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Benefits

How to Pay Back a CRA Benefit Overpayment (CCB, GST/HST Credit)

If the CRA recalculates your benefits and finds you were overpaid, it sends a notice with a remittance voucher. Pay online through your bank using your SIN as the account number, let the CRA take it from future benefits or refunds, or call 1-888-863-8662 to set up a payment plan.

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Why overpayments happen

Benefits are recalculated when a return is reassessed, your marital status changes, the number of children in your care changes, or you report a change in circumstances. A change can mean you received more than you were entitled to.

Child benefit payments are not used to pay other tax or government debts; the CRA only keeps future CCB payments when you were overpaid CCB.

Step by step

  1. Read your notice.

    It explains why you were overpaid and how much you owe.

  2. Pay online through your bank.

    Choose the right payee option, such as "Canada Child Benefit (CCB) repayment" or "GST/HST credit repayment", and enter your 9-digit SIN as the account number.

  3. Or let it come off future payments.

    The CRA can keep future benefit payments or tax refunds until the debt is paid.

  4. Can't pay in full? Ask for a payment plan.

    Call 1-888-863-8662. If repaying would cause financial hardship, tell the CRA.

Phone numbers

Repay a child and family benefit overpayment

1-888-863-8662

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-613-221-3002

CRA benefits enquiries

1-800-387-1193

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time

Related

When Does the CRA Update Your Benefits? The July Benefit Year The CRA recalculates the Canada child benefit every July, using your tax return from the previous year. Payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are based on your 2025 return. Filing by April 30 keeps your benefits from being interrupted in July. Why Is My Tax Refund Lower Than Expected? The most common reasons are that the CRA used part of your refund to pay a debt you owe (taxes, a benefit overpayment, or another government debt like a student loan or EI overpayment), or it changed your return, for example by disallowing a credit. Your notice of assessment explains exactly what happened. 1-800-387-1193: CRA Benefits Phone Line (CCB, GST/HST Credit) Call 1-800-387-1193 for the Canada child benefit, the GST/HST credit or Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the child disability benefit, and marital status or death notifications for benefits. Agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time; automated payment info runs every day from 6 am to 3 am ET.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.