Income taxes can be quite high in Canada, particularly in Quebec. Thankfully, there are several tax rebates and credits available to lower your tax obligations.
In addition to the federal tax rebates and credits, there are some tax credits specific to Quebec residents, including the refundable Solidarity Tax Credit (STC). Let’s take a closer look at this tax credit, what you need to qualify, and how much you can expect to get.
Key Points
1. The Solidarity Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income households.
2. Eligible individuals and families can receive a tax credit of up to $800 or more per year.
3. STC payment dates for each tax year take place from July of the current year to June of the next year.
What Is The Solidarity Tax Credit (STC)?
The Solidarity Tax Credit is a Quebec-based refundable tax credit for households with low-to-moderate incomes. Administered by Revenu Quebec, this provincial tax benefit offers eligible residents and families a tax credit of up to $800 or more a year.
The Quebec Solidarity Tax Credit is made up of three components:
- Housing
- Quebec Sales Tax (QST)
- Individuals living in northern villages
While you might not be eligible for all of these components, you are allowed to claim the Solidarity Tax Credit if you qualify for at least one. The STC is based on your financial situation on December 31st of the previous year.
Solidarity Tax Credit Payment Dates 2026
If you qualify, your Solidarity Tax Credit is paid out from July of one year to June of the next. Revenu Quebec will send you a notice with your credit amount for the period, along with the information used to calculate it.
Payment Frequency
The amount of the credit will determine how often it is paid:
- If the credit is $240 or less, it will be paid as a lump sum in July 2026.
- If the credit is more than $241 but less than $799, it will be paid in quarterly instalments in July and October 2026, and January and April 2027.
- If the credit is $800 or more, it will be paid in monthly instalments, from July 2026 to June 2027.
Note: If you do not file Schedule D, you may not receive your first payment until the fall.
Monthly Payment Dates
If you receive your credit monthly, here are the Quebec solidarity tax credit payment dates for July 2026 to June 2027:
| Payment Date | Day Of The Week |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2026 | Friday |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday |
| September 4, 2026 | Friday |
| October 5, 2026 | Monday |
| November 5, 2026 | Thursday |
| December 4, 2026 | Friday |
| January 5, 2027 | Tuesday |
| February 5, 2027 | Friday |
| March 5, 2027 | Friday |
| April 5, 2027 | Monday |
| May 5, 2027 | Wednesday |
| June 4, 2027 | Friday |
The dates follow the same pattern every year. For the July 2025 to June 2026 period, for example, payments landed in the first few days of each month in the same way.
You Must Be Registered For Direct Deposit
As a rule, you must be registered for direct deposit to receive the Solidarity Tax Credit, and you need to tell Revenu Quebec about any changes to your banking information.
There is also a deadline. You will lose your eligibility for the July 2026 to June 2027 payment period if Revenu Quebec is unable to deposit your credit by January 1, 2030.
Which Of The 3 STC Components Are You Eligible For?
To receive the Solidarity Tax Credit, you need to be eligible for at least one of the following components.
Housing Component
To receive the housing component of the STC, you must prove that you or your spouse (if applicable) owned, rented, or subrented a qualifying home on December 31st of the previous year. What you enter on Schedule D depends on your situation:
- If you or your spouse owned the home, enter the roll number or cadastral designation (the numero matricule or designation cadastrale) shown on the municipal tax bill.
- If you or your spouse rented or subrented, enter the dwelling number shown in box A of the RL-31 slip issued by your landlord.
Renters: Watch For Your RL-31 Slip
If you rent, you cannot claim the housing component without an RL-31 slip from your landlord. Landlords must issue an RL-31 to every tenant who was renting an eligible dwelling on December 31st, and you should have it by the end of February. If you have not received yours by mid-March, contact your landlord.
Without the RL-31 slip, Revenu Quebec treats you as having no eligible housing expenses, which can significantly reduce your credit.
You may still qualify for the STC even if you lived in an ineligible dwelling, such as low-rental housing (HLM), on December 31st. In that case, only two components are considered: the QST component and, where applicable, the component for individuals living in a northern village.
QST Component
The QST component helps offset the financial burden of the QST on eligible individuals. To be eligible for the QST component, you must have lived by yourself or with one or more persons under the age of 18 in a home throughout the previous year.
If you receive last-resort financial assistance (social assistance) from the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, there is a special rule for the QST component. Revenu Quebec can pay it to you even if you have not filed a tax return. If you have not filed by September 1, you will still receive a payment covering the basic amount and, if applicable, the spousal amount of the QST component.
Component For Individuals Living In Northern Villages
The component for individuals living in northern villages compensates for the higher cost of living in these locations compared to other regions in Quebec. You must live in one of the 14 northern villages designated by the Quebec government to qualify for this component.
Who Is Eligible For The Solidarity Tax Credit?
