What Is Canada Pro Deposit? Here’s Why You Get It In 2023

If you received a Canada Pro deposit in your bank account and wondering what it is, you’re not alone.

In this post, you’ll learn what it is, its eligibility, how to confirm the payment and the payment dates for the Canada child and family benefits.

Check below to learn more about the benefit and how much you can expect.

What is Canada Pro?

Canada Pro is a deposit made by CRA for Child and Family Benefits programs of different provinces, notably Ontario and Alberta. The deposit is made monthly, quarterly or annually.

If you’re an Ontario resident, the payment will be for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB).

The money is paid as a lump-sum or spread over 12 months (July to June), depending on your OTB entitlement for the year.

For example, you would received a lump-sum payment of the credit in June 2024 if your 2022 annual entitlement is less than $360.

If it’s over $360, you can choose to receive it over 12 months or wait to get it a lump-sum in 2024..

Alberta Residents: If you’re an Alberta resident, it is for Alberta Child and Family Benefits (ACFB).

Who is Eligible for Canada Pro?

Eligibility for Canada Pro is assessed using the criteria set out for the underlying credit.

As an Ontario resident, you’re eligible for Canada Pro if you qualify for Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB).

OTB is the combined payment for 3 tax credits that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers on behalf of Ontario. The credits are:

• Ontario Sales Tax Credit
• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
• Northern Ontario Energy Credit.

Your eligibility is determined under each of the 3 programs separately, and the tax credits paid to your account monthly or as a lump sum in July.

We’ll go over the eligibility for each of the programs and how much you can expect to receive in details below:

CRA has an handy tool here to estimate how much you can expect to receive.

The eligibility for the other credits and benefits paid as Canada Pro are also provided.

---

Canada Pro as Ontario Trillium Benefits (OTB)

These are the 3 different credits covered by OTB, their eligibility and how much you can receive:

1. Ontario Sales Tax Credit

The Ontario Sales Tax Credit is a similar program to the federal GST/HST Credit program that helps Ontario residents with the sales tax they pay.

It is meant for low to moderate income residents.

To be eligible for the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, individuals or families must satisfy one of the following conditions:

• 19 years or older
• previously or current married or in a common-law relationship
• a parent who lives or previously lived with a child

You don’t need to apply for the benefit separately.

The CRA will assess your income tax return to determine if you are eligible and automatically issue the payments on the due dates.

How much does the Ontario Sales Tax Credit Pay?

For the 2023-2024 benefit year, beneficiaries can receive up to $345 (slightly up from the $324 for 2022 benefit year).

You can also receive up to an additional $324 for your spouse/common-law partner and each dependent child that is under 19 on the 1st of the payment month.

Ontario Sales Tax Credit Pay is income-tested. Meaning, the credits will be reduced once you earn above the set adjusted family net income.

For the current benefit year, the adjusted family net income and the clawback rates were:

• Singles: 4% on net income above $24,916
• Single parents, married or in a common-law relationship: 4% on net income above $31,144

That means your Canada Pro Deposit will be lower as your income increases beyond the claw back threshold.

---

2. Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit

This is another income-tested benefit for low to moderate income residents of Ontario. The credit is meant to help with the sales tax on energy and with property taxes.

That is, there are 2 components to the credit: the Energy component and the Property Tax component.

You may be eligible for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit if you were a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2022 and one of these applied in 2022:

• rented or paid property tax for your main residence
• lived in a public long-term care home (e.g., a seniors’ home) and paid an amount for your accommodation
• lived on a reserve and paid for your home energy costs

And one of these apply for 2022:

• 18 years of age or older (the age of majority in Ontario)
• a parent who lives or previously lived with your child
• currently or previously married or in a common-law relationship

How much can you expect to receive from Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit?

Here’s a table summarizing the maximum benefit you could expect to receive as Ontario Energy and Property Credit:

Category	Max.
Seniors	$1,360
Non-seniors	$1,194

As an income-tested benefit, the lower your adjusted family income for the previous year, the higher the Canada Pro deposit you’ll receive under this credit.

