When you arrive in Quebec, you mostly think about the taxes you'll pay — but the government also pays money out to people with modest incomes. Two credits are especially worth knowing: the solidarity tax credit (provincial) and the GST/HST credit (federal). These are payments, not theoretical deductions.
The solidarity credit. Paid by Revenu Québec, it has three components: one tied to the QST, one tied to housing, and one for residents of northern villages. To qualify, you must, among other things, live in Quebec and be an adult (18 or older) on December 31 of the year before the payment period, according to Revenu Québec. The amount depends on your income and family situation, and the credit decreases above a certain income threshold.
How to claim it. The solidarity credit is claimed on your provincial income tax return (TP-1), through Schedule D. In other words, you have to file a Quebec return every year to keep receiving it — even if you have little or no income. Signing up for direct deposit is strongly recommended, since Revenu Québec pays this credit by deposit.
The GST/HST credit. Paid quarterly by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), it helps low- and modest-income individuals and families offset part of the sales tax they pay. Generally, you must be a resident of Canada and 19 or older (or have a spouse, or be the parent of a child you live with).
Newcomers: don't wait. Normally, the CRA determines your eligibility from your income tax return. But a newcomer may not have filed a return yet. That's why the CRA provides Form RC151, to fill out as soon as you become a resident of Canada, so you can receive the GST/HST credit without waiting for your first return, according to Canada.ca.
Good to know for newcomers. The winning habit: file your returns (federal and provincial) every year, even on a low income, and sign up for direct deposit. That's what triggers and maintains these payments. For your very first federal credit, Form RC151 saves you from waiting more than a year. Always check the up-to-date amounts and thresholds on the official Revenu Québec and CRA websites.