To be eligible for the Quebec Solidarity Tax Credit from July to June of the current tax year, you will have to file a tax return and meet all of the following criteria on December 31 of the previous year:
Solidarity Tax Credit Eligibility
- You were a Quebec resident.
- You were 18 years old or more. If you were not yet 18, you had a spouse, were the parent of a child, or were an emancipated minor.
- You were a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, or a temporary resident or temporary resident permit holder who lived in Canada for the last 18 months.
Maximum Income For The Solidarity Tax Credit
Your “family income” is what appears on Line 275 of your tax return. If you had a spouse on December 31st of the previous tax year, that amount will also be on Line 275 of their return. If, at that time, your family income was equal to or greater than the maximum family income in the list below, you are no longer eligible for the Solidarity Tax Credit.
Here are the current maximum family income thresholds, based on family composition:
| Family Composition | Maximum Family Income |
|---|---|
| Individuals with a spouse | $70,395* |
| Single-parent families | $64,545* |
| Single individuals | $64,545 |
*For individuals with a spouse and single-parent families, add $2,634 to the maximum for each dependent child.
Two things can change how this works. If your principal residence is in a northern village, ignore the maximum family income and complete Schedule D anyway, since you may still qualify. And if you or your spouse was not a resident of Canada for all or part of the year, you must calculate your family income using all the income you both earned during the year, including income earned while not resident in Canada.
How Much Will You Receive?
Your credit for a given period is based on your situation on December 31st of the previous year. Revenu Quebec adds up the amounts you qualify for under each of the three components, and the total may be reduced based on your family income. In practice, the amount you receive depends on:
- Your housing situation on December 31st of the previous tax year
- The amount of Quebec Sales Tax (QST) being offset by the QST component
- Where you live, since costs are higher in northern villages compared to the rest of Quebec
The quickest way to get a figure tailored to your situation is the Solidarity Tax Credit Payments Estimator, a free calculator on the Revenu Quebec website. Here is how it works:
Using The Solidarity Tax Credit Estimator
What it does: Estimates the amount you could be entitled to if you claim the STC.
Who can use it: Individuals who filed an income tax return for the year before the period they want an estimate for.
What you need: The amount on Line 275 of your income tax return, and your spouse’s if applicable, for that year.
Keep in mind: The result is only an estimate, and your actual amount may differ. To get your real amount, you must claim the STC by completing Schedule D of your income tax return (form TP-1-V).
How To Claim The Solidarity Tax Credit (STC)
To claim the STC, you must complete Schedule D when filing your income tax return. Schedule D is where you enter any information related to the three components of the STC.
To get the full STC amount for a particular payment term, you must claim it no later than four years after the end of the taxation year used to calculate the credit for that period. For example, the credit for the July 2026 to June 2027 period is based on the 2025 taxation year, so you must claim it by December 31, 2029. And if you did not claim the STC on your 2022, 2023, or 2024 income tax return, you can still claim it now.
Note:
- If you have a spouse, only one of you should claim the credit for the household. Which spouse should claim it is covered in the FAQs below.
- If you qualify for the credit but do not complete Schedule D, you will only receive the basic amount, which consists of the QST component and spousal amount (when applicable).
- If you are not registered for direct deposit, do not forget to include your registration form when claiming the STC. As a rule, you must register for direct deposit to receive the STC payments.
What If Your Situation Changes?
Your STC is calculated from your situation on December 31st of the previous year, but life does not stand still. If you move, your marital status changes, you have a child, or you start or stop renting, let Revenu Quebec know. Reporting changes promptly helps keep your payments accurate and reduces the chance of being asked to repay an overpayment later. You can update your details through My Account for individuals on the Revenu Quebec website.
When Can You Lose Your STC Payment?
You can lose entitlement to a payment in a few situations. You will not receive the STC for a given month if, immediately before the first day of that month, you were no longer a resident of Quebec, or you were confined to a prison or similar institution. If one of these situations comes up after you have claimed the credit, contact Revenu Quebec.
There are also a couple of rules involving a spouse:
- If your spouse received the credit for your couple and is confined to a prison or similar institution, you can receive the credit instead, as long as you meet the conditions and claim it.
- In the case of a death, Revenu Quebec stops paying the credit the month after the person dies. However, if your spouse was receiving the credit for your couple and passes away, you do not have to reclaim it for the current payment period. If you meet the eligibility requirements, Revenu Quebec will pay you the remaining amounts once it has been notified of the death.
What Happens If I Owe More Taxes Than My Solidarity Tax Credit?
A tax credit is “refundable” when the amount you qualify for is more than the taxes you owe.
In other words, you are only responsible for paying what the credit does not cover. So, if you owe $1,500 in income taxes, but you qualify for a $500 Solidarity Tax Credit, you would only owe $1,000.
It should also be noted that if you receive the STC and you have outstanding government debts, Revenu Quebec can use these payments to cover your debt under the Tax Administration Act. However, there are limits. If the family income used to determine your STC amount is below a set threshold, Revenu Quebec will use no more than half of each STC payment to repay your debt.
