In July 2023, millions of Canadians received a one-time tax credit from the government as a means to provide financial relief to households affected by soaring grocery expenses. This ‘Grocery Rebate,’ unveiled in the 2023 Spring Federal Budget, responded to the noticeable uptick in grocery bills which reported a 9% year-over-year increase (Source: Statistics Canada, Apr 2023).
Although the year-over-year growth rate decreased to 3.4% as per the recent Consumer Price Index report (Source: Statistics Canada, Jan 2024), grocery prices continue to stay high. Amidst the escalating costs, the much-anticipated Canada Grocery Rebate 2024 aims to ease the burden somewhat on Canadian families and individuals.
Here’s everything you need to know regarding the eligibility, amount, and payment dates.
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Who is Eligible for the Canada Grocery Rebate 2024?
As per the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), an estimated 11 million Canadians were eligible for this benefit in 2023. The grocery rebate applies to individuals who meet either of the following criteria:
- Household income of $38,000 or less
- Individual income of $32,000 or less
Is Application Required for the 2024 Grocery Rebate?
No, application is not necessary. According to official channels, eligibility is likely to be determined by having filed a tax return for the 2022 base year, regardless of whether any income was reported.
Those eligible for the GST/HST credit in January 2024 should automatically receive the payment either via direct deposit or by mail in the form of a cheque. It will coincide with the next quarterly GST/HST credit payment.
However, even if you weren’t eligible for the credit, you might still qualify for the grocery rebate, as eligibility is determined on your 2022 tax return. In contrast, the GST/HST credit relies on your 2023 tax returns.
FAQ: I didn’t receive my grocery rebate in 2023. Am I eligible to receive this year’s rebate?
If you didn’t receive your grocery rebate in 2023, eligibility hinges on various factors. For one, if your income exceeds the threshold, you may be ineligible to receive the rebate.
However, assuming you meet the eligibility criteria, the timing of your tax filing plays a crucial role. Failure to file tax returns by the deadline could delay both your GST/HST credit and your grocery rebate. According to the CRA, it might take up to ten working days to process and distribute the debate. Moreover, if you didn’t file your 2022 income tax, you won’t get your 2024 grocery rebate either.
In essence, if you fail to file your income tax for the previous year, file late, or your income exceeds the eligibility threshold, you might not receive the one-time grocery rebate for this year.
| PSA: Scammers are using the grocery rebate initiative to defraud Canadians, often through texts and emails pretending to be from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). They may include links or forms you should avoid clicking on. Remember, the CRA never communicates this way. |
What is the Amount of the 2024 Grocery Rebate?
The amount you receive for the grocery rebate is contingent upon your marital status, whether you have children and how many of them you have.
If you are married or in a common-law partnership, the rebate amounts are likely to be in the same ballpark as in 2023, which were:
- No Children: $300
- 1 Child: $380
- 2 Children: $460
- 3 Children: $540
- 4 Children: $620
Similarly, for single individuals, the rebate amounts are estimated to be around:
- No Children: $230
- 1 Child: $380
- 2 Children: $460
- 3 Children: $540
- 4 Children: $620
FAQ: Why do the grocery rebate amounts differ among recipients?
The grocery rebate amount is approximated by either your household or individual income. Additionally, how many children you have plays a significant role in the calculation. The more children you have, the higher your rebate amount (up to $80 for each child).
In 2023, the maximum rebate amount an individual could receive was $620, provided they are single, in a common-law partnership, or married, and are raising four children. Here’s the calculation sheet for last year’s grocery rebate.
Payment Date for the Canada Grocery Rebate 2024
In 2023, the Grocery Rebate was issued within the first week of July to most applicants alongside the quarterly GST/HST credit. At the time of writing, the exact payment date for the 2024 Grocery Rebate remains unannounced by the CRA.
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Bottom Line
Canadian families and individuals with modest to low incomes are supposed to receive supplemental payments from the Grocery Rebate 2024 program, which should help them cope with food inflation.
As a result, many are left wondering when the one-time payment will be distributed. There are very few details to go around with the grocery rebate as of now, but things are expected to be clear once the Minister of Finance unveils Budget 2024 in the House of Commons on April 16, 2024, around 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For more details on eligibility, calculation of the rebate amount, and payment schedules, applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the official Government of Canada website (canada.ca) or consult with a financial advisor.