The Property Tax and Rent Part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OEPTC): Who Qualifies and How Much
Money both renters and owners can claim — most people just never fill in the form.
Who can claim the property tax and rent part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and how much is it worth?
Both renters and homeowners can claim it. If you paid rent or property tax on your Ontario home in 2025, you likely qualify for the OEPTC. For the 2026 benefit year (based on your 2025 return) the maximum is about $1,307 if you are 18–64, and about $1,488 if you are 65 or older. There is no separate application — you claim it with the ON-BEN form on your tax return.
Source: Government of Ontario, ontario.ca — Ontario Trillium Benefit (2026 benefit year)
I am Arthur Zhao. A retired client who had rented the same apartment for nine years once handed me her tax slips and asked why her refund felt thinner than her neighbour’s. She had been quietly leaving around a thousand dollars on the table — every single year — because she assumed the “property tax” credit was only for people who own property. It is not. If you pay rent or property tax in Ontario, this one is very likely yours to claim.
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The Trillium Benefit is really three credits in one
Most people treat the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) as a single thing. It is actually three refundable credits bundled into one monthly payment: the OEPTC (Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit), the OSTC (Ontario Sales Tax Credit), and the NOEC, which only Northern Ontario residents receive.
This article is about the piece the most people qualify for — and the most people miss: the property tax and rent part of the OEPTC. The one-line version: if you paid property tax or rent on your principal residence in Ontario, whether you own or rent, there is likely money here for you.
Renters qualify too — and often for more
The belief that “this is a homeowner thing” is one of the most expensive tax misunderstandings in Ontario.
The OEPTC is built around what you pay to occupy your principal residence — your occupancy cost. For an owner that is property tax; for a renter it is rent. In this credit the two are treated as equals. In practice, many lower-income renters receive more than owners, because rent eats up a larger share of their income.
The one condition: your landlord must pay property tax on the place you rent (any legitimate rental does). Subletting, living rent-free, or living somewhere that pays no property tax are the situations that can fall outside it.
⚠️The credit rides on your tax return. Even with zero income and no tax owing, you must file and complete ON-BEN to receive it — not filing means giving it up.
How much: the number climbs with age
The OEPTC is capped, and the cap is higher the older you are. For the 2026 benefit year (based on your 2025 return):
• Ages 18–64: up to about $1,307
• Age 65 or older: up to about $1,488
• Living on a reserve or in a public long-term care home: about $290
These are maximums, not flat payouts. The CRA runs the calculation on both your occupancy cost and your family net income, gives you the better result, then reduces it as income rises. For example, a tenant paying $1,600 a month ($19,200 a year) has about $3,840 — 20% of the rent — counted toward occupancy cost.
ℹ️These maximums are indexed every year. Older figures floating around online (like last year’s $1,283 / $1,461) are not the 2026 numbers — check the benefit year before you rely on a dollar amount.
Homeowner vs renter: how the math differs
Step 1: File your 2025 income tax return
Step 2: Complete Form ON-BEN in your tax package
ON-BEN (the Application for the Ontario Trillium Benefit). Owners fill in the property tax box; renters fill in the rent box — how much you paid, plus the landlord (or municipality) name and address. In tax software, search “ON-BEN” or “Trillium” to jump straight to it.Step 3: Let the CRA do the rest
💡 My personal read: the OEPTC is the most underclaimed “almost-free” money in Ontario — especially for renting seniors and lower-income households. The reason it goes unclaimed is nearly always one of two things: “I thought it was for owners” or “I had no income so I didn’t file.” If you pay rent or property tax in Ontario, five minutes on the ON-BEN form at tax time is close to a no-brainer.
Four ways people leave this money behind
1. Not filing because you had no income. Wrong — not filing is forfeiting it; zero income still has to file to collect.
2. Tossing rent records. You do not attach them to the return, but the CRA can ask, so keep the landlord name, address, and proof of payment.
3. Both spouses claiming. Only one person per household claims the OEPTC — do not both fill it in.
4. Moving without updating the CRA. If you move during the monthly-payment window, update your address and direct deposit, or payments can stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the money actually paid — one cheque or monthly?
It depends on the size of your total Ontario Trillium Benefit. Larger amounts are paid monthly, on the 10th, from July through the following June. Smaller totals are issued as a single lump sum instead. If your amount is large enough, you can also choose to receive it all in one payment the following June rather than monthly.
My income is low and I do not owe any tax. Is it even worth filing?
Yes — and it is the single most common reason people miss this credit. The OEPTC is a refundable benefit, so you can receive it even if you owe no tax and had little or no income. But filing a return is the only way the CRA knows to pay you. No return, no OEPTC.
I moved into (or out of) Ontario partway through last year — do I still qualify?
Eligibility keys off being a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2025, and paying rent or property tax here during 2025. If you left Ontario before year-end, you generally will not qualify for this benefit year; if you arrived and were an Ontario resident at year-end, you can. Your monthly payments can also stop if you later move out of the province.
What is the difference between the OEPTC and the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant?
They are separate. The OEPTC covers both renters and owners for property tax, rent, and energy costs. The Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant is a separate grant for lower-income senior homeowners only — renters do not get it. Both are claimed on the same ON-BEN form, and an eligible senior homeowner can receive both.
I just moved to Canada last year — can I claim this on my first tax return?
Yes, if you were an Ontario resident on December 31, 2025 and paid rent or property tax here during 2025. The OEPTC is based on residency and occupancy cost, not on citizenship or how long you have been here. As a newcomer you still need to file a Canadian return to receive it.
Arthur Zhao
Real Estate Broker · FRI · ABR · SRS · PSA · MCNE · E-PRO · CLHMS & GUILD Elite · REAIS
VP & Branch Manager, Bay Street Group Inc.
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