If you live in Ontario and pay rent, property tax, or home energy bills, there’s a good chance the province already owes you money through a program called the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB). It’s one of the most overlooked credits in Canada simply because it isn’t a single check — it’s three credits rolled into one, and most people only ever hear about one piece of it.
Here’s exactly what the OTB pays in 2026-27, who qualifies, and how to make sure the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) actually calculates it for you.
1. What Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit isn’t a stand-alone credit — it’s the CRA’s way of bundling three separate Ontario tax credits into one combined payment so residents don’t have to track three different programs:
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
You don’t apply for the OTB by name. Instead, the CRA looks at your annual tax return and figures out which of the three credits you qualify for, then adds them together into one benefit.
2. What Do the Three Credits Actually Cover?
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
Helps with property tax and home energy costs. For the 2026-27 benefit year, the maximum is $1,488 per year for seniors 65 and older, and $1,307 per year for non-senior adults aged 18-64. Residents of a public or non-profit long-term care home, or living on a reserve, can get up to $290; students in designated post-secondary residences qualify for a $25 property tax component.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
A separate top-up only for residents of Northern Ontario, where home energy costs run higher than in the south. The 2026-27 maximum is $189 for single individuals without children and $290 for couples and single parents.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
Meant to offset sales tax paid throughout the year. For the July 2026 to June 2027 payment period, the maximum is $378 for each adult and each child in the family.
3. Who Is Eligible?
- You must have been a resident of Ontario on December 31 of the previous tax year.
- You must meet at least one of: being 18 or older (19+ specifically for the sales tax credit), being married or in a common-law relationship, or being a parent who lives (or lived) with your child.
- For the OEPTC, you must have paid rent or property tax on your principal Ontario residence — it does not apply to student residences, care homes, or housing where rent already includes board.
- Your eligibility can also depend on where you were living on the first day of each month, since the benefit is recalculated monthly.
4. 2026-27 Payment Amounts at a Glance
Because the three credits have completely different maximums and eligibility rules, it helps to see them side by side:
| Credit | Who It’s For | 2026-27 Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| OEPTC (age 65+) | Senior renters/property owners | $1,488/year |
| OEPTC (age 18-64) | Non-senior renters/property owners | $1,307/year |
| OEPTC (long-term care/reserve) | Care home residents, on-reserve residents | $290/year |
| NOEC (single, no children) | Northern Ontario residents | $189/year |
| NOEC (couples/single parents) | Northern Ontario residents | $290/year |
| OSTC | Per adult and per child | $378 each |
A single senior renting in Toronto could potentially combine the OEPTC ($1,488) and OSTC ($378) for a total of up to $1,866 a year — while a couple in Northern Ontario could add the NOEC on top of that.
5. How and When Are Payments Made?
If your total annual OTB entitlement is more than $500, you’ll be given a choice: monthly payments starting in July 2026, or one single payment in June 2027. If your entitlement is $500 or less, it’s paid as a single lump sum, typically in July.
Monthly payments generally arrive around the 10th of each month — for example, the next scheduled payment is Thursday, September 10, 2026.
6. How to Apply
There is no separate application form to fill out for the “Ontario Trillium Benefit” by name. Instead:
- File your annual T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return, even if you have no income to report.
- Complete and attach the ON-BEN Application Form included with the Ontario tax package.
- File by April 30 of each year to avoid a delay in your payments.
If you skip the ON-BEN form, the CRA cannot calculate your OEPTC or NOEC — you would only receive the OSTC portion, even if you’d otherwise qualify for more.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reapply every year?
Yes. Your OTB is recalculated from scratch based on each year’s tax return, so filing on time every year is what keeps the payments coming.
What if I qualify for more than one credit?
The CRA automatically combines whichever of the three credits you’re eligible for — you don’t need to choose or apply separately.
What if I move partway through the year?
Your eligibility is reviewed monthly based on where you’re living on the first of each month, so a move can change your payment amount going forward.
This article is for general information only and isn’t tax advice. Amounts and eligibility rules can change — always confirm your specific situation on the official Ontario.ca page linked above or with the CRA before making financial decisions.