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Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

Return or repay a payment

Status: Closed

CESB applications from September 28 to 30, 2020

The CESB closed for applications on September 30, 2020. However, from September 28 to 30, 2020, CRA’s My Account and automated phone line were experiencing technical issues. If you tried to apply for CESB but were unable to apply using those services during that time, then you may still be able to apply by speaking to an agent at 1-800-959-8281.

When you call, we will check our systems records to verify that you tried to apply on September 28, 29 or 30. We will only process your application if we can confirm in our records that you tried to apply during those three days.

On this page

Why you would send the CESB back

Your situation may have changed since you first applied or you may have made an honest mistake when applying. Payments made to anyone who is later found to be ineligible will need to be returned.

You must return or repay the CESB if you:

  • were able to find work and earned more than $1,000 (before taxes) during an eligibility period you’ve applied for
  • applied for CESB and later found that you are not eligible
  • mistakenly received multiple payments or payments you did not apply for
  • received more than what you are entitled to

View each 4-week eligibility period in a calendar:

    • May 10 to June 6, 2020

      Two tables with all the days that apply to eligibility period

      May: part of the May 10 to June 6 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
                Friday May 1, 2020 Saturday May 2, 2020
      Sunday May 3, 2020 Monday May 4, 2020 Tuesday May 5, 2020 Wednesday May 6, 2020 Thursday May 7, 2020 Friday May 8, 2020 Saturday May 9, 2020
      Sunday May 10, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday May 11, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday May 12, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday May 13, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday May 14, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday May 15, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday May 16, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday May 17, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday May 18, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday May 19, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday May 20, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday May 21, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday May 22, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday May 23, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday May 24, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday May 25, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday May 26, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday May 27, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday May 28, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday May 29, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday May 30, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday May 31, 2020: part of eligibility period            
      June: part of the May 10 to June 6 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
        Monday June 1, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday June 2, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday June 3, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday June 4, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday June 5, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday June 6, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday June 7, 2020 Monday June 8, 2020 Tuesday June 9, 2020 Wednesday June 10, 2020 Thursday June 11, 2020 Friday June 12, 2020 Saturday June 13, 2020
      Sunday June 14, 2020 Monday June 15, 2020 Tuesday June 16, 2020 Wednesday June 17, 2020 Thursday June 18, 2020 Friday June 19, 2020 Saturday June 20, 2020
      Sunday June 21, 2020 Monday June 22, 2020 Tuesday June 23, 2020 Wednesday June 24, 2020 Thursday June 25, 2020 Friday June 26, 2020 Saturday June 27, 2020
      Sunday June 28, 2020 Monday June 29, 2020 Tuesday June 30, 2020        
                   
    • June 7 to July 4, 2020

      Two tables with all the days that apply to eligibility period

      June: part of the June 7 to July 4 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
        Monday June 1, 2020 Tuesday June 2, 2020 Wednesday June 3, 2020 Thursday June 4, 2020 Friday June 5, 2020 Saturday June 6, 2020
      Sunday June 7, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday June 8, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday June 9, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday June 10, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday June 11, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday June 12, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday June 13, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday June 14, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday June 15, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday June 16, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday June 17, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday June 18, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday June 19, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday June 20, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday June 21, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday June 22, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday June 23, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday June 24, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday June 25, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday June 26, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday June 27, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday June 28, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday June 29, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday June 30, 2020: part of eligibility period        
      July: part of the June 7 to July 4 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
            Wednesday July 1, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday July 2, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday July 3, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday July 4, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday July 5, 2020 Monday July 6, 2020 Tuesday July 7, 2020 Wednesday July 8, 2020 Thursday July 9, 2020 Friday July 10, 2020 Saturday July 11, 2020
      Sunday July 12, 2020 Monday July 13, 2020 Tuesday July 14, 2020 Wednesday July 15, 2020 Thursday July 16, 2020 Friday July 17, 2020 Saturday July 18, 2020
      Sunday July 19, 2020 Monday July 20, 2020 Tuesday July 21, 2020 Wednesday July 22, 2020 Thursday July 23, 2020 Friday July 24, 2020 Saturday July 25, 2020
      Sunday July 26, 2020 Monday July 27, 2020 Tuesday July 28, 2020 Wednesday July 29, 2020 Thursday July 30, 2020 Friday July 31, 2020  
    • July 5 to August 1, 2020

      Two tables with all the days that apply to eligibility period

      July: part of the July 4 to August 1, 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
            Wednesday July 1, 2020 Thursday July 2, 2020 Friday July 3, 2020 Saturday July 4, 2020
      Sunday July 5, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday July 6, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday July 7, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday July 8, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday July 9, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday July 10, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday July 11, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday July 12, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday July 13, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday July 14, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday July 15, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday July 16, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday July 17, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday July 18, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday July 19, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday July 20, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday July 21, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday July 22, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday July 23, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday July 24, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday July 25, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday July 26, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday July 27, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday July 28, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday July 29, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday July 30, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday July 31, 2020: part of eligibility period  
                   
