Canada FPT Deposit: Payment Dates and How it Works

Understanding your bank statement can sometimes be confusing, especially when you see a deposit labelled “Canada FPT.“

If you’ve wondered what it means, Canada FPT deposit actually stands for Federal-Provincial-Territorial deposit. Seeing this deposit is generally good news; it means you’re receiving government benefits you’re entitled to, such as the GST/HST credit or the Canada Child Benefit.

In the sections below, we’ll break down what Canada FPT includes, when you’ll receive them, and how much you can expect.

What is a Canada FPT Deposit?

A Canada FPT deposit is a payment from the Canada Revenue Agency that combines federal and provincial tax credits into a single transaction.

When you check your bank statement, you might see this payment labelled as “Canada FPT,” “Fed-Prov/Terr Canada,” or simply “FPT.” The exact label depends on your financial institution’s coding system, but all refer to the same category of government benefit payments.

What are the Canada FPT Payment Dates for 2025?

The timing of your Canada FPT deposits depends entirely on which programs you qualify for. While the GST/HST credit and provincial programs are paid quarterly, the Canada Child Benefit arrives monthly.

GST/HST Credit Payment Dates

The GST/HST credit is distributed four times per year on a fixed quarterly schedule.

For 2025, the GST/HST credit payments arrived on:

• January 3
• April 4
• July 4
• October 3

For 2026, the GST/HST credit payments arrived on:

• January 5, 2026
• April 2, 2026
• July 3, 2026
• October 5, 2026

Provincial and territorial tax credits that are bundled with the GST/HST credit follow this same quarterly schedule. 

This means if you qualify for both the federal GST/HST credit and a provincial program like the Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax Credit or Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit, you’ll receive both amounts combined in a single deposit on these quarterly dates.

One exception applies to recipients whose annual GST/HST credit total falls below $200. In these cases, the CRA issues a single lump sum payment in July rather than spreading the amount across four quarterly deposits.

Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates

The Canada Child Benefit operates on a monthly payment schedule, with deposits typically issued on or before the 20th day of each month.

For 2025, the CCB payment dates are:

• January 20
• February 20
• March 20
• April 17
• May 20
• June 20
• July 18
• August 20
• September 19
• October 20
• November 20
• December 12

For 2026, the CCB payment dates are:

• January 20
• February 20
• March 20
• April 20
• May 20
• June 19
• July 20
• August 20
• September 18
• October 20
• November 20
• December 11

If your total annual Canada Child Benefit is less than $240, the CRA follows the same lump sum approach as the GST/HST credit. They issue a single payment in July rather than twelve monthly deposits.

Who Can Receive Canada FPT?

Canada FPT payments eligibility depends on which program sends your FPT deposit. The GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and provincial programs have different qualification criteria. Each program considers different factors, including:

• Your family income
• Your marital status
• The number and age of your children
• Your province or territory of residence
• Your residency status for tax purposes

However, they all share one important rule: your annual income tax return determines whether you qualify.

This means that filing your taxes each year is essential for maintaining eligibility for Canada FPT payments. Even if you have no income to report, you must file to continue receiving these benefits.

These deposits arrive automatically once you file your annual income tax return. The CRA uses the information from your tax return to determine which government benefits you qualify for, calculate the amounts, and schedule the payments.

What Benefits Are Included in Canada FPT Deposit?

Canada FPT deposit primarily includes two major federal programs, the GST/HST credit and the Canada Child Benefit, along with various provincial and territorial supplements.

GST/HST Credit

Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit is a quarterly payment designed to offset the sales tax burden for Canadians with low and modest incomes.

This federal program provides tax-free payments four times per year to help you recover some of the GST or HST you pay on everyday purchases like groceries, clothing, and household items.

You qualify for the GST/HST credit if you’re a Canadian resident for income tax purposes and at least 19 years old. If you’re under 19, you can still qualify if you have a spouse or common-law partner, or if you’re a parent living with your child. 

Canada Child Benefit

Canada Child Benefit provides monthly payments to eligible families raising children under 18 years of age.

This program is meant to help cover the costs associated with raising children, from basic necessities like food and clothing to expenses like school supplies and extracurricular activities.

