Province of Ontario

Ontario flag

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the following programs on behalf of Ontario:

Ontario

Ontario trillium benefit (OTB)

The Ontario trillium benefit (OTB) is the combined payment of the Ontario energy and property tax credit, the Northern Ontario energy credit, and the Ontario sales tax credit. The annual OTB entitlement is divided by 12 and payments are issued monthly. Your 2013 OTB payments, which are based on your 2012 income tax and benefit return, will be issued on the 10th of each month, starting on July 10, 2013 (see note for exception).

The OTB program is legislated and funded by the Province of Ontario. The Canada Revenue Agency administers this program on behalf of the province.

Note:
If your 2013 OTB annual entitlement is $360 or less, it will be issued in one lump-sum payment in the first payment month, instead of monthly.

Questions and answers

For more information and to see if you should apply, see the Questions and answers.

More information

Enquiries service

If you have questions about your OTB payments, call the Canada Revenue Agency at the following toll-free numbers:

1-877-627-6645 (for service in English)
1-877-627-6664 (for service in French)

If you have questions about who is eligible and how to apply for the OTB, call the Canada Revenue Agency at the following toll-free numbers:

1‑800‑959‑8281 (for service in English)
1‑800‑959‑7383 (for service in French)

Policy enquiries

If you have a tax policy question about the OTB program, call the Province of Ontario at 1‑866‑ONT‑TAXS (1-866-668-8297).

Ontario

Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC)

Important notice

If you would like to calculate your entitlement, please go to one of the two following links:

The Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC) is designed to help low- to moderate-income Ontario residents with the sales tax on energy and with property taxes.

You apply for the current-year OEPTC on your prior-year income tax and benefit return. For example, you would apply for the 2013 OEPTC on your 2012 income tax and benefit return by completing Form ON-BEN, Application for the 2013 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Ontario Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant.

The OEPTC has two components: an energy component and a property tax component. You should apply for the OEPTC if you are eligible for either component. You may be eligible if you lived in Ontario on December 31, 2012, and at least one of the following applies:

  • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Ontario was paid by or for you for 2012;
  • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012;
  • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012; or
  • you lived in a designated university, college, or private school residence in Ontario in 2012.

 Your 2013 OEPTC payments will be issued as part of the OTB on the 10th of each month, starting on July 10, 2013.

Note:

  • If, on December 31, 2012, you were 64 years of age or older and you owned and occupied a principal residence in Ontario, for which you or someone on your behalf paid property tax for 2012, you may also be eligible for the 2013 Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant.
  • You may also be eligible for the 2013 Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC) if you resided in Northern Ontario on December 31, 2012, and you (or someone on your behalf) paid:
    • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Northern Ontario for 2012;
    • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Northern Ontario for 2012; or
    • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Northern Ontario for 2012.

Questions and answers

For more information about the 2013 OEPTC and to see if you are eligible and should apply, please see Questions and answers.

More information

Enquiries service

For enquiries about your OEPTC payments, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-877-627-6645 (for service in English)
1-877-627-6664 (for service in French)

For enquiries about who is eligible to apply and how to apply for OEPTC, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-800-959-8281 (for service in English)
1-800-959-7383 (for service in French)

Policy enquiries

If you have a tax policy question about the OEPTC program, you can call the Province of Ontario at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297).

Ontario

Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC)

Important notice

If you would like to calculate your entitlement, please go to one of the two following links:

The Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC) is designed to help low- to moderate-income Northern Ontario residents with the higher energy costs they face living in the north.

You apply for the current-year NOEC on your prior-year income tax and benefit return. For example, you would apply for the 2013 NOEC on your 2012 income tax and benefit return by completing Form ON-BEN, Application for the 2013 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Ontario Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant.

You may be eligible if you lived in Northern Ontario on December 31, 2012, and you (or someone on your behalf) paid:

  • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Northern Ontario for 2012;
  • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Northern Ontario for 2012; or
  • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Northern Ontario for 2012.

Your 2013 NOEC payments will be issued as part of the OTB on the 10th of each month, starting on July 10, 2013.

Note:

  • If, on December 31, 2012, you were 64 years of age or older and you owned and occupied a principal residence in Ontario, for which you or someone on your behalf paid property tax for 2012, you may also be eligible for the 2013 Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant.
  • You may also be eligible for the 2013 Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC)if you lived in Ontario on December 31, 2012, and at least one of the following applies:
    • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Ontario was paid by or for you for 2012;
    • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012;
    • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012; or
    • you lived in a designated university, college, or private school residence in Ontario in 2012.