This threshold is separate from the general eligibility cutoff, and it is much lower:
| Payment Period | Maximum Family Income For The 50% Limit |
|---|---|
| 2024 taxation year (July 2025 to June 2026) | $25,665 |
| 2025 taxation year (July 2026 to June 2027) | $26,190 |
The same 50% limit applies if you receive last-resort financial assistance (social assistance) from the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity.
What If I Am Unable To Pay My Taxes?
If you are unable to pay your taxes, you have the following options:
- Cancel or waive penalty fees or interest. If a legitimate financial issue is stopping you from paying your tax debt, Revenu Quebec or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) may waive penalties and interest. Acceptable circumstances include actions by the tax authority, exceptional situations, financial hardship, and other provable causes.
- Government payment arrangement. The tax authority also offers installment plans for people who cannot pay due to financial hardship. These arrangements let you repay your tax debt over time based on your financial ability, and Revenu Quebec can even apply tax credits or rebates, like the STC, to your unpaid balance.
- Personal loans. Alternatively, you could get a personal loan to spread out your tax debt, which is a viable option if you can qualify for a low interest rate. One key to obtaining a low rate is to have a decent credit score, ideally at least 660, so check your credit score before you apply and take steps to improve it if necessary.
Are There Other Quebec Tax Credits Or Rebates?
Yes. As a Quebec resident, you may be eligible for other provincial tax benefits, like:
Consumption Tax Rebates
In some cases, you might be entitled to a rebate on the consumption taxes that you pay in Quebec. These taxes are based on your expenditures, rather than your income. You may qualify for a QST rebate if you paid taxes on certain types of goods and services.
Collecting And Remitting Consumption Taxes
If you operate a business in Quebec, you may have to collect and remit certain types of consumption taxes on your sales, including the sale of goods and rental dwellings.
Taxable, Zero-Rated, Or Tax-Exempt Goods And Services
In Quebec, consumers must pay GST and QST when buying goods and services related to situations such as health, transport, and groceries. You also have to pay specific taxes on certain goods and services, like lodging, fuel, insurance premiums, and alcoholic beverages. However, some goods and services are zero-rated or tax-exempt.
Tax Credit For Childcare Expenses
Revenu Quebec has a number of tax measures exclusively for families, including the Tax Credit For Childcare Expenses. The rate of this tax credit is based on your family net income.
Senior Assistance Tax Credit
If you meet certain conditions, are a Quebec resident, and were at least 70 years of age on December 31st of the previous tax year, you may be eligible for a refundable tax credit for senior citizens. If applicable, your spouse must meet specific conditions, too, including the following:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be a Quebec resident
- Be at least 70 years old on December 31st of the previous year
Other Programs To Look Into If You Live In Quebec
The Solidarity Tax Credit is not the only support available to Quebec residents. Depending on your situation, these programs are worth a look too:
- If you are retired or nearing retirement, Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) payments provide monthly retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to people who contributed during their working years.
- If you are out of work with little or no income, social assistance in Quebec offers last-resort financial assistance to help cover your basic needs.
Want To Receive The Solidarity Tax Credit (STC)?
The Solidarity Tax Credit is a great way to minimize your income tax obligations. You may be eligible if you are a Quebec resident and meet certain conditions. Before you submit your income tax return, remember to do research and speak with a tax expert to find out if you qualify for any tax breaks, like the Solidarity Tax Credit.
Solidarity Tax Credit FAQs
Generally, you must be registered for direct deposit to collect your Solidarity Tax Credit. If your banking situation changes, make sure to notify Revenu Quebec immediately to maintain your eligibility for the STC payment period (July 2026 to June 2027).
Yes, you can claim the Solidarity Tax Credit for previous income tax returns, provided you have not claimed them already. An unclaimed STC can still be paid to you, but to get the full amount for any given period, you have to file a complete claim no later than December 31st of the fourth taxation year following the one you are claiming.
If you were living with a spouse on December 31st, only one of you can complete Schedule D to claim the Solidarity Tax Credit for both of you. If your spouse did not live with you, each of you must complete Schedule D to claim it. For instance, this can occur if one spouse lives permanently in a residential and long-term care center (CHSLD).
When you live with a spouse, it does not usually matter which of you claims the credit, since the household gets the same total either way. Many couples simply have the spouse who is completing Schedule D claim it. Just make sure only one of you claims it, or your return could be delayed.
Yes. Revenu Quebec offers a free STC Estimator on its website. You enter details about your income, housing, and family situation, and it gives you an estimate of the Quebec solidarity tax credit amount you may receive.
References
- Revenu Quebec. (2026). Solidarity tax credit. https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/tax-credits/solidarity-tax-credit/
- Revenu Quebec. (2026). Housing component of the solidarity tax credit. https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/tax-credits/solidarity-tax-credit/components-of-the-solidarity-tax-credit/housing-component/
