Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Dates 2026: Schedule and What to Expect
If you're counting on Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payments to help cover property taxes or energy costs, knowing exactly when the money arrives matters. Late filing, banking changes, or a CRA reassessment can all delay payments — and the schedule isn't always obvious.
The 2026–2027 Payment Schedule
The OTB benefit year runs from July 2026 through June 2027, based on your 2025 tax return. Payments are issued on the 10th of each month. When the 10th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is scheduled for the preceding business day.
For the current cycle, expect deposits on: July 10, August 10, September 10, October 9 (10th is a Saturday), November 10, and December 10 (2026). For 2027, the 10th falls on a Sunday in January and a Saturday in April, so the scheduled dates are January 8, February 10, March 10, April 9, May 10, and June 10.
If your total annual OTB entitlement is $360 or less, the CRA pays the entire amount as a single lump sum in July instead of monthly installments.
What's Included in Each Payment
The OTB bundles three provincial credits into one payment:
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) — up to $1,488 for seniors, $1,307 for non-seniors
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) — up to $378 for each adult and child in a family
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) — up to $180 for singles, $277 for families (Northern Ontario residents only)
Your monthly OTB amount is one-twelfth of your combined annual entitlement across these three credits. The exact amount depends on your income, age, family size, and whether you paid property taxes or rent.
Why Your Payment Might Be Late or Missing
The most common reasons:
You filed late. If your 2025 return wasn't processed before July, the CRA can't calculate your OTB. Payments start from the month after processing, and you'll receive a catch-up payment for missed months.
Banking information changed. If the CRA has outdated direct deposit details, the payment bounces. Update your banking through CRA My Account or by calling the benefit enquiries line.
Income reassessment. If the CRA adjusts your 2025 income after filing — through an audit, a T1-ADJ request, or a late information slip — your OTB is recalculated. This can cause a payment pause while the new amount is determined.
You turned 64 mid-year. Turning 64 by December 31 of the tax year qualifies you for the higher senior OEPTC. But the CRA calculates this based on your filed return — if you didn't check the right boxes on Form ON-BEN, you may receive the lower non-senior amount.
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The OSHPTG Arrives Separately
The Ontario Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant is not part of the monthly OTB cycle. It's a separate lump-sum payment issued four to eight weeks after your Notice of Assessment. Don't wait for it in your OTB deposits — it comes as its own transaction.
What to Do If a Payment Is Wrong
Check your OTB notice (mailed or available in CRA My Account) to see the breakdown of each credit. If the amount looks low, verify that your ON-BEN form was filed correctly — missing the OEPTC checkbox at Line 61020 or forgetting to report property taxes on Line 61120 are the most common errors.
You can correct a filed return through the CRA's Change My Return service or by submitting Form T1-ADJ.
The Ontario Property Tax Relief for Seniors guide includes a calendar of all provincial and municipal deadlines for the current tax year, plus a breakdown of how each OTB component is calculated.
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Download the Ontario Seniors Property Tax Relief Application Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.