Ontario Trillium Benefit 2026 — Amounts, Payment Dates & Eligibility

By WealthVieu · Updated

The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a combined monthly payment that delivers three Ontario tax credits to eligible residents: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC), the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC), and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC). For 2025–2026, the maximum combined benefit is approximately $1,421 per year for eligible households — paid monthly in amounts of up to $118/month. Ontario residents claim the OTB automatically on their annual T1 income tax return.

Quick answer: If you live in Ontario, pay rent or property tax, and have low-to-moderate income, you likely qualify for the Ontario Trillium Benefit. Claim it by completing the ON-BEN form with your T1 return. Payments arrive on or around the 10th of each month.

Ontario Trillium Benefit: Three Credits Combined

1. Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)

The OSTC offsets the HST paid by lower-income Ontario residents.

Filing Status Maximum OSTC (2025/26)
Single adult Up to $345
Spouse/common-law partner Up to $345
Each dependant under 19 Up to $345

The OSTC phases out at 4% of adjusted family net income above $27,729 (2024 threshold, adjusted annually).

2. Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)

The OEPTC helps offset property taxes and home heating costs. The amount depends on whether you are a homeowner or a renter, and your age.

Household Type Maximum OEPTC (2025/26)
Adults 18–64 (renters) Up to $1,095
Seniors 65+ (renters) Up to $1,247
Adults 18–64 (on-reserve or long-term care) Up to $249
Seniors 65+ (on-reserve or long-term care) Up to $249

Homeowners may also qualify for the OEPTC based on property taxes paid — amounts vary by income.

The OEPTC phases out at 2% of adjusted family net income above $27,729 (base threshold).

3. Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

The NOEC is available only to residents of northern Ontario (Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Nipissing, Muskoka, Kenora, Rainy River, and specific districts). It offsets higher energy costs in northern communities.

Filing Status Maximum NOEC (2025/26)
Single adult Up to $173
Family (spouse/children) Up to $265

Total Maximum Ontario Trillium Benefit

Combining all three components, a single renter in northern Ontario with income below the threshold could receive approximately:

Credit Maximum
OSTC $345
OEPTC (renter, under 65) $1,095
NOEC $173
Total $1,613

For a single non-northern renter: $345 + $1,095 = $1,440. For a single non-northern homeowner (with moderate property taxes): approximately $345 + varying OEPTC = typically $400–$900 depending on income and property tax paid.

Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Schedule 2026

Payments arrive on or around the 10th of each month. For 2026:

Month Payment Date
January 2026 January 10
February 2026 February 10
March 2026 March 10
April 2026 April 10
May 2026 May 9 (Friday)
June 2026 June 10
July 2026 July 10
August 2026 August 8 (Friday)
September 2026 September 10
October 2026 October 10
November 2026 November 10
December 2026 December 10

Lump sum option: If your calculated annual OTB is $360 or less, the CRA pays the full amount as a single lump sum in July rather than in monthly instalments. You can choose to receive monthly payments instead by making a request through My CRA Account.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit, you must:

  1. Be a resident of Ontario on December 31 of the tax year
  2. File your Ontario T1 income tax return for the applicable year
  3. Meet the income thresholds for at least one of the three credits
  4. Meet credit-specific requirements:
    • OSTC: Be 19+ years old, or have a spouse, or be a parent
    • OEPTC: Pay rent or property tax in Ontario, and live in a principal residence (not a student residence, care home, or accommodation where rent includes board)
    • NOEC: Live in a qualifying northern Ontario location

How to Claim the OTB on Your Tax Return

  1. Complete Form ON-BEN (Application for the 2025 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the 2025 Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant)
  2. Report:
    • Total rent paid in Ontario for the year (if a renter)
    • Total property taxes paid (if a homeowner — use the municipal tax bill)
    • Energy costs paid if living on a reserve or in a public long-term care home
    • Whether you live in Northern Ontario
  3. Submit with your T1 return. If you used tax software (TurboTax, SimpleTax, H&R Block), ON-BEN is completed automatically when you answer the provincial questions.

OTB and Other Ontario/Federal Benefits

Ontario residents may receive OTB alongside:

Benefit Program
GST/HST Credit Federal — paid quarterly
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Federal — paid monthly
Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) Federal — paid quarterly in advance
Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant Also claimed on ON-BEN
Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) For Ontario seniors receiving GIS

What If You Missed a Prior Year?

If you were eligible for the OTB in a prior year but did not claim it, file an amended T1 return (T1-ADJ) for the relevant year. The CRA can reassess up to 10 years in the past. You will receive any retroactive payment, though it will be paid as a lump sum rather than monthly instalments.

The Ontario Trillium Benefit is one of the most underused provincial benefits — many eligible Ontarians do not realise they qualify simply by filing their tax return and completing the ON-BEN form. If you rent and have modest income, the OTB can deliver over $100 per month toward energy and living costs.

WealthVieu
Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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