If you reside in Canada, you may wonder what the Canada PRO deposit in your bank account is for.
It is not clear from your bank statement where this money is from. However, with a little digging, we can tell you it is a Government of Canada payment on behalf of either the province of Ontario or Alberta.
If you are an Ontario resident, the Canada PRO deposit you received is most likely an Ontario Trillium Benefit comprising three tax credits (depending on which you qualify for):
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit
If you are a resident of Alberta, Canada PRO payments are very likely related to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB).
This benefit combines two other social assistance programs – Alberta Child Benefit and Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit.
Canada PRO Deposit Dates 2024
When you get your Canada PRO payment is dependent on the program you are eligible for as well as whether you are set up for direct deposits.
Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Dates (Ontario Canada PRO)
Ontario Trillium payment dates in 2024 are as follows:
- January 10, 2024
- February 9, 2024
- March 8, 2024
- April 10, 2024
- May 10, 2024
- June 10, 2024
- July 10, 2024
- August 9, 2024
- September 10, 2024
- October 10, 2024
- November 8, 2024
- December 10, 2024
How Much Can You Expect?
Northern Ontario Energy Credit: Singles get up to $180, and the maximum benefit for families is $277.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit: For this tax credit, you could get up to:
- $1,248 if you are aged 18 to 64 years old
- $1,421 if you are 65 years and older
- $277 if you reside on a reserve or live in a public long-term care home
- $25 if you are a student living in an eligible college, university, or private school residence
Ontario Sales Tax Credit: You, your spouse or partner, and each dependent child under 19 can receive payments of up to $360.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit Payment Dates (Alberta Canada PRO)
- February 27, 2024
- May 27, 2024
- August 27, 2024
- November 27, 2024
How Much Can You Expect?
The ACFB you receive is based on your family’s income and the number of children.
There is a “base” amount that is not tied to income and a “working” component that increases with your income earned.
The maximum ACFB amounts are:
| Number of Children | Maximum Base Amount | Maximum Working Component |
| 1 child | $1,469 | $752 |
| 2 children | $2,204 | $1,437 |
| 3 children | $2,939 | $1,847 |
| 4 or more children | $3,674 | $1,982 |
If you have not set up direct deposit through your online CRA My Account, your cheques are sent in the mail.
Related: Alberta Affordability program.
Eligibility for a Canada PRO Deposit
The Ontario Trillium Benefit and Alberta Child and Family Benefit programs are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
To be eligible for Canada PRO deposits, you must meet the minimum requirements for each program.
1. Northern Ontario Energy Credit
This tax credit helps offset some of the home energy costs for Northern Ontario residents.
To qualify, you must live in Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Nipissing, Manitoulin, Parry Sound, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay.
For July 2024 to June 2025 payment period, you must also be at least one of the following before June 1, 2025:
- 18 years of age or older
- Have or previously had a spouse or common-law partner
- A parent who lives or previously lived with your child
And, in 2023, you:
- Rented or paid property tax for your main residence
- Lived on a reserve and paid for your home energy costs
- Lived in a public long-term care home, and you paid for a portion of your accommodation
2. Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
This tax credit helps offset some of your property taxes and the sales tax you pay on your energy bill.
To qualify for payments during July 2024 to June 2025 benefit period, you must be a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2023, and at least one of the following before June 1, 2024:
- 18 years of age or older
- Married or previously married or in a common-law relationship
- A parent who lives or previously lived with your child
And, in 2023, you:
- Rented or paid property tax for your principal residence
- Lived on a reserve and paid your home energy costs
- Lived in a public long-term care home and paid for your accommodation
3. Ontario Sales Tax Credit
Similar to the GST/HST credit, this benefit offsets part of the sales tax that Ontarians pay.
To qualify for benefits in 2024 (July 2024 – June 2025 benefit period), you must reside in Ontario and be at least one of the following:
- 19 years of age or older
- Married or previously married or in a common-law relationship
- A parent who lives or previously lived with your child
4. Alberta Child and Family Benefit
The ACFB provides financial assistance to low-and middle-income families in Alberta who have minor children.
To be eligible, you must be the parent of one or more children under 18, reside in Alberta, file your annual tax return, and meet the income threshold.
How To Apply For Canada PRO
You can apply for Ontario Trillium Benefit by simply filing your income tax return for the previous year.
For example, to receive benefits in the 2024-2025 payment period, your taxes must have been filed for 2023. For the 2025-2026 benefit period, your 2024 tax return is required.
You will also be submitting a completed ON-BEN Application Form along with your tax return.
Albertans are automatically considered for the ACFB when they file their tax returns and qualify for the Canada Child Benefit.
How Canada PRO is Paid
Canada Pro tax credits are administered by the CRA and are paid through direct deposit to your bank account.
If you haven’t set up direct deposit payments via your CRA MyAccount, Canada PRO payments are sent by cheque.
Ontario Trillium Benefits (OTB) greater than $360 are either paid monthly starting in July 2024 or as a one-time payment in June 2025.
OTB total payments of $360 or less are paid once in July 2024.
If your OTB is greater than $2 but less than $10, it is increased to $10. No payment is made if you qualify for OTB of $2 or less.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) amounts that are $10 for the installment payment period are consolidated.
Is Canada PRO Deposit Taxable?
Canada PRO Deposits are tax-free payments and do not impact your taxable income.
They should also not affect your eligibility for other social assistance programs and benefits.
Put Your Canada PRO Deposit To Use
While regular Canada PRO deposits in your bank account may feel like free money, you can use these payments to improve your financial life.
A few strategies to consider are:
1. Save in a high-interest account: Move your deposit to a high-interest savings account such as the free EQ Bank Savings Plus account and Neo Money account and earn a high interest rate. You can use this to hold your emergency funds while earning returns.
EQ Bank Personal Account
Earn up to 4.00% interest
No monthly account fees or minimum balance
Unlimited debit transactions and e-Transfers
Free cashback card & no ATM fees
Supports mobile cheque deposits
Neo Savings Account
4.00% non-promo interest rate
No monthly fees
Unlimited free transactions
Access to a no-annual-fee credit card
2. Invest and grow your portfolio: Open a low-cost investment account with Questwealth and enjoy automatic deposits, rebalancing, dividend reinvesting, and free financial advice.
Questwealth
Professionally managed ETF portfolios
Multiple accounts & low fees
Auto rebalancing and div reinvesting
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Canada PRO FAQ
Canada PRO deposits are benefits and social assistance payments made by the CRA on behalf of provinces. The most common examples are the Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Alberta Child and Family Benefit.
Ontario Canada PRO is paid monthly, while Alberta and Nova Scotia Canada PRO payments are made in four instalments.
GST and HST payments are quarterly tax-free benefits designed to help low-income Canadians offset the sales tax they pay. GST payments are different from Canada PRO and may show up in your bank account as Canada GST.
Still not sure what Canada PRO deposits relate to? You can visit your online CRA account to see the benefits listed on your profile.
You can also contact the CRA at 1-800-387-1193 to find out.
Related reading:
Hello there, What do I do if I didn’t get my Canada Pro this month.
@Jackline: Best to contact the CRA at the phone number provided to inquire.