An unfamiliar line on a bank or credit card statement usually has a simple explanation, but the short codes banks use make it hard to tell. This guide separates what official sources actually confirm from what is only repeated online: which labels the Government of Canada defines, what CPC SCP is, and how to identify a CANADA FPT, RIT or GSL deposit by its date and amount. It is general information, not financial advice. The CRA account, My Service Canada Account or the bank itself is the final word on any specific transaction.
What do the codes on a Canadian bank statement mean?
The table sums up each description people search for most, whether an official page defines it, and the quickest official way to confirm it. “Not defined on any official page” means no Government of Canada, CRA, Service Canada or Receiver General page reviewed for this guide explains the letters.
How to read this table: each bank writes its own description, so the exact wording, spacing and punctuation vary. Canada.ca confirms CPP and OAS only; the other deposit labels are bank abbreviations the government does not explain.
| What the statement shows | Money in or out | Officially defined? | What it is | How to confirm it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPP | Money in | Confirmed by Canada.ca | Canada Pension Plan payment (paid by Service Canada) | My Service Canada Account, or the CPP payment dates |
| OAS | Money in | Confirmed by Canada.ca | Old Age Security payment (paid by Service Canada; GIS is paid with it) | My Service Canada Account, or the OAS payment dates |
| CPC SCP (or CPC/SCP) | Usually money out | Names confirmed (Canada Post Corporation Act); statement label not described officially | Canada Post Corporation / Société canadienne des postes: a Canada Post purchase, online shipping label, or duties, taxes and handling fee on imported mail | Match the date and amount to a post office receipt, a Canada Post online order or a Form E14 on a delivered parcel |
| CANADA FPT, FED-PROV/TERR | Money in | Not defined on any official page | A federal payment; the government does not publish what FPT stands for, so match the date against the CRA benefit payment dates | CRA account (My Account, Benefits and credits), then match the date to the CRA payment dates |
| CANADA RIT | Money in | Not defined on any official page | A federal payment that searchers usually see after filing a tax return; the CRA does not publish what RIT stands for | CRA account: the progress tracker shows the status of the return |
| CANADA GSL | Money in | Not defined on any official page | A federal payment that searchers usually see around the start of a school term; the government does not publish what GSL stands for | NSLSC account (National Student Loans Service Centre): the Funding Tracker on the dashboard shows when funds are on the way |
| CANADA, CANADA FED, GC or similar | Money in | Not defined on any official page | Usually a payment issued through the Receiver General for a federal department or agency; the label itself does not name the program | Receiver General line 1-800-593-1666 (identifies the payment using the SIN or file number) |
Source: Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — payment details on bank statements; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — identifying an unknown direct deposit; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — contacting the issuing department; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — a deposit that is not yours; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — unexpected amount; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — missing payment; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — CRA enrolment also covers the OTB; Payments to and from government — Frequently asked questions (Canada.ca) — cheque stubs; About the Receiver General for Canada (Canada.ca); Canada Post Corporation Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-10), section 4 — Justice Laws Website; Loi sur la Société canadienne des postes (L.R.C. (1985), ch. C-10), article 2 — Site Web de la législation (Justice); Importing by mail — Canada Border Services Agency — duties and taxes and the Canada Post handling fee; Tax refunds — Canada Revenue Agency (Canada.ca) — refund status in the CRA account; Tax refunds — Canada Revenue Agency (Canada.ca) — why a refund may be kept; Tax refunds — Canada Revenue Agency (Canada.ca) — when to contact the CRA about a refund; Stages of a student loan — National Student Loans Service Centre (canada.ca); National Student Loans Service Centre — home page (canada.ca) — Funding Tracker. In effect from September 30, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.
The key point from the Public Services and Procurement Canada payments FAQ: some financial institutions add payment details to the statement “such as CPP for Canada Pension Plan and OAS for Old Age Security.” Everything else, including the popular expansions of FPT, RIT and GSL, comes from third-party websites rather than the government.
What is CPC SCP on a bank or credit card statement?
CPC SCP is Canada Post. The Canada Post Corporation Act establishes “a corporation to be called the Canada Post Corporation”, and the French version of the Act names it the Société canadienne des postes; CPC and SCP are the initials of those two names. No official page describes how the charge is worded on a card statement, but the initials match Canada Post’s legal names. Unlike the government deposits below, a CPC SCP line is usually money going out of the account.
The most common reasons for the charge:
- A post office counter purchase: stamps, a parcel, registered mail or packing supplies paid by debit or credit card.
- An online Canada Post order: a shipping label or other service bought on Canada Post’s website.
- Duties and taxes on an imported parcel. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says duties and taxes apply to international goods imported by mail above the $20 exemption, that the amount owed is shown on Form E14 attached to the item, and that Canada Post charges a handling fee on mail imports subject to duty or tax. Paying that amount to Canada Post is another common source of the charge.