      August: part of the July 4 to August 1, 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
                  Saturday August 1, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday August 2, 2020 Monday August 3, 2020 Tuesday August 4, 2020 Wednesday August 5, 2020 Thursday August 6, 2020 Friday August 7, 2020 Saturday August 8, 2020
      Sunday August 9, 2020 Monday August 10, 2020 Tuesday August 11, 2020 Wednesday August 12, 2020 Thursday August 13, 2020 Friday August 14, 2020 Saturday August 15, 2020
      Sunday August 16, 2020 Monday August 17, 2020 Tuesday August 18, 2020 Wednesday August 19, 2020 Thursday August 20, 2020 Friday August 21, 2020 Saturday August 22, 2020
      Sunday August 23, 2020 Monday August 24, 2020 Tuesday August 25, 2020 Wednesday August 26, 2020 Thursday August 27, 2020 Friday August 28, 2020 Saturday August 29, 2020
      Sunday August 30, 2020 Monday August 31, 2020          
    • August 2 to August 29, 2020

      A table with all the days that apply to eligibility period

      August: part of the August 2 to August 29, 2020 eligibility period
      S M T W T F S
                  Saturday August 1, 2020
      Sunday August 2, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday August 3, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday August 4, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday August 5, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday August 6, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday August 7, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday August 8, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday August 9, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday August 10, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday August 11, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday August 12, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday August 13, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday August 14, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday August 15, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday August 16, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday August 17, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday August 18, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday August 19, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday August 20, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday August 21, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday August 22, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday August 23, 2020: part of eligibility period Monday August 24, 2020: part of eligibility period Tuesday August 25, 2020: part of eligibility period Wednesday August 26, 2020: part of eligibility period Thursday August 27, 2020: part of eligibility period Friday August 28, 2020: part of eligibility period Saturday August 29, 2020: part of eligibility period
      Sunday August 30, 2020 Monday August 31, 2020          

Recognize CESB repayment scams

Beware of fraudulent emails, texts or calls claiming to be from the CRA about repaying the CESB or requesting personal information.

For more on what to expect when we contact you, and what information we ask for, go to Protect yourself against fraud.

How to return or repay the CESB

You can return or repay your CESB payment online or by mail.

If you were paid by direct deposit or don't have the original CESB cheque

To repay the CESB, choose one of the following options:

Online:
Sign in to My Account
Online banking:

With your financial institution:

  1. Sign in to online banking
  2. Under "Add a payee" look for an option such as CRA (revenue) – Canada emergency benefit repayment or CEB repayment to repay a CRA administered COVID-19 benefit
  3. Enter your 9-digit Social Insurance Number (SIN) as the CRA account number
By mail:

Mail a cheque or money order to the CRA:

  1. Make payment out to "Receiver General for Canada"
  2. Indicate it is for "Repayment of CESB"
  3. Indicate which eligibility period you are repaying
  4. Include your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or your Temporary Tax Number (TTN)
  5. Mail your payment to:

    Revenue Processing – Repayment of CESB
    Sudbury Tax Centre
    1050 Notre Dame Avenue
    Sudbury ON P3A 0C3
If you still have the original CESB cheque

You can return the cheque by mail.

Be sure to include:

  1. the reason for returning the cheque (not entitled or overpayment)
  2. your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Temporary Tax Number (TTN)

Mail the cheque to:

Revenue Processing – Repayment of CESB
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 0C3

How repayments can impact your taxes

The timing of when you repay a CESB amount may impact your taxes. Your repayment should be reflected on your T4A slip in the year you made the repayment.

If you repay a CESB amount before January 1, 2023, you can choose to claim the deduction in the year you made the repayment or in the year you received the benefits.

You may also split the deduction between your tax returns for the years when you received the benefits and when you repaid them. You cannot deduct more than what you repaid.

Find out more: Tax treatment of COVID-19 benefit amounts

Examples of CESB repayments made:

Before December 31, 2020
Your repayment should have been reflected on your 2020 T4A slip (you do not pay tax on amounts you repaid in 2020)
Between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021
Your repayment should be reflected on your 2021 T4A slip. Since you are repaying a CESB amount you received in 2020, you can either choose to:
  • file your 2021 tax return with the amounts on your 2021 T4A slip
  • change your tax return for 2020 to claim the deduction (make sure your amounts are not also deducted from your 2021 tax return)
You can also split the deduction between your 2020 and 2021 tax returns. You cannot deduct more than what you repaid.

For more on taxes, go to: Impact on your taxes

If you need more time to repay

If you want to repay your CESB but need more time, contact the CRA to ensure you have an agreed upon payback schedule.

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