CRA benefits outreach would expand under Budget 2026, with the federal government proposing new funding to connect more Canadians with payments and credits they may already qualify for.
The proposal is expected to help an estimated 150,000 additional Canadians receive benefits to which they are entitled, although the measure is part of the budget’s proposals and is not an immediate change to benefit eligibility or payment dates.
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What Budget 2026 proposes for CRA benefits
Budget 2026 proposes providing the Canada Revenue Agency with $22.3 million over four years beginning in 2027-28 to strengthen outreach to people who are disconnected from the tax and benefits system.
The budget also sets out $5.9 million in proposed CRA funding for 2031-32.
The government estimates that the outreach work could result in $312 million in additional benefit payments over three years beginning in 2028-29, followed by $180 million in ongoing annual costs.
Those figures represent the estimated value of benefits expected to reach eligible Canadians, rather than a new universal payment or a guaranteed amount for every household.
Which benefits are involved
The proposal is designed to support access to federal programs that rely on tax information to determine eligibility.
Budget 2026 specifically refers to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the Canada Child Benefit and the Canada Workers Benefit.
Filing an income tax and benefit return can also be important for accessing other credits and payments, including the GST/HST credit and the Canada Disability Benefit, depending on a person’s circumstances.
The CRA says automatic filing services are intended mainly for people with lower incomes, simple tax situations and no tax owing.
How the outreach plan builds on automatic filing
The new outreach proposal would build on automatic federal benefits measures announced in Budget 2025.
Under the existing rollout plan, the CRA is expected to offer pre-filled tax returns through CRA accounts to about one million eligible people beginning in March 2027.
The program is intended to expand to as many as 5.5 million eligible low-income Canadians by March 2029.
Eligible people would be able to review information already held by the CRA, make corrections or additions, and approve the return before it is submitted.
The CRA has also described a proposed deemed-filing pilot for certain people who do not owe tax, although that pilot remains subject to the applicable legislative process.
Budget 2026’s outreach funding is aimed at people who may not be reached by digital notices or who face barriers understanding or navigating the tax and benefit system.
The budget’s impact material identifies lower-income people, seniors, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous people in rural or remote communities among groups that could benefit from simpler access to services.
Why filing taxes still matters
For many federal benefits, the CRA uses information from an income tax and benefit return to assess eligibility and calculate payments.
That means a person who has little or no tax owing may still need to file a return to receive benefits or renew them.
Not filing can therefore affect access to support even when no income tax is payable.
The proposed outreach expansion does not remove that responsibility for everyone, and it does not mean every person will automatically receive a payment.
People should continue filing their returns and updating the CRA when their personal, family or income circumstances change.
What Canadians can do now
People who may qualify for benefits can take several practical steps while the proposed measures move through implementation.
- File an income tax and benefit return for each year, even if no tax is owed.
- Keep a CRA account active and check that contact information is current.
- Review notices from the CRA and respond when additional information is requested.
- Consider free filing help through an eligible tax clinic or a CRA service designed for people with lower incomes and simple tax situations.
- Watch for future invitations to use a pre-filled return if eligible.
The CRA says people invited to use the upcoming pre-filled return service may need a CRA account and electronic correspondence settings to receive the invitation online.
For the first planned group, the agency says eligibility can include having filed a 2025 return by October 31, 2026, along with meeting income and tax-situation requirements.
When could the expanded outreach begin
The funding is proposed to begin in the 2027-28 fiscal year, so the outreach expansion is not scheduled as an immediate November 2026 benefit change.
The budget’s estimated additional benefit costs begin in 2028-29, suggesting that the government expects the full effect of the program to develop over several years.
Further operational details, including how the CRA will identify and contact people who are disconnected from the system, would be needed before the public can assess how the program will work in practice.
Until those details are released, Canadians should treat the announcement as a proposed expansion of service and outreach rather than a new benefit application or automatic payment.
The measure forms part of a broader federal effort to simplify tax filing and improve access to benefit programs through pre-filled returns, automatic filing tools and more targeted communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budget 2026 creating a new CRA benefit payment?
No. It proposes more CRA outreach funding to help eligible people access existing benefits. It does not announce a universal payment.
How many more Canadians could receive benefits?
The government estimates that about 150,000 additional Canadians could receive benefits to which they are entitled.
How much new CRA funding is proposed?
Budget 2026 proposes $22.3 million over four years starting in 2027-28, plus $5.9 million in 2031-32.
When will pre-filled CRA tax returns become available?
The CRA says pre-filled returns are expected to be offered to about one million eligible people beginning in March 2027, with expansion planned by March 2029.
Do Canadians still need to file their taxes to receive benefits?
In many cases, yes. People should continue filing an income tax and benefit return each year unless the CRA confirms that an automatic filing process applies to them.
Fact-Checked: Key funding, timing, benefit-access estimates and automatic filing details were checked against Budget 2026 and current Canada Revenue Agency information.
Disclaimer: Budget 2026 measures are proposals and may change or require legislative approval before they take effect.