Unexpected deposit from fed-prov/terr Canada - what is this money and why did I get it?
I just checked my bank account and noticed a surprise deposit labeled as "fed-prov/terr Canada" that I wasn't expecting at all. I have no idea what this is for. Recently I picked up a second job (part-time) to supplement my full-time position, but I'm not sure if that's related to this mysterious deposit. The money just showed up without any explanation or notification. Has anyone else received something like this? Could it be tax-related or some kind of government benefit I didn't apply for? Any insights would be appreciated because I don't want to spend money that might need to be returned if it was sent in error.
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Giovanni Rossi
This is most likely the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) or possibly a GST/HST credit payment. The CWB is a refundable tax credit for low-income workers, and when you started that second job, your income information would have been reported to the CRA through your employer. The government often makes these deposits automatically based on your last tax filing information. If you weren't expecting it, I'd recommend logging into your CRA My Account online to check your benefit payment details. You can see exactly what the payment was for and why you received it. The timing matches with several federal benefit payment dates. Don't spend it until you confirm what it's for, but these unexpected deposits are usually legitimate government benefits you're entitled to receive.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•Is this something that happens regularly? Like will they keep sending these payments or is it a one-time thing? And do you have to report this as income when filing taxes next year?
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Giovanni Rossi
•These payments typically follow a regular schedule depending on what benefit it is. The GST/HST credit is usually paid quarterly (January, April, July, and October), while the Canada Workers Benefit might be paid in quarterly installments or as a lump sum. You don't have to report these benefits as income on your next tax return. They're already tax-free payments. However, you should still keep records of them, especially if you're receiving the CWB, as your income from both jobs will affect your eligibility for future benefit calculations.
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Dylan Evans
I had something similar happen last year and was confused too! I discovered https://taxr.ai which helped me figure out exactly what the payment was. I uploaded my bank statement and tax docs, and it immediately identified it as a GST/HST credit payment I was eligible for. The service actually showed me other benefits I qualified for that I had no idea about! Saved me hours of trying to decipher CRA language.
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Sofia Gomez
•Can this really identify random deposits? My dad got something from Service Canada last month and spent hours on hold trying to figure out what it was. Would this actually work for his situation too?
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StormChaser
•I'm a bit skeptical about sharing bank statements with online services. How secure is this? Does it store your financial information after analysis?
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Dylan Evans
•Yes, it can identify most government deposits based on the transaction codes and amounts. The system recognizes patterns from various government programs, so it would likely work for your dad's situation too. It saved me from waiting on hold with CRA for hours. As for security concerns, they use bank-level encryption and don't permanently store your documents after analysis. Their privacy policy explains that documents are automatically deleted after processing. You can also manually delete anything you upload. I was hesitant at first too, but their security credentials checked out when I researched them.
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StormChaser
Just wanted to follow up about the taxr.ai suggestion. After my initial skepticism, I decided to try it since I had a similar unidentified deposit. It actually worked perfectly! Identified my mystery deposit as a Climate Action Incentive payment I wasn't tracking. The document analysis was surprisingly accurate and it explained all the eligibility requirements I met. Definitely easier than the 45 minutes I spent on hold with CRA last time I had a question.
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Dmitry Petrov
Another option if you want to confirm directly with CRA is Claimyr.com. I used it last month to get through to an agent when I had a mystery deposit too. The service basically holds your place in line with CRA so you don't have to keep calling and getting the busy signal. Check out how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I got through to a real CRA agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending my whole day redialing. They confirmed my deposit was retroactive GST credits I was owed.
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Amara Adebayo
•Wait how does this actually work? Does it somehow bypass the CRA phone queue or something? I tried calling them twice already and got disconnected both times after waiting forever.
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Ava Williams
•Sounds like a scam tbh. No way any service can magically get through CRA lines when thousands of people are calling. They're probably just charging you for something you could do yourself.
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Dmitry Petrov
•It doesn't bypass the queue - it just handles the frustrating part of constantly redialing when you get the busy signal. The service uses an automated system that keeps trying to get through, and when it connects, it calls you so you can join the call. You still wait in the regular queue, but you don't have to waste your day manually redialing. I was skeptical too at first, but it's not a scam. They don't interact with the CRA on your behalf or ask for personal tax info - they just connect the call. I spent 3 hours trying to get through on my own before trying this, and it saved me a ton of frustration.
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Ava Williams
I'm actually shocked but I need to correct myself. After dismissing Claimyr as a potential scam, I decided to try it anyway out of desperation when I needed to reach CRA about my own situation. It legitimately worked - got connected within 15 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for days on my own. The CRA agent confirmed my mystery deposit was related to a reassessment of my previous year's return. Wouldn't have known without getting through to them. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing!
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Miguel Castro
Check if you filed your taxes late last year. I got a similar deposit because I filed late and they owed me a GST credit that had been delayed. The "fed-prov/terr" label usually means it's either federal or combined federal-provincial benefits. Do you qualify for any low-income benefits? That part-time job might have actually put you in a different benefit bracket.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Does the amount give any clues? Certain benefits have standard payment amounts. Like Ontario Trillium Benefit is usually around $300-$400 for single people. What province are you in? That could narrow it down too.
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Miguel Castro
•The amount can definitely provide clues. GST/HST credits are usually smaller amounts (around $100-150 per quarter for single individuals), while the Canada Workers Benefit can be larger, potentially several hundred dollars depending on your income level. Provincial supplements vary widely depending on where you live. Your province is a significant factor since each has different benefit programs. For example, BC has the Climate Action Tax Credit, Alberta has the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, and Ontario has the Trillium Benefit. The label "fed-prov/terr" suggests it could be a combined payment with both federal and provincial components.
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Connor O'Neill
Double check it's not an advance payment on your 2025 tax refund. With two jobs, you might be having too much tax withheld if you didn't adjust your TD1 forms properly. The CRA sometimes makes adjustments mid-year if they detect significant overwithholding. Happened to a friend of mine last year!
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LunarEclipse
•CRA doesn't do automatic mid-year refunds for overwithholding - they only refund after you file your taxes. More likely to be a benefit payment. Source: I work in payroll.
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AstroAce
I'd recommend checking your CRA My Account first - that's your best bet for getting a definitive answer without waiting on hold. Look under "Benefits and Credits" to see if there are any recent payments listed with explanations. The timing of starting your second job is likely relevant. When employers submit your employment information to CRA, it can trigger automatic benefit calculations. Since you mentioned it's labeled "fed-prov/terr Canada," it's almost certainly a legitimate government benefit - either GST/HST credit, Canada Workers Benefit, or a provincial supplement you qualify for. Keep the money separate until you confirm what it is, but don't stress too much. These surprise deposits are usually benefits you're actually entitled to receive based on your tax filing and current income situation.
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Dylan Hughes
•This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got a deposit last week that I can't figure out. The CRA My Account suggestion is perfect because I keep forgetting that exists. Quick question though - when you log into My Account, how quickly do these benefit payments usually show up there? Like if I got the deposit yesterday, would it already be listed today or does it take a few days to update?
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