Last updated: October 8, 2026

Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Goes Out Today (October 9, 2026)

Why the October payment is early

The CRA normally issues the OTB on the 10th of each month. When the 10th falls on a weekend or a holiday, the payment moves to the last business day before it. October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so the October payment is issued on Friday, October 9. The remaining 2026 payment dates are November 10 and December 10.

What the Ontario Trillium Benefit is

The OTB is a tax-free monthly payment that combines three Ontario credits into a single deposit, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of the Ontario government:

• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) — helps with property tax and the sales tax on energy costs
• Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) — helps with the sales tax you pay on everyday purchases
• Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) — extra help with higher home energy costs in Northern Ontario

You only need to qualify for one of the three credits to receive an OTB payment. Each credit is assessed separately, so two neighbours can receive very different amounts.

How much is the October 9 payment?

Your October payment is one-twelfth of your total annual entitlement for the 2026–27 benefit year, based on your 2025 tax return. The maximum annual amounts for the 2026 benefit year are:

All three credits are income-tested and are reduced as family income rises above set thresholds, so most recipients get less than the maximum. Your actual amount also depends on your age, family size, where you live, and — for the OEPTC and NOEC — the rent, property tax, or energy costs you reported.

Worked example: A single renter under 65 in Toronto who qualifies for the full OSTC and OEPTC could receive up to $378 + $1,307 = $1,685 per year, or about $140 per month. A single senior in Northern Ontario who qualifies for all three credits at the maximum could receive up to $378 + $1,488 + $189 = $2,055 per year.

Who gets paid on October 9 — and who does not

You should receive the October payment if:

• You qualified for at least one of the three credits on your 2025 return, and
• Your total annual entitlement is more than $500, and you did not choose the single-payment option, and
• The CRA assessed your 2025 return in time (returns assessed later start payments 4 to 8 weeks after assessment, with missed months paid retroactively).

You will not see an October payment if:

• Your total annual entitlement was $500 or less — for the 2026 benefit year, amounts of $500 or less are paid as a single payment in July 2026, not monthly. (This threshold rose from $360 in earlier years.)
• You chose on Form ON-BEN to wait and receive your whole entitlement as one payment on June 10, 2027.
• Your 2025 return has not been filed or assessed yet.
• You moved out of Ontario (OEPTC/NOEC eligibility depends on where you live on the 1st of each month; the NOEC stops if you move from Northern to Southern Ontario).

How to apply — there is no separate OTB application

You apply for the OTB by filing your personal income tax return every year, even if you have no income to report:

• The OSTC is calculated automatically from your return.
• The OEPTC and NOEC require you to complete Form ON-BEN with your return, reporting the rent, property tax, or home energy costs you paid in 2025. If you skip the ON-BEN, the CRA cannot pay those two credits — this is the most common reason an OTB payment is smaller than expected.
• Only one partner in a couple completes the ON-BEN for the OEPTC/NOEC; the OSTC is paid to the partner whose return is assessed first.
• If you turn 18 before June 1, 2027, file a 2025 return so you can be considered — payments start the month after your 18th birthday if you qualify.

If your October 9 payment is missing

1. Wait a few business days if you are paid by cheque rather than direct deposit.
2. Check CRA My Account for your assessed OTB entitlement and payment status.
3. Confirm the CRA has your current address, marital status, and direct-deposit details — stale banking or address information is a common cause of delays.
4. Confirm your 2025 return was filed and that Form ON-BEN was included if you expected the OEPTC or NOEC.
5. If you qualify but have not received a payment by the 24th of the month, contact the CRA (benefit enquiries: 1-877-627-6645).

Frequently asked questions

When is the Ontario Trillium Benefit paid in October 2026?
On Friday, October 9, 2026, because October 10 falls on a Saturday. OTB payments are normally issued on the 10th of each month.

What does “Canada PRO” mean on my bank statement?
It is the label most banks use for CRA-administered provincial benefit payments, including the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

Why did I get one payment in July instead of monthly payments?
For the 2026 benefit year, if your total annual OTB entitlement is $500 or less, the CRA pays it as a single payment in July 2026 rather than in monthly instalments.

Can I choose to get my OTB once a year instead of monthly?
Yes. If your entitlement is more than $500, you can choose on Form ON-BEN to receive the full amount as a single payment in June 2027 instead of monthly payments. The total is the same either way.

Do I have to apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit every year?
Yes. Eligibility is recalculated each benefit year from your latest tax return. File your return every year, and include Form ON-BEN if you want the energy and property tax credits assessed.

Which tax return is the October 2026 payment based on?
Your 2025 income tax and benefit return. Payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are all based on the 2025 return.

What are the next OTB payment dates after October?
November 10, 2026 and December 10, 2026; monthly payments then continue through June 2027.

Sources

• Ontario Trillium Benefit — ontario.ca (2026 benefit year amounts, eligibility, and payment rules; page updated April 27, 2026)
• Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — canada.ca (Ontario Trillium Benefit: October 9, 2026)