To qualify for the Canada Child Benefit, you must be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes and the primary caregiver of a child under 18. This means you’re the person primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.

Provincial and Territorial Programs Included in FPT

Beyond the two main federal programs, Canada FPT deposit often includes provincial and territorial tax credits that are funded by regional governments but administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Each province and territory has its own rules, eligibility criteria, and payment amounts. When you qualify for these programs, the payments are combined with your regular federal benefits and deposited together under the label “Canada FPT.”

Below are the provincial and territorial programs that may be included in your FPT deposit:

How to Verify Your Canada FPT Deposit

Tracking your Canada FPT Deposit ensures you receive the correct amounts on schedule and helps you identify any discrepancies that require CRA attention. You can check your payments using the methods below:

Check your CRA My Account

Your CRA My Account provides information about all your benefit payments. If you don’t have an account yet, you can sign up for CRA My Account online in just a few steps.

After logging in with your user ID and password or using a Sign-In Partner like your bank, navigate to the benefits section to see detailed payment history, upcoming payment dates, and calculated amounts for each program.

The portal breaks down your total FPT payment into components, showing exactly how much comes from the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and any provincial programs you qualify for.

You can see the amounts you’re entitled to receive for the current benefit year and review payment history from previous years. This historical data helps verify that deposits match expected amounts and allows you to track changes in your benefits over time.

Call the CRA Benefits Line

An alternative verification method involves calling the CRA benefits inquiry line at 1-800-387-1193.

Representatives can access your account information and confirm payment amounts, dates, and eligibility status.

So have your Social Insurance Number ready when calling, as agents require this to locate your file and discuss your personal information.

Wait times can be significant during peak periods like tax season or immediately after benefit payment dates, so calling during off-peak hours or using the online portal may be more efficient.

Check Your Bank Statement

Your bank statement provides basic verification by showing the deposit label and amount.

Look for entries marked “Canada FPT,” “Fed-Prov/Terr Canada,” or similar variations on the dates corresponding to payment schedules.

• For GST/HST credit, check your account on or shortly after January 3, April 4, July 4, and October 3.
• For the Canada Child Benefit, look for deposits around the 20th of each month, keeping in mind the date variations for months where the 20th falls on weekends or holidays.

What to Do If a Payment Is Missing

If you expect a payment but don’t receive it, you should do the following:

• First, verify your eligibility status in CRA My Account to confirm you still qualify for the benefit.
• Then, check that your direct deposit information is correct and active, as outdated banking details can cause payment delivery failures.
• If everything appears correct but the payment hasn’t arrived, wait 10 business days after the scheduled payment date before contacting the CRA. 
• After 10 business days, call the benefits inquiry line or submit a service request through CRA My Account to investigate the missing payment.

Are Canada FPT Deposits Taxable?

Canada FPT deposits are non-taxable benefits, meaning you don’t pay income tax on the money you receive, and you don’t report these amounts as income on your tax return.

GST/HST Credit is Completely Tax-Free

The full amount deposited in your bank account is yours to keep without any tax obligations. 

When you file your next tax return, you don’t include GST/HST credit payments in your income calculation, and receiving these benefits doesn’t affect your tax bracket or the amount of taxes you owe on employment or investment income.

Canada Child Benefit is Also Non-Taxable

Monthly CCB deposits arrive as tax-free support for raising children, with no requirement to set aside portions for income tax or report the amounts on future returns.

The tax-free nature means a family receiving $12,000 annually in CCB keeps the entire $12,000 for household expenses without tax deductions.

Provincial and Territorial Credits Are Generally Tax-Free

Provincial and territorial credits included in FPT payments are generally non-taxable as well, though specific programs should be verified for any exceptions.

The standard provincial credits like the Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax Credit, Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit, and similar programs follow the same tax-free structure as the federal components.

This consistency across federal and provincial benefits simplifies financial planning and ensures the combined FPT deposit can be budgeted in full without tax considerations.

5 Strategies to Make the Most of Your Canada FPT Deposit

Here are five powerful approaches to maximize the benefits of your Canada FPT Deposit:

Strategy 1: Solidify Your Foundation

For many families, this is the most critical role of benefit payments. Using your GST/HST credit and CCB to ensure rent or mortgage is paid, the lights stay on, and there’s healthy food on the table is the primary goal.

