Reviewed by: Dev, – Reviewed: 2025-11-03
Raising kids in Ontario is expensive. The “Child Tax Benefit” most families mean is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), paid monthly and topped up by the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) for low- to moderate-income households. This guide shows the 2025–26 amounts, who qualifies, how to apply, and the 2025 payment calendar. It also includes an example so you can estimate what you’ll receive.
At a glance (2025–26 benefit year)
- CCB max: $7,997 (under 6); $6,748 (ages 6–17)
- Ontario Child Benefit: up to $143.91/month per child (calculated with CCB; paid together)
- Child Disability Benefit: up to $3,411/year per eligible child
- Benefit year resets every July and uses your prior tax year return
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1) What you get in 2025–26 (July 2025–June 2026)
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB) maximums
- Under age 6: $7,997/year (≈ $666.41/month)
- Ages 6–17: $6,748/year (≈ $562.33/month)
- Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)
- Up to $143.91/month per child; amount depends on family net income and number of children
- Paid with your CCB (no separate application)
- Child Disability Benefit (CDB)
- Up to $3,411/year per eligible child (requires DTC approval)
Benefits are indexed and recalculated every July using your prior tax year return.
2) Who’s eligible for Child Tax Benefit in Ontario?
You generally qualify for CCB if you:
- live with a child under 18, 2) are primarily responsible for their care, 3) are a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and 4) you or your spouse/partner have an eligible status (citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or certain temporary residents).
Shared custody (about 40–60% each): each parent typically receives 50% of what they would have received at full custody, based on their own income.
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3) How to apply for Child Tax Benefit in Ontario
Option A — New baby: use Ontario’s online birth registration (5-in-1) to register the birth and apply for child benefits in one step. Fastest route for newborns.
Option B — Existing child / newcomers:
- Apply in CRA My Account (Apply for child benefits), or
- Submit Form RC66 (and RC66SCH if you’re a newcomer)
What to have ready: proof of birth (for first claim), SINs, 2024 tax returns for both spouses/partners (for the 2025–26 benefit year), immigration details for newcomers, and direct deposit information.
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4) Payment schedule – CCB dates received in 2025
(Jan–Jun are final payments for the 2024–25 benefit year; Jul–Dec are first payments for 2025–26)
| Month | 2025 pay date | Benefit year |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 2024–25 |
| February | 20 | 2024–25 |
| March | 20 | 2024–25 |
| April | 17 | 2024–25 |
| May | 20 | 2024–25 |
| June | 20 | 2024–25 |
| July | 18 | 2025–26 |
| August | 20 | 2025–26 |
| September | 19 | 2025–26 |
| October | 20 | 2025–26 |
| November | 20 | 2025–26 |
| December | 12 | 2025–26 |
Note: If your annual CCB is under $240, CRA issues a lump sum in July instead of monthly payments
5) Keep your payments on track
- File taxes every year for you and your spouse/partner
- Report changes in custody, marital status, or address promptly
- Use direct deposit to avoid mail delays
- Keep documents like birth certificates and immigration records handy for verification
6) Example (with tax-year clarity)
Scenario: One child (age 5), AFNI $45,000. Benefit year: 2025–26, which uses your 2024 tax return.
- Max (under 6): $7,997
- Reduction rate: 7% of income over $37,487 (one-child family)
- Income over threshold: $45,000 − $37,487 = $7,513
- Reduction: 7% × $7,513 = $525.91
- Annual CCB: $7,997 − $525.91 = $7,471.09
- Monthly (approx.): $622.59
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FAQs
Is there an income cutoff?
No hard cutoff. The benefit phases down as income rises; higher-income families may receive a small amount or none.
Do I apply separately for the Ontario Child Benefit?
No. Apply once for CCB. OCB is calculated from the same application and paid with your CCB.
When do amounts change?
Every July. CRA recalculates using your previous year’s tax return and the new indexed amounts.
What about shared custody?
In shared custody (roughly 40–60% split), each parent usually receives 50% of what they would have received, based on their own family income.
Does the OCB have an income threshold?
Yes. For July 2025–June 2026, OCB starts to phase down once AFNI is above $26,364. Many families above this still receive a partial OCB; the exact amount depends on income and number of children.
Key takeaways
- 2025–26 CCB: $7,997 (under 6) and $6,748 (6–17) maximums; OCB up to $143.91/month per child
- Dates for 2025: Jan 20 to Dec 12 (see table for exact days)
- Tax year used: 2024 return determines your 2025–26 benefits
- Fastest apply: Ontario birth registration (newborns) or CRA My Account
- Stay eligible: file taxes annually and report changes quickly
How I made it so helpful and accurate? : Cross-checked official CRA and Ontario program pages for 2025–26 amounts, thresholds, pay dates, and eligibility; verified calculation example against CRA methodology (checked 2025-11-03).
