Canada Carbon Rebate for April goes out soon and the final payments have a little extra
But you'll have to do this first! 👇👀
The final Canada Carbon Rebate payment goes out next week.
The very last Canada Carbon Rebate is about to hit bank accounts — and as a final parting gift, you might notice a little boost in your April payment.
It's the final carbon tax rebate from the federal government before the program officially ends, and the extra cash is part of the usual increase that comes annually in April.
The carbon tax rebate was designed to return the majority of the proceeds from the federal fuel charge back to Canadians. Now that Prime Minister Mark Carney has axed the consumer carbon tax, though, the government is wrapping up the associated rebate program for good.
That means this is your last shot to get paid under the federal carbon pricing system, and the Canada Revenue Agency is getting ready to send the government payment out soon — but only if you've filed your tax return.
Here's everything you need to know about the April 2025 Canada Carbon Rebate, including how to get it, how much you'll get and when it's coming.
What is the Canada Carbon Rebate?
The Canada Carbon Rebate — which used to go by the name Climate Action Incentive Payment — is a tax-free payment the federal government sends out every few months to people in certain provinces. It's meant to help cover the extra costs Canadians face from federal pollution pricing, also known as the carbon tax.
The federal fuel charge was revenue neutral, meaning that all money collected was returned to the province or territory it was from. Most of the cash collected through the federal fuel charge was returned directly to people through this rebate — with the rest going to groups like small businesses, Indigenous communities and farmers. The idea was to keep it fair while still pushing for greener choices.
Residents of smaller and rural areas can also get a little extra on top of the base amount. That extra boost is meant to reflect the fact that folks in less urban areas often drive longer distances and have higher energy needs.
Who gets the carbon tax rebate in Canada?
The Canada Carbon Rebate is available to all residents of provinces where the federal pollution pricing system was in place. If you live in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, P.E.I. or Saskatchewan, you're in — those are the only provinces that used the federal system.
Residents of B.C., Quebec and the Northwest Territories won't see this rebate because those regions run their own carbon pricing programs. Meanwhile, Nunavut and Yukon have separate systems for returning federal fuel charge proceeds, so they also aren't part of the CCR.
To qualify, you need to be a resident of a participating province and at least 19 years old — unless you're married, in a common-law relationship or a parent living with your child, in which case you can still be eligible even if you're younger.
If you have kids, you can get extra money for each eligible child, as long as they're already registered for either the Canada Child Benefit or the GST/HST Credit.
Your income doesn't play a role here. If you meet the basic criteria and live in a participating province, the rebate should show up in your account with no extra hoops to jump through.
Which provinces get the carbon tax rebate?
The Canada Carbon Rebate is only handed out in provinces that use the federal carbon pricing system:
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
If you're living in British Columbia, Quebec or any of the three territories, you're not part of the CCR program. But that doesn't mean you're completely left out.
In B.C., the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, the provincial and territorial governments run their own versions of a carbon rebate, which are sent out with the federal GST/HST Credit. For folks in those areas, the final payment should have already dropped into your account on April 4.
How to apply for the Canada Carbon Rebate
You actually don't need to apply separately for the Canada Carbon Rebate — as long as you're a resident of a participating province, all you have to do is file your 2024 income tax return, even if you didn't earn any income.
Once your tax return has been processed (which can take around six to eight weeks), assuming you're eligible, the payment will be sent out automatically. If you're married or living with a common-law partner, the rebate typically goes to whoever submits their return first.
If you're new to Canada, there are a few extra steps. Families with children should fill out the Canada Child Benefits Application (Form RC66 and Form RC66SCH). If you don't have kids, you'll need the GST/HST Credit and Canada Carbon Rebate Application (Form RC151). These forms can then be sent to your local tax centre.
And if you live in a rural or small community, you could qualify for a 20% top-up on your payment. To claim it, just tick the box on page 2 of your tax return. For the purposes of the CCR, rural eligibility is based on whether your primary residence is outside a Census Metropolitan Area, according to the 2016 census.
Is the CCR rural top-up changing in 2025?
There's been talk of expanding who qualifies for the Canada Carbon Rebate's rural top-up, but even just a week out from the payment date, it's still up in the air.
In the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the federal government announced a plan to widen eligibility for the 20% rural supplement. The proposal would allow more small towns and communities — specifically, all population centres with fewer than 30,000 people — to get the extra cash starting in April 2025.
That change could make around 1.6 million more people eligible, including residents in places like King, Uxbridge, Fort Erie and Rockland in Ontario, as well as spots like Chestermere and Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta.
But as of the time of publishing, it's still not a done deal. A spokesperson for Finance Canada told Narcity on Friday that more details will be shared "in due course" about whether the expansion will actually apply to this final carbon tax rebate.
So while it might still happen, nothing's confirmed yet.
How much is the Canada Carbon Rebate?
The amount you get from the Canada Carbon Rebate depends on two things: where you live and how many people are in your household. And for April 2025, the payment amounts are getting one final boost — part of the federal government's usual annual increase that takes effect every spring.
Each province using the federal pollution pricing system has its own base rebate rates. Plus, if you're in a rural or small community, you'll get an extra 20% added to your payment — except in P.E.I., where that top-up is already built into the base amount since the whole province qualifies as rural.
Here's what you can expect to receive in the April 2025 payout:
- Alberta: $228 for an individual adult, plus $114 for a second adult or the first child in a single-parent household, plus $57 for each additional child
- Manitoba: $150 for the first adult + $75 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $37.50 per additional child
- New Brunswick: $165 for the first adult + $82.50 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $41.25 per additional child
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $149 for the first adult + $74.50 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $37.25 per additional child
- Nova Scotia: $110 for the first adult + $55 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $27.50 per additional child
- Ontario: $151 for the first adult + $75.50 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $37.75 per additional child
- P.E.I.: $110 for the first adult + $55 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $27.50 per additional child
- Saskatchewan: $206 for the first adult + $103 for a second adult/first single-parent child + $51.50 per additional child
Is the Canada Carbon Rebate taxable?
No, the Canada Carbon Rebate isn't taxable. It's a tax-free benefit, so you won't need to report it as income when you file your taxes. The whole point is to return money you've already paid through the federal fuel charge — so whatever amount lands in your account, it's yours to keep.
When is the final Canada Carbon Rebate payment date?
The last-ever Canada Carbon Rebate payment is set to be issued next Tuesday, April 22 — one week later than the original target of April 15.
However, there's a catch — to get your payment on that date, you needed to have already filed your 2024 tax return electronically by April 2.
If you missed that early filing deadline, don't stress — you'll still get the money, but it may take a bit longer to arrive. In most cases, the CRA will send your rebate about six to eight weeks after they process your return — although it could come quicker if you file online and have direct deposit set up.
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