Ontario's $200 rebate cheques are officially on the way — Here's what you need to know

Ontarians, it's time to watch your mailboxes! The Ontario government has officially started sending out $200 rebate cheques to eligible residents across the province.

The Ontario Taxpayer Rebate is a one-time government payment that's part of a $3 billion initiative first announced back in October 2024 to help offset rising costs like high interest rates and the federal carbon tax.

According to the Government of Ontario, all eligible adults will receive $200, with some families getting an additional $200 per child under 18. That means a family of five, with two adults and three kids, could receive a whopping $1,000 to help with household expenses.

On Friday, the Ontario government announced that the cheques were starting to roll out and are expected to arrive over the coming weeks. The government confirmed that all payments were being distributed by cheque in the mail.

The Ontario Taxpayer Rebate is open to Ontarians who meet a few key criteria. To qualify, you must have been at least 18 years old and living in Ontario as of December 31, 2023. You also need to have filed your 2023 income tax return by December 31, 2024, and not have been bankrupt or incarcerated in 2024.

For families, there's extra good news. If you qualify for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), you'll also automatically get $200 for each eligible child under 18. Payments for kids will go to the person who receives the CCB.

Even if your family didn't receive the CCB for 2024, the government says there will be "an opportunity for a taxpayer rebate payment of $200 per child through an alternative process." Details on that are coming soon, so stay tuned.

A spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Transportation told Narcity that cheques are being sent to whatever address you have on file with the CRA. If you've moved or need to change your delivery address, you can do that online or by calling ServiceOntario. A new cheque will be sent to the new address, and any previously mailed cheque will be cancelled.

"With Ontario families struggling due to the federal carbon tax, high interest rates and global economic uncertainty, our government is stepping up as part of our ongoing work to keep costs down and help families make ends meet," Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a press release.

The rebate comes amid wide speculation of an early provincial election. Rumours suggest Premier Doug Ford may be positioning his administration for a vote, potentially in response to international trade tensions and the ongoing federal election season.

Want to check the status of your cheque? You can do that online! The government is also reminding Ontarians that they will never contact you directly by text, email or phone about this rebate, so be wary of any suspicious messages.

With inflation and other costs putting pressure on wallets, this $3 billion program aims to give Ontarians some much-needed breathing room. So, whether you're a single filer or a family of five, this rebate might help make those post-holiday bills a little easier to tackle.

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