What is the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a monthly, tax-free payment created to help Ontario residents offset essential living costs, like energy bills, property taxes, and sales tax on necessities. The benefit combines three different credits into one simplified deposit:
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
Although the OTB is funded by the Government of Ontario, it’s administered and delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you’re eligible for any of these individual credits, you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive the OTB without needing to apply separately for each one.
Table of Contents
Who Can Receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
To qualify for the May 2025 OTB payment, you must have filed your 2023 income tax return, even if you had no income that year. Your eligibility and payment amount are based on that return. Here are the basic requirements:
- You must be 18 years or older, or
- Have a spouse, common-law partner, or child who lives or lived with you.
Additional conditions depend on the specific credit:
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
- Must be at least 19 years old or meet one of the above criteria.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
- You must pay rent or property taxes, or
- Cover home energy costs on a reserve, or
- Live in a public long-term care facility.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
- You must reside in one of the northern districts: Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, or Timiskaming.
If you’re married or in a common-law relationship, your payment is calculated based on both of your tax returns.
How Much Can You Get from the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
Your OTB payment is calculated based on several personal factors, including:
- Your total income
- Whether you pay rent or property tax
- Your age
- Your location in Ontario
- Your family situation (e.g., dependents)
Here’s a breakdown of the maximum amounts for the benefit year:
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
- Up to $360 per person, including spouse and each dependent child.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
- Up to $1,248 for people aged 18–64.
- Up to $1,421 for seniors (65+).
- Additional $277 if you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home.
- An extra $25 if you lived in a school residence in 2023.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
- Up to $180 for individuals.
- Up to $277 for families.
If your total benefit is $360 or less, the CRA may issue it as a one-time lump sum payment instead of monthly deposits.
To get an estimate tailored to your situation, use the CRA’s online benefits calculator or check your CRA My Account.
How to Apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit
You don’t need to submit a separate application — filing your 2023 income tax return is all that’s required. But depending on which credits you’re eligible for, here’s what you need to know:
- OSTC: No additional forms needed. The CRA will assess your eligibility automatically.
- OEPTC and NOEC: You must complete Form ON-BEN, which is typically included as part of most tax software.
If you’re part of a couple, only one person needs to apply, usually the older spouse if one is a senior.
Once processed, the CRA will send you a notice confirming how much you’ll receive and when.
Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit Taxable?
No. The Ontario Trillium Benefit is completely tax-free. It’s a form of tax relief — a way for the province to return part of what you’ve already paid through taxes.
You don’t have to report OTB payments as income on your tax return, and they won’t affect any refund or taxes owing.
CRA Benefits Coming in May 2025: Payment Dates, Amounts & Eligibility Guide
New $680 GST/HST Amount Coming in May 2025: Payment Dates, and Eligibility Explained
Canada FPT Payment 2025: Full Guide to Dates, Eligibility, and Provincial Benefits for Canadians
When Will You Get the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The May 2025 payment will be deposited on Friday, May 9, since the regular payment date (the 10th of each month) falls on a weekend.
Here are the rest of the scheduled OTB payment dates for 2025:
- Tuesday, June 10
- Thursday, July 10
- Friday, August 8
- Wednesday, September 10
- Friday, October 10
- Monday, November 10
- Wednesday, December 10
If your total benefit was $360 or less, you likely already received it as a lump sum last July and won’t receive further monthly payments.