Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Calculator

What the Canada Child Benefit calculator does

The calculator estimates the tax-free money your family can expect from the CRA. You enter your adjusted family net income and how many children you have in each age group, and the tool returns your estimated annual and monthly benefit, the maximum you could receive, and how much the income test takes off.

The CCB is one of the largest sources of support for Canadian families, so even an estimate helps with budgeting. Seeing how the benefit shrinks as income rises also shows the real value of an RRSP contribution or anything else that lowers your adjusted family net income.

How the CCB is calculated

The calculation starts with a maximum amount per child, then applies an income test. For the benefit year from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17. The CCB is that total minus the income-tested reduction.

The reduction depends on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) and the number of children:

• At or below $38,237, you receive the full amount with no reduction.
• Between $38,237 and $82,847, the benefit is reduced by a percentage of the income above $38,237: 7% for one child, 13.5% for two, 19% for three and 23% for four or more.
• Above $82,847, the first band is applied in full and a lower percentage (3.2%, 5.7%, 8% or 9.5%) applies to income above $82,847.

The maximums, thresholds and reduction rates come from CRA parameters that update each July, so the estimate reflects the current benefit year.

A worked example

Take a family with one child under 6, one child aged 6 to 17, and an adjusted family net income of $60,000. The maximum is $8,157 plus $6,883, or $15,040. Because $60,000 sits between the two thresholds, the benefit is reduced by 13.5% of the $21,763 above $38,237, about $2,938. That leaves about $12,102 a year, or about $1,009 a month, tax-free.

Now suppose the same family lowers its AFNI to $50,000, for example through an RRSP or FHSA contribution. The reduction falls to about $1,588 and the benefit rises to about $13,452 a year, or $1,121 a month. Bring AFNI down to $38,237 and the reduction disappears. Because the benefit is recalculated from last year’s return each July, a deduction made this year lifts next year’s payments, and running both AFNI figures through the calculator shows the difference before you commit.

Who is eligible

To receive the CCB you generally must live with the child, be primarily responsible for their care and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and you or your partner must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, or meet other residency conditions. Both parents in a two-parent household must file a tax return every year, even with no income, because the CRA calculates the benefit from those returns.

Newcomers can qualify once they meet the residency conditions. The benefit is recalculated automatically each July from the prior year’s income, so there is no need to reapply, but tell the CRA promptly about a new child, a change in custody or a change in marital status.

Why income testing matters

The CCB pays the most to families with the lowest incomes and tapers as income rises, so anything that reduces your adjusted family net income can increase next year’s benefit. RRSP and FHSA contributions, child care expense deductions and union dues all lower AFNI, which makes them worth more to families receiving the CCB.

The reverse also holds: a raise, a bonus or a second income can reduce the benefit, sometimes by more than expected once the reduction rate is applied. Running your expected income through the calculator before a big change shows the net effect in advance.

Things to keep in mind

This tool gives an estimate, not an official determination. It models the federal CCB with current parameters and the standard two-tier reduction, but it does not include the Child Disability Benefit, provincial and territorial benefits paid alongside the CCB, or shared custody, where each parent receives half. For provincial and territorial amounts, use a provincial child benefit estimate.

The CRA sets your actual benefit from your filed returns. Use the figures here for planning, keep your returns up to date, and check CRA My Account for the definitive amount.

Provincial and territorial top-ups

Most provinces and territories add their own child benefits, and many are paid with the CCB in one monthly deposit. Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and others top up federal support for lower- and middle-income families, while Quebec pays its own Family Allowance separately through Retraite Québec. These programs have their own income tests and thresholds, so a full picture of your family’s support means adding a provincial estimate to the federal figure from this tool.

Applying and keeping the benefit accurate

Families usually apply with form RC66, or through the Automated Benefits Application when they register a birth with their province’s vital statistics office; newcomers also complete schedule RC66SCH. Once enrolled you do not reapply, but both partners must file a return every year, even with no income, because the CRA rebuilds the benefit from those returns each July.

Common mistakes and shared custody

• Not filing when income is nil. A missed return stops the benefit, because the CRA has nothing to calculate from.
• Forgetting the July reset. Payments can change at the start of each benefit year even if your income has not, because amounts and thresholds are indexed.
• Overlooking shared custody. Where a child lives roughly equally with two parents, each generally receives half the amount, not the full figure this calculator shows.
• Ignoring the Child Disability Benefit. Families of a child eligible for the disability tax credit may receive an additional amount not included here.

This article is general information only and not financial advice.

About This Canada Child Benefit Calculator

Use this Canada child benefit calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.