Toronto 
Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier announced that benefit payments will continue for an additional three months for those who are not able to file their 2019 returns on time.
Though the tax filing deadline has been extended from April 30 to June 1, 2020, those who are not able to file their taxes on time and are eligible will continue to receive Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit and/or the Canada child benefit (CCB) until September 2020.
The payment amounts will be based on information from 2018 tax returns if the 2019 tax return is not assessed. According to the government, this measure will allow time to calculate benefits and credits for the July to September 2020 payments.
Penalties and interest will not be charged if payments are made by the extended deadline of September 1, 2020.
The CRA is currently processing paper returns. Due to reduced staff onsite, there will be significant delays in processing the return. To reduce delays, those who have filed paper returns can also file a 2019 return electronically.
If 2019 tax returns are not received and assessed by early September 2020, estimated benefits and/or credits will stop in October 2020 and the taxpayer will have to repay the estimated amounts that were issued as of July 2020.
Benefits payments starting in July 2020 and those scheduled for August and September won’t be interrupted for those who are presently receiving the GST/HST credit and/or the CCB.
As announced on May 12, the government is temporarily extending Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and Allowance payments if seniors’ 2019 income information has not been assessed.