Card statements often add a city after a merchant name, and “cpc scp ottawa” is a common search, so that version is widely seen. Treat it the same way: match the date and amount to a receipt, an online order or a Form E14. If nothing matches, ask others who use the card before disputing it with the card issuer. The CBSA importing-by-mail page explains the duties, taxes and handling fee.
What is a Canada FPT deposit?
CANADA FPT is a description some banks use for a federal deposit. No Government of Canada page defines the letters. Third-party sites often expand it as “federal-provincial-territorial”, but that is not confirmed by any official source, so it is safer to identify the payment by its date.
Most people who search for it have just received a CRA benefit. The CRA lists the Canada child benefit and the GST/HST credit (renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit from the July 2026 payment) as including related provincial and territorial programs paid on the same dates. If an FPT deposit lands on one of the CRA dates in the calendar below, the CRA account will show the matching payment. The CCB payment dates guide and the GST/HST credit and CGEB payment dates cover each program in detail.
What is a Canada RIT deposit?
CANADA RIT is a federal deposit description that people usually notice a few weeks after filing a tax return, which is why it is widely linked to income tax refunds. Finance websites often expand it as “refund of income tax”, but the CRA does not publish what RIT stands for.
The reliable check is the CRA account. The CRA says the status of a return appears in the progress tracker there. Two official points explain most surprises:
- The refund can be smaller than expected. The CRA may keep all or part of a refund to cover an amount owing, a garnishment order, certain federal, provincial or territorial debts (student loans or EI overpayments, for example) or outstanding GST/HST returns from a sole proprietorship or partnership. It may also keep a refund of $2 or less.
- It can take a while. The CRA asks people to wait 12 weeks (16 weeks outside Canada) before contacting it about a refund.
The income tax calculator gives a rough idea of whether a refund or a balance owing is likely, and the tax deadline guide covers when returns are due. For filing software, the Wealthsimple Tax review covers one filing option.
What is a Canada GSL deposit?
CANADA GSL is a federal deposit description that tends to appear near the start of a school term, which is why it is associated with Canada Student Loans and grants. The government does not define the letters, so confirm it in the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) account, where the Funding Tracker on the dashboard shows when funds are on the way.
One official detail matters later: the NSLSC says loan payments are withdrawn automatically after the six-month non-repayment period from the same account the loan was deposited to, if direct deposit was set up. A withdrawal from that account after graduation is therefore expected, not an error.
What do CPP, OAS and other Service Canada deposits look like?
CPP and OAS are the two labels Canada.ca itself uses as examples, so a deposit showing either is the Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security. Both are paid by Service Canada, not the CRA, and the CRA states plainly that it does not administer CPP, OAS or Employment Insurance. Updating direct deposit with the CRA therefore does not change where these payments go.
CPP and OAS are issued on the same date each month:
CPP and OAS payment dates
Next payment date
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
This is the date the payment is issued. Deposits can take a few days to arrive and mailed cheques can take longer, so allow a few business days before contacting the government.
| Month | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| January | Wed, January 28 | Wed, January 29 |
| February | Wed, February 25 | Wed, February 26 |
| March | Fri, March 27 | Thu, March 27 |
| April | Tue, April 28 | Mon, April 28 |
| May | Wed, May 27 | Wed, May 28 |
| June | Fri, June 26 | Thu, June 26 |
| July | Wed, July 29 | Tue, July 29 |
| August | Thu, August 27 | Wed, August 27 |
| September | Fri, September 25 | Thu, September 25 |
| October | Wed, October 28 | Wed, October 29 |
| November | Thu, November 26 | Wed, November 26 |
| December | Tue, December 22 | Mon, December 22 |
How to read this table: the day Service Canada issues CPP and OAS (including the GIS) payments. Canada.ca says payments may take a few days to arrive, and mailed cheques may take longer than direct deposit. Source: Benefits payment dates — Canada.ca (Canada Pension Plan, 2026 dates); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension — Canada.ca (payment by cheque); Contact Canada Pension Plan — Canada.ca (phone numbers and hours); Contact Old Age Security — Canada.ca (phone numbers and hours). Dates checked September 29, 2026.
The CPP and OAS payment dates page explains late payments, and My Service Canada Account shows the amount of each deposit.
How can a government deposit be matched to its payment date?
The date is the most reliable clue, because the CRA publishes every benefit date in advance. If a CANADA, FPT or similar deposit lands on one of these days, the matching program is the first place to look.
How to read this table: each cell is the day the CRA issues the payment; a dash means no payment that month. GST/CGEB = the GST/HST credit (January and April) and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit that replaced it (July and October). OTB = Ontario trillium benefit, ACWB = advanced Canada workers benefit, ACFB = Alberta child and family benefit, NLDB = Newfoundland and Labrador disability benefit.
| Month (2026) | Canada child benefit | GST/HST credit or CGEB | Ontario trillium benefit | ACWB | ACFB (Alberta) | NLDB (Newfoundland and Labrador) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Tue, Jan 20 | Mon, Jan 5 (GST/HST credit) | Fri, Jan 9 | Mon, Jan 12 | — | Fri, Jan 23 |
| February | Fri, Feb 20 | — | Tue, Feb 10 | — | Fri, Feb 27 | Wed, Feb 25 |
| March | Fri, Mar 20 | — | Tue, Mar 10 | — | — | Wed, Mar 25 |
| April | Mon, Apr 20 | Thu, Apr 2 (GST/HST credit) | Fri, Apr 10 | — | — | Fri, Apr 24 |
| May | Wed, May 20 | — | Fri, May 8 | — | Wed, May 27 | Mon, May 25 |
| June | Fri, Jun 19 | — | Wed, Jun 10 | — | — | Thu, Jun 25 |
| July | Mon, Jul 20 | Fri, Jul 3 (CGEB) | Fri, Jul 10 | Fri, Jul 10 | — | Fri, Jul 24 |
| August | Thu, Aug 20 | — | Mon, Aug 10 | — | Thu, Aug 27 | Tue, Aug 25 |
| September | Fri, Sep 18 | — | Thu, Sep 10 | — | — | Fri, Sep 25 |
| October | Tue, Oct 20 | Mon, Oct 5 (CGEB) | Fri, Oct 9 | Fri, Oct 9 | — | Fri, Oct 23 |
| November | Fri, Nov 20 | — | Tue, Nov 10 | — | Fri, Nov 27 | Wed, Nov 25 |
| December | Fri, Dec 11 | — | Thu, Dec 10 | — | — | Thu, Dec 24 |
Source: Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (Canada child benefit, 2026); Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (GST/HST credit and CGEB, 2026); Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (Ontario trillium benefit, 2026); Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (ACWB, ACFB and NLDB, 2026). In effect from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked September 29, 2026.
A few patterns help. A monthly deposit that matches the Canada child benefit column is likely to be the CCB, including any provincial or territorial child benefit paid with it. A quarterly deposit that matches the GST/CGEB column is likely to be the GST/HST credit or the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. A payment in January, July or October that matches the ACWB column may be an advance Canada workers benefit payment. The full list, with next-payment boxes, is on the CRA payment dates page.
What if a government deposit is missing, wrong or not yours?
Each situation has its own official route:
| Situation | What to do | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| A federal deposit cannot be identified | Call the Receiver General at 1-800-593-1666; an agent identifies the payment using a SIN, account or pension number | Public Services and Procurement Canada |
| The amount is not what was expected | Contact the department or agency that issued it (the CRA for benefits and refunds, Service Canada for CPP, OAS and EI) | Public Services and Procurement Canada |
| A CRA benefit has not arrived | Wait 5 working days (CCB and Alberta child and family benefit) or 10 working days (other CRA programs) after the payment date, then contact the CRA | Canada Revenue Agency |
| The deposit clearly belongs to someone else | Ask the bank to return the funds electronically to the Government of Canada | Public Services and Procurement Canada |
| The right department is unclear | Call 1 800 O-Canada at 1-800-622-6232 for the issuing department’s contact details | Public Services and Procurement Canada |
Banks point customers to the same place. National Bank’s help page on unrecognized government deposits says to contact the Receiver General or the department that sent the payment, and to contact the bank if the payment was not meant for the account holder.
For missing deposits after a bank switch, the CRA advises keeping the old account open until the first payment reaches the new one. The void cheque guide covers how to update direct deposit with the CRA and Service Canada.
What are the common mistakes with deposit codes?
- Trusting an online expansion as official. FPT, RIT, GSL and FED are not defined by the government. Identify the payment by its date and amount in the CRA, Service Canada or NSLSC account.
- Assuming every CANADA deposit is from the CRA. The Receiver General pays on behalf of federal departments and some provincial governments, and CPP, OAS and EI come from Service Canada.
- Spending a deposit that is not yours. Canada.ca says a direct deposit that clearly does not belong to the account holder should be returned electronically through the bank.
- Disputing a CPC SCP charge too quickly. Check for customs charges on a recent parcel, and for online Canada Post orders, before contacting the card issuer.
- Comparing descriptions across banks. The same payment can look different at two banks because each institution writes its own wording.
- Trusting a message instead of the account. Service Canada says it will never ask for a password or personal information by email, text message or links. Check any payment by signing in to the CRA account or My Service Canada Account directly.