July is here — and with it comes a new benefit year and a fresh round of government benefits for folks living in Ontario.
If you’re watching your expenses climb with summer in full swing, the Ontario Trillium Benefit might give your bank account a bit of breathing room this month. Whether you’re dealing with rising rent, high energy bills or everyday costs, this monthly benefit is meant to help lower- and middle-income households keep up.
Though it’s funded by the Ontario government, these government payments are actually sent out by the Canada Revenue Agency — so if you see a deposit from them, it could be this.
With the new benefit year kicking off in July, your OTB payment might look different than before — or you might even qualify for the first time. That’s because your eligibility and payment amount are now based on your 2024 tax return instead of the previous year’s, and payment amounts have gotten a boost.
The OTB is just one of several government payments getting a refresh this month. Many income-tested benefits — like the GST/HST Credit and the Canada Child Benefit — are updated each July to reflect inflation. This year, most are increasing by about 2.7%, and changes to your income or family situation could lead to even bigger adjustments.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Ontario Trillium Benefit for July 2025 — including who qualifies, how much you could get and the OTB payment dates for this year.
What is the OTB?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a monthly, tax-free payment that helps eligible residents in Ontario cover some of their living costs. It’s meant to ease the burden of things like energy bills, property taxes and sales tax on everyday purchases.
The OTB combines three separate credits into one: the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC), the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC). If you qualify for any of these, you’ll receive the OTB.
Although the program is funded by the Ontario government, payments are handled by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). July marks the start of a new benefit year, and your eligibility and payment amount are now based on your 2024 tax return.
More about the Ontario Trillium Benefit
Who qualifies for the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
To qualify for the OTB in 2025, you need to have filed your 2024 tax return and meet the general eligibility criteria for at least one of the three credits included in the benefit. That means you must be a resident of Ontario and be at least 18 years old, have (or have had) a spouse or common-law partner, or be a parent who lives (or previously lived) with your child.
The Ontario Sales Tax Credit only requires that you meet those basic conditions (although the age minimum is slightly higher at 19) — no other eligibility factors apply.
The other two credits have a few more requirements.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit — At some point in 2024, you must have either:
- paid property tax or rent (where your landlord was responsible for property tax) for your principal residence,
- paid home energy costs while living on a reserve,
- lived in a public or non-profit long-term care home and paid accommodation costs, or
- lived in a college, university or private school residence.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit — Northern Ontarians living in Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming can receive this credit if, in 2024, they either:
- paid property tax or rent for their principal residence,
- paid home energy costs on a reserve, or
- paid for accommodation in a public or non-profit long-term care home.
In all cases, you must also be living in Ontario (or Northern Ontario, for the NOEC) on the first day of the month to receive that month’s payment. And if you have a spouse or common-law partner, both of you must file your 2024 taxes — the benefit is calculated based on your combined income.
How much is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The total amount you can get from the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) depends on which of the three credits you qualify for — and how much support you’re eligible for under each one. Factors like your income, age, family situation and where you live all play a role.
Here are the maximum amounts for the 2025 benefit year:
- OSTC: Up to $371 per household member (adults and children). This amount starts to decrease if your net income is over $28,506 (for singles) or $35,632 (for couples and single parents).
- OEPTC: Up to $1,283 if you’re between 18 and 64, or up to $1,461 if you’re 65 or older. This starts to decrease if your household income is over $28,506 (for singles), $35,632 (for couples, single parents and single seniors) or $42,758 (for senior families).
- NOEC: Up to $185 for single individuals with no children, or up to $285 for couples and single parents. This credit starts to phase out once your net income goes above $49,885 (for individuals) or $64,138 (for families)
Once the CRA calculates your total entitlement, your benefit is typically split into 12 monthly payments. That means a single person who’s eligible for all three credits could get up to $168.08 per month, and a family of four could get up to $269.16.
However, if your total for the year is $360 or less, you’ll receive the whole thing as a one-time lump sum this month. You can also choose to receive the full amount in a single annual payment. In that case though, you’ll have to wait until the end of the benefit year (June 2026) to receive it.
For an estimate tailored to your situation, you can log into your CRA My Account or use the online benefits calculator.
How to apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit
To get the OTB for 2025, you (and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one) need to file your 2024 income tax return — even if you didn’t earn any income last year. Your eligibility is based entirely on that return.
For the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, there’s nothing extra to do beyond that. The CRA will automatically check if you qualify when assessing your tax return. If you’re in a couple, the full OSTC for your family is usually paid to the person whose return is processed first — unless one of you is 64 or older, in which case it generally goes to the older partner.
If you’re applying for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit or the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, you’ll need to complete Form ON-BEN as part of your tax return. This form is included in Ontario’s tax package, and most tax software will guide you through it automatically.
After you file, the CRA will send you a notice telling you how much you’re entitled to. To keep receiving the OTB in future years, just make sure to file your taxes every year.
If you’re turning 18 during the current benefit year (that is, before June 1, 2026), you should still apply. If you’re eligible, payments will start the month after your 18th birthday.
More about applying for the OTB
Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit taxable?
No, OTB payments are not considered taxable income. The benefit is meant to help offset certain taxes you’ve already paid throughout the year. You don’t have to report OTB payments on your tax return, and they won’t impact your tax refund or how much you owe.
More about government benefits and your taxes
When is the Ontario Trillium Benefit paid?
In general, OTB payments are issued on the 10th of each month. If the 10th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment will arrive on the previous business day instead.
The first OTB payment for the 2025 benefit year is coming next week on Thursday, July 10.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the monthly payments this year:
- Friday, August 8
- Wednesday, September 10
- Friday, October 10
- Monday, November 10
- Wednesday, December 10
Keep in mind, not everyone gets monthly payments. If your total OTB entitlement for the benefit year is $360 or less, the CRA will issue it as a one-time lump sum instead of monthly instalments. That lump sum payment is being deposited this month.
On the other hand, if your annual benefit is more than $360 but you opted for a single lump-sum payment anyway, it will be sent out next June.
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