This isn’t just spending; it’s sound financial management that provides stability for your household. Prioritizing these basic needs is always the right first step.

Strategy 2: Build Your Financial Safety Net

An emergency fund protects you from unexpected events like a car repair or job loss. Benefit payments are a perfect way to build one without straining your regular income.

How to do it: Consider automatically transferring a set portion, even 10-20% of every GST/HST and CCB payment, into a separate high-interest savings account. A quarterly GST/HST payment of $150 could add $600 to your fund annually, while setting aside $50 from each CCB payment adds another $600. This “pay yourself first” approach builds a crucial buffer over time.

Strategy 3: Eliminate High-Interest Debt

Debt from credit cards and payday loans can be a significant financial anchor, with interest rates often exceeding 20%. Using your benefit payments to tackle this debt is one of the highest-return investments you can make.

How to do it: Using a single quarterly GST/HST payment to aggressively pay down a credit card can save you hundreds of dollars in interest over the year. By eliminating these high-cost debts, you free up more of your own money each month.

Strategy 4: Invest in Your Children’s Future

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a powerful tool for saving for a child’s post-secondary education, largely thanks to government matching.

How it works: The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) matches 20% of your contributions, up to a maximum of $500 per child per year.

How to do it: By setting up an automatic contribution from your monthly CCB to an RESP, you can unlock this “free money” from the government. For example, contributing $208 per month from your CCB would max out the $500 annual grant, effectively turning your $2,500 contribution into more than $3,000 in the education fund each year.

Strategy 5: Master Seasonal and Bulk Expenses

The quarterly timing of the GST/HST credit makes it a perfect tool for managing large, periodic bills that can otherwise cause financial stress.

• Insurance Premiums: Many insurance companies offer a discount of 5-10% if you pay your home or auto insurance annually or semi-annually instead of monthly. Use your April or July GST payment to cover this lump sum and lock in the savings.
• Property Taxes: If your municipality requires large tax payments once or twice a year, you can set aside your GST/HST credits to build up a fund specifically for this purpose, reducing the impact on your regular cash flow.

Canada FPT Deposit vs Other Government Deposits

Understanding the differences between Canada FPT Deposit and other government deposit codes on your bank statement helps you track various benefits and avoid confusion about payment sources.

Here is how Canada FPT compare to other Government Deposits:

Canada FPT vs Canada Fed

Canada Fed deposits include federal programs that aren’t combined with provincial credits, creating a distinct payment category from FPT. 

The Canada Workers Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and Canada Carbon Rebate typically appear as Canada Fed rather than FPT deposits because these programs don’t have provincial components requiring the Federal-Provincial-Territorial designation.

The key difference is program scope. FPT indicates combined federal and provincial benefits, while Fed represents federal-only programs.

Canada FPT vs Canada RIT

Canada RIT stands for Return of Income Tax and represents your tax refund after filing your annual return.

This is fundamentally different from FPT deposits in both purpose and timing. RIT is a one-time annual payment that returns your excess tax withholdings or refundable credits, while FPT deposits are ongoing quarterly or monthly benefit payments that continue as long as you remain eligible.

Canada FPT vs Canada PRO

Canada PRO deposits represent purely provincial programs administered by provincial governments rather than the CRA.

The key difference is administrative authority. PRO indicates province-only benefits without federal involvement, while FPT represents federal programs potentially combined with provincial supplements but administered federally.

Provincial programs coded as PRO vary by province. Ontario residents might see Canada PRO deposits for the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which combines the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, Northern Ontario Energy Credit, and Ontario Sales Tax Credit. Alberta residents could receive Canada PRO deposits for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit.

These are wholly provincial initiatives separate from federal programs like the GST/HST credit or Canada Child Benefit.

The bottom line

Canada FPT deposits provide important financial support for millions of Canadian families. These payments deliver tax-free benefits that help offset everyday living costs throughout the year.

Whether it’s the quarterly GST/HST credit that reduces sales tax expenses, the monthly Canada Child Benefit that helps with the cost of raising children, or provincial programs that make life more affordable, Canada FPT payments offer steady and predictable help for your household budget.

FAQs About Canada FPT Deposits