As first introduced in the 2024 Federal Budget, the Canada Carbon Rebate offers eligible Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs) with up to 499 employees a refundable tax credit. This rebate aims to offset the costs associated with the federal fuel charge imposed in certain provinces. This article explores the eligibility requirements, payment schedule, and rebate calculations to help small businesses understand how this program may benefit them.
Key Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Canada Carbon Rebate, your business must meet the following conditions:
1. CCPC Status: The corporation must be a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) throughout the relevant fuel charge year.
2. Employee Threshold: The business must have employed 499 or fewer employees across Canada for the relevant fuel charge year.
a. This rebate is decided on a per-corporation basis and does not take into account employee count across associated corporate groups.
b. If a parent corporation has over 500 employees, its subsidiaries may still qualify if they meet the eligibility criteria and maintain their own corporate RC (Corporate Income Tax) account.
3. Provincial Designation: The corporation must have employed at least one person in a designated province where the federal fuel charge applies.
4. Tax Return Filing Deadline: The corporation must have filed its 2023 tax return no later than July 15, 2024, to be eligible for the rebate, including retroactive payments.
How the Rebate Works
The Canada Carbon Rebate process is designed to be automatic, and businesses do not need to apply to receive the rebate. If a corporation is eligible, the rebate will be calculated based on the number of employees within the designated provinces and issued directly to the business. Eligible corporations will receive a notice confirming their rebate details. Most businesses can expect to receive their rebate by the end of 2024, with payments made via direct deposit by December 16, 2024, or by cheque no later than December 31, 2024.
In the first year of the rebate, there is also a retroactive payment for past fuel charge years, from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024, provided the following conditions are met:
· The business was a CCPC during the entire tax year ending in 2023.
· The 2023 tax return was filed by July 15, 2024.
The CRA has a rebate calculator here:
The calculator is based on application of standard rates for each year, as follows: