Climate Action Incentive Canada 2026 | CAI Payment Amounts

The Climate Action Incentive (CAI) payment — also called the Canada Carbon Rebate — returns carbon pricing revenue directly to Canadians in provinces where the federal fuel charge applies. The CAI is delivered as a quarterly tax-free payment and does not need to be applied for separately — you're automatically enrolled when you file your annual tax return. For 2026, CAI payments continue quarterly in April, July, October, and January.

Which Provinces Receive CAI Payments?

The federal fuel charge (carbon tax) applies in provinces that have not implemented their own carbon pricing system meeting the federal benchmark. As of 2026, CAI payments are made to residents of:

Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland and Labrador

Residents of British Columbia, Quebec, and the territories are not eligible for federal CAI payments because these provinces/territories have their own carbon pricing systems.

2026 CAI Annual Payment Amounts

Province	Single Adult	Spouse/Partner	Each Child under 19	Rural Supplement (+20%)
Alberta	$1,544	$772	$386	+$308.80 (base adult)
Saskatchewan	$1,504	$752	$376	+$300.80
Manitoba	$1,200	$600	$300	+$240.00
Ontario	$1,120	$560	$280	+$224.00
New Brunswick	$760	$380	$190	+$152.00
Nova Scotia	$824	$412	$206	+$164.80
PEI	$880	$440	$220	Included automatically
Newfoundland	$1,320	$660	$330	+$264.00

Note: These amounts are estimates based on announced 2025–26 CAI rates and projected carbon price of $95/tonne in 2026. The CRA announces exact quarterly amounts each April. Check CRA My Account or the CRA website for confirmed payment amounts.

CAI Payment Calculator

Estimate Your 2026 Annual CAI Payment

Province

Family situation

Number of children under 19

I live in a rural or small community (rural supplement +20%)

Base adult amount:

Spouse/partner amount:

Children amount:

Rural supplement (20%):

Total annual CAI payment:

Per quarter:

How CAI Payments Are Delivered

CAI payments are delivered quarterly — in April, July, October, and January of each benefit year. If you have direct deposit set up in CRA My Account, payments arrive directly in your bank account on the scheduled date. Without direct deposit, you receive a cheque by mail, which takes longer to arrive.

The benefit year for CAI runs April to March. The April 2026 payment is based on your 2024 tax return (filed in 2025). The April 2027 payment will be based on your 2025 tax return (filed in 2026) — which is why filing your tax return on time matters even if you owe nothing.

Rural Supplement

Residents of rural and small communities receive an additional 20% on top of the base CAI payment. This acknowledges that rural Canadians often have fewer alternatives to driving and may face higher fuel costs relative to their income. To claim the rural supplement, check the box on your tax return indicating you live outside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA) as of December 31 of the tax year.

PEI residents automatically receive the rural supplement — they do not need to check the box, as all of PEI is treated as rural for CAI purposes.

Who Qualifies for the CAI?

Canadian residents of an eligible province on December 31 of the tax year
Must file a tax return — even with no income
Children under 19 who are registered for CCB are automatically included in the family payment
No income threshold — the CAI is not income-tested (everyone in eligible provinces receives it regardless of income)

File your return to receive CAI: The CAI is automatic — but you must file a tax return to receive it. If you didn't file your 2024 return, you missed the April–January 2025-26 CAI payments. File as soon as possible — the CRA will catch up payments retroactively in most cases.

Put Your CAI Payment to Work

Deposit your quarterly CAI payment into a KOHO savings vault and watch it grow. Use code 45ET55JSYA.

Get KOHO Free — Code 45ET55JSYA