| Verdict: False |
|---|
| The CRA is not paying an $1,800 grocery rebate, and there is no grocery rebate you can apply for. |
What the claim says
Posts, texts and websites say the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is sending a “grocery rebate” of $1,800, or sometimes $628 or another amount. Many say you must “apply now” or “claim before the deadline” through a link.
What’s actually true
The CRA has a warning about this on its scam page. It says there is false information online claiming you can apply for a Grocery Rebate. The CRA says not to click links, reply or give information to these messages.
The Grocery Rebate was real, but it was a one-time payment in July 2023. It was paid automatically, with no application, to people who got the GST credit. Couples with two children got up to $467, single people up to $234, and seniors about $225 on average. It has not come back.
What does exist now is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). It is the new name for the GST/HST credit, starting July 2026, with higher amounts.
| CGEB, July 2026 to June 2027 | Maximum per year |
|---|---|
| Single person (includes the $234 single supplement) | $679 |
| Married or common-law couple | $890 |
| Each child under 19 | $234 |
It’s paid in four parts, around the 5th of January, April, July and October. You don’t apply for it. You just file your tax return every year, even if you had no income. See our CGEB guide for dates and details.
There was also a real one-time top-up on June 5, 2026. It was worth about 50% of a year’s GST/HST credit. It has already been paid, and it was automatic. See our check on the June top-up.
Where the confusion comes from
Three real things get mixed together:
- The 2023 Grocery Rebate, which was a real one-time payment.
- The new benefit’s name, which has “groceries” in it.
- The June 2026 top-up, which was also a one-time extra payment.
Scam sites take the word “grocery,” add a bigger number and a deadline, and ask you to click. An $1,800 figure is far above the CGEB maximum for a single person or a couple.
How to spot it
- The CRA does not send texts or emails with links about benefits or credits.
- The CRA does not send refunds or payments by e-transfer or text message.
- A real benefit is explained on a page that starts with canada.ca.
- You never need to apply for the CGEB. Filing your taxes is enough.
What to do if you were targeted
- If you didn’t click or reply, delete the message.
- If you clicked and entered banking details, call your bank now.
- If you entered your CRA sign-in, SIN or date of birth, call the CRA at 1-833-995-2336 (Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 7 pm Eastern time) to protect your account.
- If money was taken, report it to local police and get a file number.
Then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time) or online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. The CRA asks you to report scam attempts even when you gave nothing away.