Questions and answers

For more information about the 2013 NOEC and to see if you are eligible and should apply, please see Questions and answers.

More information

Enquiries service

For enquiries regarding NOEC payments, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-877-627-6645 (for service in English)
1-877-627-6664 (for service in French)

For enquiries on who is eligible to apply and how to apply for NOEC, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-800-959-8281 (for service in English)
1-800-959-7383 (for service in French)

Policy enquiries

If you have a tax policy question about the NOEC program, you can call the Province of Ontario at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297).

Ontario

Ontario sales tax credit (OSTC)

The Ontario sales tax credit (OSTC) is a tax-free payment designed to provide relief to low- to moderate-income Ontario residents for the sales tax they pay.

For payments based on your 2012 income tax and benefit return, the program provides a maximum annual credit of $278 for each adult and each child in a family. If you are a single individual with no children, the credit will be reduced by 4% of your adjusted net income over $21,410. If you are a single parent, or are married or living in a common-law relationship, the credit will be reduced by 4% of your adjusted family net income over $26,763. These payments will be issued as part of the OTB on the 10th of each month, starting on July 10, 2013.

For payments based on your 2011 income tax and benefit return, the program provides a maximum annual credit of $273 for each adult and each child in a family. If you are a single individual with no children, the credit will be reduced by 4% of your adjusted net income over $21,032. If you are a single parent, or are married or living in a common-law relationship, the credit will be reduced by 4% of your adjusted family net income over $26,290. These payments are being issued as part of the OTB on the 10th of each month.

You apply for the OSTC by completing the GST/HST Credit Application area on page 1 of your income tax and benefit return.

More information

Enquiries service

A toll-free enquiries service is available at the following numbers:

1-877-627-6645 (for service in English)
1-877-627-6664 (for service in French)

Ontario

Ontario child benefit (OCB)

The Ontario child benefit (OCB) is a non-taxable amount paid to help low- to moderate-income families provide for their children.

OCB payments are delivered with the Canada child tax benefit in a single monthly payment. For July 2013 to June 2014, you may be eligible to receive up to $100.83 per month for each child under 18 years of age. If your adjusted family net income is above $20,000, you may receive a partial benefit.

The OCB program is funded entirely by the Province of Ontario. The CRA administers this program for Ontario.

Other related information

Enquiries service

A toll-free enquiries service is available at the following numbers:

1-800-387-1193 (for service in English)
1-800-387-1194 (for service in French)

More information

For more information, go to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services Web site or call 1-866-821-7770. For teletypewriter service (TTY), call 1-800-387-5559. For specific payment information, call 1-800-387-1193 or for TTY, call 1-800-665-0354.

Ontario

Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant (OSHPTG)

The Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant (OSHPTG) is intended to help offset property taxes for seniors who own their own home and who have low to moderate incomes. This program is funded entirely by the Province of Ontario. The CRA administers this program for Ontario.

Senior homeowners can apply for the current-year OSHPTG when they file their prior-year income tax and benefit return. For example, you would apply for the 2013 grant on your 2012 income tax and benefit return. The first time you could apply for the OSHPTG was on your 2008 income tax and benefit return.

The OSHPTG payment will be issued approximately four to eight weeks after your notice of assessment or reassessment is issued.

The maximum grant is $500 for 2010 and later years. The maximum grant was $250 for 2009.

Note:

  • You may also be eligible for the 2013 Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC) if you lived in Ontario on December 31, 2012, and at least one of the following applies:
    • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Ontario was paid by or for you for 2012;
    • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012;
    • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Ontario were paid by or for you for 2012;
    • you lived in a designated university, college, or private school residence in Ontario in 2012.
  • You may also be eligible for the 2013 Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC) if you resided in Northern Ontario on December 31, 2012, and you (or someone on your behalf) paid:
    • rent or property tax for your principal residence in Northern Ontario for 2012;
    • accommodation costs for living in a public long-term care home in Northern Ontario for 2012; or
    • home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence on a reserve in Northern Ontario for 2012.

Questions and answers

To find out if you are eligible to apply and to get more information, please see Questions and answers.

More information

Enquiries service

For enquiries regarding OSHPTG payments, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-877-627-6645 (for service in English)
1-877-627-6664 (for service in French)

For enquiries on who is eligible to apply and how to apply for OSHPTG, please call the CRA at the following toll-free numbers:

1-800-959-8281 (for service in English)
1-800-959-7383 (for service in French)

Policy enquiries

If you have a tax policy question about the OSHPTG program, you can call the Province of Ontario at 1-866-ONT-TAXS   (1-866-668-8297) and ask for Ontario Tax Credits.

Other information for seniors