rebate is up to you, but you should use it wisely and responsibly. You can make a budget, prioritize your needs, save for emergencies and goals, pay off high-interest debt, and seek professional advice if you need help.
The Grocery Rebate is expected to be repeated in 2024, with the payment date set for July 2024. The eligibility and amount will be based on your 2022 tax return and your GST/HST credit payment from January 2024.
We hope this article has helped you understand the Grocery Rebate and how to make the most of it. If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and family who may also benefit from it. And don’t forget to check out our website, HustleHub, for more tips and resources on how to hustle smart and live well in Canada. Thank you for reading and happy hustling!
Source: (1) Canada Grocery Rebate 2024 – Eligibility, Payment Amount & Date. https://ncblpc.org/canada-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.