The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a combined program designed to help low- and moderate-income Ontarians with energy costs, property or rent costs, and sales tax. If you’ve seen mentions of a “$360 payment” for September 2025 and wondered whether you qualify, how much you’ll get, and when, here’s everything you need to know.
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What Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)?
The OTB packages together three separate tax‐credit programs:
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) – helps with energy costs, property taxes or rent.
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) – for residents of Northern Ontario who face higher energy costs.
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) – helps offset sales tax paid on goods and services.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the OTB on behalf of the Ontario government.
What’s the “$360 Rule”?
- If your annual OTB entitlement is $360 or less, you’ll receive it in one lump-sum payment, in the first payment month (usually July).
- If your annual entitlement is more than $360, payments are divided into monthly instalments (July through June).
This means “$360” isn’t a fixed monthly payment—it’s a threshold that determines whether you get a lump sum or monthly instalments.
Who Qualifies for the OTB
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2024.
- File your 2024 Ontario income tax and benefit return. Even if you have little to no income, filing is required.
- For certain components (OEPTC, NOEC), you might need to complete Form ON-BEN with your return.
- To qualify for OEPTC: you must have paid rent or property tax, or energy costs, or lived in qualifying accommodations (or in a care home, on reserve, etc.) in 2024.
- For NOEC: you must live in Northern Ontario on December 31, 2024, and meet the conditions for energy cost and property/rent or similar payments.
- For OSTC: there’s no separate application; CRA uses your tax return to assess eligibility.
Payment Dates & When You’ll See Money
- Payments are generally made on the 10th of each month, from July 2025 through June 2026.
- If the 10th falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the payment is issued on the last business day before the 10th.
- If your 2024 tax return is assessed after June 19, 2025, your first payment will come within 4‐8 weeks after the assessment, then monthly after that.
What to Expect for October 2025
- If your entitlement is more than $360 annually and you opted for monthly payments, you will receive your September OTB on October 10, 2025.
- If your total 2025 OTB entitlement is $360 or less, you would already have received the lump-sum payment in July and will not receive a separate OTB payment in September.
What You Should Do to Make Sure You Get It
- File your 2024 tax return (with ON-BEN if needed) and ensure CRA has your latest information.
- Confirm your residency in Ontario as of the required date.
- Make sure your banking details and direct deposit are up to date with CRA—payments are faster this way.
- Watch for the benefit notice from CRA, which will tell you your entitlement.
Why This Matters
Many households rely on the OTB to help with basic living costs—electricity, heating, taxes, rent, and the burden of sales tax. Understanding whether you’ll get the lump sum or monthly instalments (and the threshold that determines it) can help with budgeting and cash flow.