On the other hand, as your family income increases, you can expect a lower amount for the Canada Pro deposit.

You can use the calculator here to estimate how much you can expect.

---

3. Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

This credit helps Northern Ontario residents with the higher energy cost they pay.

In other words, only residents of northern Ontario on December 31, 2022 are eligible for the credit.

To be eligible for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, one of the following must also apply in 2022:

• rented or paid property tax for your main residence
• lived in a public long-term care home (e.g., a seniors’ home) and paid an amount for your accommodation
• lived on a reserve and paid for your home energy costs

And at least one of the following before June 1, 2023: a) 18 years of age or older; b) a parent who lives or previously lived with your child; or c) currently or previously married or in a common-law relationship.

Northern Ontario covers the following cities and towns: Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.

How much can you expect to receive from Northern Ontario Energy Credit?

The amount you can get under the NOEC program depends on your marital status, i.e. whether you’re single or a family.

The maximum amount for each category are:

• Singles: maximum of $172
• Families: maximum of $265

Your NOEC benefit is combined into a single payment with the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) and Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC).

The total is then deposited into your account as OTB or Canada Pro deposit.

Learn more: OTB Payment Dates

Canada Pro as Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) was introduced in July 2020 to replace the Alberta Child Benefit (ACB) and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (AFETC).

ACFB is a financial assistance program for lower and middle-income families in Alberta with children under age 18.

It is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on behalf of the provincial government of Alberta.

Note: If you received a Canada Pro deposit in your account on August 27th, then it is most likely your ACFB payment.

Who is eligible for ACFB?

To be Eligibility for ACFB, applicants must satisfy all the criteria below:

• Reside in Alberta
• Have one or more children under 18
• File their tax return for previous years
• Meet the income criteria

How much can you receive as ACFB?

How much you can receive from ACFB is based on your income and the number of children you have.

There are 2 components under ACFB: A base component and a working component.

The base component is for families with little or no employment income, while the working component is for those with an employment income above $2,760.

For 2023/2024, the maximum annual ACFB amounts under both components are:

Number of Children	Max. Base Component	Max Working Component
One (1) Child	$1,410	$722
Two (2) Children	$2,115	$1,379
Three (3) Children	$2,820	$1,772
Four (4) Children	$3,525	$1,902

These amounts are gradually reduced once your income reaches a threshold.

The benefit amounts paid for the base and working components are reduced once the family net income exceeds $25,935 and $43,460 respectively.

Learn more about Alberta Child And Family Benefit (ACFB) here.

---

Canada PRO Deposit Dates 2023

Unlike other government benefits, Canada pro doesn’t have a single payment schedule. The payments are distributed according to the programs of eligible recipients.

So individuals that are eligible for the deposit under Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) will receive the deposit on different dates with those under Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)

That said, the following are the Canada Pro deposit dates for 2023 under the OTB and ACFB programs.

OTB Dates	ACFB Dates
January 20, 2023	February 23, 2023
February 20, 2023	May 26, 2023
March 20, 2023	August 25, 2023
April 20, 2023	November 27, 2023
May 19, 2023
June 20, 2023
July 20, 2023
August 18, 2023
September 20, 2023
October 20, 2023
November 20, 2023
December 13, 2023

---

Confirming the Canada Pro Deposit Payment

If you received a Canada Pro deposit in your bank account, it is always a good idea to confirm what the deposit you received is for.

You may get a mail from CRA but the quickest way is to log in to your My Account with CRA.

From your account, you can view all the benefits you’re entitled to and the expected payment dates.

Also, checking the payment dates for some of the child and family benefit payment dates below can help you determine what the payment is for.

For example, if you receive the deposit on February 2rd, 2023, you can be almost certain that the payment is for ACFB if you’re an Alberta resident.

Is Canada Pro Taxable?

Canada Pro is not taxable. All the benefits that are paid using the caption are completely tax-free benefits.

OTB is not taxable. Neither are the ACFB, GST/HST credit or Canada Workers’ Benefit payment.

This means you won’t have to include the deposit as a taxable income when you file your income tax returns.

