Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB): What It Is and How to Get It

If you live in Ontario, you may be leaving money on the table every month without realizing it. The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a tax-free monthly payment that combines three provincial credits into one. Many renters, people with modest incomes, and Northern Ontario residents qualify — but only if you file your taxes and claim it correctly.

What Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

The OTB combines three separate Ontario credits into a single monthly payment:

1. Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) — helps with the cost of property taxes and energy costs
2. Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) — extra support for residents of Northern Ontario who face higher heating costs
3. Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) — helps offset the HST paid by lower and middle-income individuals and families

Who Qualifies?

You may be eligible if you:

• Are a Canadian resident who lives in Ontario on December 31 of the tax year
• Are 19 years of age or older for the OSTC (or have/had a spouse or common-law partner, or are a parent)
• File a tax return — OTB is not automatic; you must claim it on your return

For the OEPTC specifically: You must have paid rent or property tax for your principal residence in Ontario, or lived in a public long-term care home, or lived on a reserve where you paid home energy costs.

Renters qualify too — you don’t need to own a home to receive the OEPTC. If you rent, your landlord’s property tax is considered paid on your behalf at a rate of 20% of your annual rent.

How Much Can You Get?

Amounts vary based on your income, family situation, and housing costs. For the 2025 benefit year (based on your 2024 tax return), approximate maximums are:

• OEPTC: Up to $1,283 for individuals under 65; up to $1,461 for seniors 65+; additional amounts for those living on reserves or in retirement/care homes
• NOEC: Up to $185 for single individuals; up to $285 for families in Northern Ontario
• OSTC: Up to $378 per eligible adult and child

The benefit is income-tested and begins to phase out as your net income rises above approximately $28,500 for single individuals (the exact threshold is indexed annually).

How to Claim the OTB

You claim the OTB by completing Form ON-BEN (Application for the Ontario Trillium Benefit and Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant) when you file your T1 tax return.

Key steps:

1. File your Ontario personal income tax return (T1)
2. Complete Form ON-BEN — most certified tax software includes this automatically
3. Report your rent paid, property tax paid, or energy costs on the form
4. If you are a renter, your landlord should provide you with a rent receipt or statement for the year

If your total OTB for the year is more than $360, CRA pays it in monthly installments (July through June of the following year). If it is $360 or less, you receive a single lump-sum payment in July.

Important: You Must File Even If You Have No Income

Many low-income Ontarians assume they don’t need to file a tax return because they have little or no income. But filing is exactly how you claim the OTB — and potentially hundreds of dollars in monthly payments. If you did not file last year, you can still file late and receive retroactive payments for the current cycle.

Common Mistakes

• Not filling out ON-BEN: If you skip this form, you get nothing — even if you qualify.
• Using the wrong rent amount: Only rent paid for your principal residence in Ontario counts. Sublet income, shared accommodations, and student residence fees may have different rules.
• Missing the property tax amount: If you own a home, the property tax amount should appear on your municipal tax bill. Do not leave this field blank.

Not sure if you qualify or how to maximize your OTB claim? Book a consultation with us — we make sure you get every dollar you are entitled to.