The Saskatchewan budget 2026/2027 helps to build on the commitments that were made in the Affordability Act, which is part of the government’s four-year plan. According to the provincial finance minister, this targeted tax reform will go a long way in helping residents keep more of their money.
Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit Payment Dates
If you have a low or modest income in Saskatchewan, then you may qualify for the low-income tax credit. It’s a fully refundable and non-taxable benefit payment, and you only need to file your income tax return to apply.
Once you file your annual income tax return, your information will be assessed to determine if you’re eligible to receive the credit. If you’re approved, you’ll receive the credit along with your quarterly Canada Grocery and Essential Benefit (GST/HST credit) payment. For this current tax year, you can receive $460 per adult and $181 for a child.
The payment dates for this credit are:
- January 5, 2026
- April 2, 2026
- July 3, 2026
- October 5, 2026
What Qualifies as Low Income in Saskatchewan?
In Saskatchewan, you’re generally considered to be low-income if your annual net income is below $39,345. However, those with net annual incomes between $39,345 and $81,668 are considered to have moderate income and will be able to get partial benefit amounts.
How Much Will a Family of Four Will Save?
Under the Saskatchewan Affordability Act, an average family of 4 has an estimated income tax savings of $3,400 over four years. That said, how much you can save really depends on your net family income and which credits you qualify for.
Are you Eligible for the Low-Income Tax Credit?
While there isn’t an application for the low-income tax credit in Saskatchewan, there are tax credit eligibility requirements that you need to meet. These include:
- Living in Saskatchewan on the last day of the tax year
- Filing your annual income tax return
- Having an adjusted net family income of less than $81,668
- Being an individual, having a spouse or common-law partner, having an eligible dependant, or having children under the age of 19
As long as you meet those requirements, you’ll start receiving your quarterly payments.
Does the Act Help First-Time Home Buyers?
The Affordability Act helps first-time homebuyers in Saskatchewan by increasing the First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit. It’s done this by increasing the tax credit limit from $10,000 to $15,000 and increasing the maximum provincial tax benefit from $1.050 to $1,575. What they’ve also done is reinstate the Home Renovation Tax Credit. This allows new homeowners to save up to $420 per year in upgrades and repair costs.
Annual Tax Bracket Indexation
In Saskatchewan, the tax brackets are adjusted annually based on both the Consumer Price Index and the Saskatchewan Affordability Act. This is done so residents don’t end up paying more taxes by earning more to match the costs of living. This is also referred to as basic creep protection.
When calculating these changes, one key consideration is the national inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index. For 2026, this rate was 2%. This will then be used to adjust the tax brackets, which will then happen automatically. This will also increase the basic personal exemption.
What’s the Active Families Benefit?
The Active Families Benefit is a refundable provincial tax credit that can provide up to $300 per child. For children who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, you can receive up to $400 per child. This amount is given to help cover the cost of different activities for children, including sports, recreation, and culture.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have children who are 18 years of age or younger by the end of the tax year
- Have an adjusted net income of $120,000 or less
- Be registered for programs that involve instruction or supervision in sports, culture or recreation through Saskatchewan service providers.
To claim this benefit, you must do it when you file your annual income tax return. While you do not need to submit your receipts when you file your return, you should keep them for verification purposes.
Support for Seniors Under the Act
Under the Saskatchewan Affordability Act, many supports are available to seniors. Some of these include:
- $500 annual raise to personal income tax exemptions and the seniors’ supplement
- Up to $360 for single individuals who live at home under the Seniors Income Plan
- Up to $3,500 per month with the Personal Care Home Benefit
- Subsidized rental options under the social housing program
- Cost of eligible prescriptions capped at $25 with the Senior’s Drug Plan
- Health perks to go along with the Senior’s Health Plan
Can Renters Benefit from the Act?
The main way that renters can benefit from the Saskatchewan Affordability Act is through the Saskatchewan Housing Benefit. How much you can get depends on the size of your household and the percentage of your income that goes toward your shelter costs.
| % of Household Income | Singles and Couples | Singles and Couples with One Dependant | Singles and Couples With Two or More Dependants |
| 35% to 45% | $210 | $270 | $330 |
| More than 45% | $270 | $330 | $390 |
How the Act Impacts Provincial Sales Tax
In Saskatchewan, the act doesn’t do anything to the Provincial Sales Tax. What it does is help Canadians keep more of their money with income tax reductions and tax credits. This means that you still have to pay the same amount of PST, no matter what changes are made to the plan.
That said, some purchases are Provincial Sales Tax exemptions. These include:
- Childrens clothing
- Farm production items
- Basic groceries
- Items purchased for resale
Some even refer to this as the grocery sales tax exemption.
How Does the Graduate Retention Program Work?
As part of the Saskatchewan Affordability Plan, there is the Graduate Retention Program. The program provides a tax rebate to eligible post-secondary graduates who live in Saskatchewan. Those who are eligible for this post-secondary graduate credit will receive a GRP certificate after graduation to submit when they file their taxes.
To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Have graduated from an approved post-secondary program
- Have lived in or are moving to Saskatchewan
- File your income taxes in Saskatchewan
- Have graduated within the last 7 years
If you graduated in 2019, you were only eligible to apply until April 30, 2026, because it’s for new post-secondary graduates.
Other Saskatchewan Affordability Act Benefits
Beyond the benefits we mentioned, there are other ways the Saskatchewan Affordability Act helps residents save money. Some of these are:
- Increases to the spousal exemption and equivalent-to-spouse exemption
- Increases to the dependant child exemption in Saskatchewan (inflation offset tax credit)
- The Fertility Treatment Tax Credit
- The Caregiver Tax Credit
- The Persons with Disabilities Tax Credit
- Home Renovation Tax Credit ( also known as the home renovation projects credit)
- The Saskatchewan Secondary Suite Initiative
- The PST Rebate on New Home Construction
- Small business tax relief
There is no gas tax pause; instead, the Sask Party tax plan is there to help with provincial income tax reduction based on the annual indexation rate. These affordability commitments in Saskatchewan are part of a four-year tax plan to help those living paycheque to paycheque with household relief measures through Saskatchewan tax filing.
Budget for Healthcare
For the 20026/2027 budget, $8.47 Billion was allocated for healthcare. $5.15 Billion of that was to go towards Saskatchewan Health Authority, as well as primary care access, workforce expansion and specialized medical services. $308.6 Million was allocated to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for the oncology drugs and therapies.
Final Thoughts
In Saskatchewan, the Affordability Act is a way for the provincial government to help cover the increased cost of living. It’s also there to help Saskatchewan retain its most affordable province claim. In fact, many residents can save thousands of dollars with this four-year plan. This is on top of the federal tax credits that you can receive.