However, you need to file your income tax to allow CRA determine your eligibility and how much you’ll receive as benefit.

How Often is Canada Pro Paid?

For eligible Canadians, Canada Pro is paid monthly, quarterly or annually based on the payment schedule for the underlying benefit or credit.

That is, the payment frequency depends on the benefit the deposit is for.

For example, Ontario Trillium benefit (OTB) deposits are paid monthly or as a lump sum deposit annually by July.

The GST/HST Credit and Alberta Child and and Family Benefit (ACFB) are, however, paid quarterly on the 5th day of January, April, July and October.

Alberta Child & Family Benefit is also paid quarterly but in February, May, August and November.

How is Canada Pro Deposit Paid?

The Canada Revenue Agency administers the credit directly to your bank account. 

However, you will receive the credit by cheque if you don’t set a direct bank deposit. 

Depending on the payment amount you’re entitled to and the specific benefit program, you may receive the Canada Pro deposit as a one-lump sum deposit or monthly deposit.

For example, OTB payments of $360 and below are deposited as a one-lump sum. But if you are entitled to more than a $360 OTB deposit, you can choose between a monthly payment or one-lump sum deposit. 

However, Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) deposits are administered quarterly using the payment method you currently have set up with CRA.

How to Apply For Canada Pro Payment

Canada Pro application process varies depending on your province. To receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit annually, you must apply for it. 

Fortunately, the OTB application process is straightforward. Simply file your previous year’s tax return and submit it alongside the filled ON-BEN Application Form.

While you don’t need to apply for the OSTC part of the OTB, the NOEC and OEPC parts require an application.

On the other hand, Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) doesn’t require an application. You will be automatically enrolled in the program once you file your taxes and meet Canada Child Benefit (CCB) eligibility.

---

What to Do With Your Canada Pro Deposit

Your Canada Pro deposit is yours to spend, save or invest however you like.

Most people have already planned for these monthly or quarterly payments from CRA. This could mean:

• topping up an emergency fund
• setting up an RESP for your kids
• paying off some of your debts
• Savings for retirement

Whatever you decide to do, as long as you’re putting the money to good use according to your financial goals, you’re on the right course.

---

Canada Pro & Additional Benefits

The following are other government benefits you may also be eligible for as a recipient of Canada pro.

1. GST/HST Credit and Canada Workers Benefit Payment Dates

The other 2 benefit payments under the Canada Child and Family Benefit programs are:

• Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit
• Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) – advance payments

Both benefits are paid on the same day quarterly. The payment dates for 2023 are shown below:

Quarter	GST/HST Credit Pay Dates	CWB Pay Dates
1	January 5, 2023	January 5, 2023
2	April 5, 2023	April 5, 2023
3	July 5, 2023	July 5, 2023
4	October 5, 2023	October 5, 2023

If you didn’t receive your benefits on the dates above, you should wait for at least 10 working days before contacting CRA.

Or check your account with CRA to confirm if you should be receiving the payment.

Learn more about GST/HST Credit and Canada workers benefit advance payments in the linked posts.

Related Posts:

• Ontario Works Payment Dates
• ODSP Benefit and Payment Dates

2. Canada RIT

Canada RIT refers to Canada Refund Income Tax and it is a direct deposit from Canada Revenue Authority (CRA). As the name suggests, if you received a deposit with the caption, it is most likely a tax refund from CRA.

Check out this post to learn more about Canada RIT. Or here to learn about Canada FPT Deposit and Canada Fed, two other deposit with unclear description from CRA.

FAQs on Canada Pro Payments For 2023

Final Thoughts: Canada Pro

In this post, we answered the question: What is Canada Pro in my bank account?

In most instances, the deposit is a payment from CRA for Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB). It is paid every month or as a lump-sum depending on how much you’re entitled to.

In other cases, it could be for ACFB if you’re an Alberta Resident or the federal government credits like Canada Workers’ Benefit or GST/HST credit.

If you have any comments or questions, please let me know in the comments.

Related Posts:

• 7 Things to Know About Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
• Best Personal Finance Apps and Tools