9 ways Canadians can get money from Ottawa as tax deadline looms

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As a part of the transition to the new CGEB, an additional one-time GST/HST credit top-up payment will be provided to individuals who were entitled to receive the GST/HST credit in January 2026, and will be issued starting June 5, 2026.

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Eligibility is based on income using 2024 and 2025 tax returns, and the CRA will automatically deposit the funds.

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Home accessibility credit

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The Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) is designed to help homeowners cover the costs of renovations that make their home more accessible and safer.

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Claimants must be eligible for the disability tax credit or over the age of 65 (or have claimed the Canada caregiver credit), and renovations must have been made to a home they own.

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Up to $20,000 per year can be claimed by completing the chart for line 31285 using the Federal Worksheet, then entering the result on line 31285 of a federal tax return.

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Canada training credit

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Eligible Canadians can claim the Canada training credit (CTC) to help with the cost of tuition and other fees for courses taken throughout the year.

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Individuals must be between the ages of 26 and 66, and fees must have been paid to an eligible educational institution for courses taken in the year that the credit is being claimed for, or to certain bodies for an occupational, trade or professional examination.

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The amount that can be claimed is whichever is less out of the Canada training credit limit (CTCL) for the year (which is shown on the latest notice of assessment or reassessment) or 50 per cent of the eligible tuition/fees paid.

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The CTC is claimed on line 45350 of the income tax and benefit return.

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Canada Revenue Agency income tax forms and statements. Photo by Getty Images

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Canada workers benefit

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The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit to help individuals and families who are working and earning a low income.

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Individuals are eligible if their net income is below the level set for their province or territory of residence. They may also be eligible for the disability supplement part of the CWB if they are receiving the disability tax credit, too.

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The CRA website states that the maximum basic amount for the CWB for the 2025 tax year is $1,633 for single individuals or $2,813 for families. The maximum amount for the disability supplement is $843 for single individuals or $843 for families.

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The CWB can be claimed by filing a tax return and filling out Schedule 6, and the advanced payments are issued on July 12, October 11 and January 10.

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First-time home buyers’ rebate

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The first-time home buyers’ (FTHB) GST/HST rebate eliminates the GST (or federal part of the HST) for first-time home buyers on a new home valued up to $1 million.

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For homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million, the maximum rebate is gradually reduced (at or above $1.5 million, there is no rebate).

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The home must be newly built or substantially renovated and for use as the individual’s primary place of residence.

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Individuals who built or substantially renovated the house, or hired someone else to do the work, can file a claim on their CRA account.

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For homeowners who purchased the home from a builder, submitting a claim depends on whether they bought or lease the land, too, and if the builder pays or credits the rebate to them. Detailed guidance for each situation can be found on the CRA website.

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Unclaimed cheques

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As of October 2025, the CRA says it’s been sitting on a pile of more than 10 million uncashed cheques with an average value of about $170 each.

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The CRA has a web page devoted to uncashed cheques. The simplest way to find out if you are owed money is to log into your account and look for the “uncashed cheques” link on the overview page.

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