Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons: Earn Up to 5% in CT Money
Since September 2, 2026, you can earn up to 5% in Canadian Tire Money on purchases at Tim Hortons, in addition to your Tims Rewards points, by linking your two accounts. The partnership between Triangle Rewards and Tims Rewards, announced a year earlier, is now active at participating restaurants.
The 5% stacks in three layers, and two of them require a Triangle credit card. Here is what you actually earn, and what remains excluded.
How much do you earn at Tim Hortons?
The rate depends on how you pay. Three layers add up, and you need all three to reach 5%. Here is the breakdown documented by Triangle Rewards.
| Payment method | CT Money earned | Calculation basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tims Rewards card or QR code, paid with cash, debit or another card | 2% | Before tax |
| Tims Rewards card or QR code, paid with a Triangle credit card | 2% + 2% | 2% before tax, 2% on the total including tax |
| Order through Scan & Pay in the Tim Hortons app with a Triangle card | 2% + 2% + 1% | Up to 5% of the eligible purchase before tax |
Keep two practical details in mind. You need to spend at least $0.10 before tax to earn anything. Posting times also differ by layer: the program portion and Scan & Pay bonus are deposited immediately, while the credit card portion appears in your account within 5 to 7 days.
How to link your two accounts
Nothing happens automatically. Until your two accounts are linked, you will not earn CT Money at Tim Hortons. Linking takes a few minutes.
- Go to triangle.com/timsrewards, or use the Triangle Rewards app or Tim Hortons app.
- Sign in to both accounts, or create whichever one you are missing. Both programs are free.
- Confirm the link. A confirmation email will arrive within 24 hours.
- Scan your Tims Rewards card or QR code with every order, and pay with a Triangle credit card to earn the two additional layers.
Which purchases are excluded?
This is the part nobody reads, yet it explains why you may earn less than expected. Some items do not count toward the before-tax calculation for the 2% and 1% layers.
- Catering orders: platters and group orders are excluded from the before-tax calculation.
- Smile Cookies: the annual campaign remains a fundraiser, not an eligible purchase.
- Bottled drinks: refrigerated bottles do not count, unlike coffee served at the counter.
- Specialty items and merchandise: mugs, bags of coffee to take home and promotional items are excluded.
- Non-participating restaurants: locations in hospitals, airports and universities do not participate in the program.
One useful distinction: these exclusions apply only to the before-tax calculation. If you pay with a Triangle credit card, the 2% after-tax layer still applies to the total bill, including excluded items.
How much it adds up to over a year
A percentage means little until you apply it to actual spending. Take a simple, common assumption: a $5 visit to Tim Hortons every working day, or $1,300 before tax over a year.
| Your situation | Earning rate | CT Money on $1,300 |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts not linked, Triangle Mastercard | 0.5% | $6.50 |
| Accounts linked, paid with cash or debit | 2% | $26 |
| Accounts linked, Triangle credit card at the register | 4% | $52 and a little more |
| Accounts linked, Triangle card and Scan & Pay | 5% | $65 and a little more |
The last two rows say “and a little more” for a specific reason: the credit card’s 2% layer is calculated on the total including tax, not the before-tax amount. Your actual earnings are therefore slightly higher than the figure shown.
The real takeaway lies elsewhere. Without linked accounts, the Triangle Mastercard earns 0.5% on everyday purchases outside Canadian Tire banners, while the Triangle World Elite Mastercard earns 1%. Linking your accounts therefore multiplies your Tim Hortons earnings by ten with the first card and by five with the second.
Triangle cards make the difference
Two of the three layers require a Triangle credit card. Without one, you top out at 2%. That is the key feature of this partnership, and it deserves an honest calculation before you apply for a new card.
Neither Triangle card charges an annual fee. The Triangle Mastercard has no minimum income requirement, while the Triangle World Elite Mastercard requires $80,000 in personal income or $150,000 in household income. For your Tim Hortons budget, both deliver exactly the same result: their rates differ elsewhere, particularly on groceries.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
Click a card’s name to see its full terms. If your goal goes beyond morning coffee, first compare the broader market on our best credit cards page: a general cash back card often earns more on a varied spending budget.
Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons: our analysis
This partnership connects two of the country’s largest membership bases: more than 12 million Triangle Rewards members and nearly 8 million Tims Rewards members. For Canadian Tire, the benefit is clear: the program becomes part of an everyday habit that no retailer can create on its own.
For you, the calculation is more nuanced. A free account link that moves coffee earnings from 0.5% to 2% is easy to accept: it takes five minutes and costs nothing. However, applying for a Triangle card solely for this benefit does not make sense on the numbers, unless you already shop regularly at Canadian Tire or its associated banners.
The partnership also remains one-way. You earn CT Money at Tim Hortons, but there are no plans to earn Tims Rewards points on Canadian Tire purchases. Neither retailer has announced an expansion in that direction.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Triangle and Tims Rewards Partnership
Here are the questions most often asked in the Milesopedia community about this partnership.
Is the Triangle Rewards and Tims Rewards partnership active?
Yes. Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons launched the partnership on September 2, 2026, nearly a year after announcing it. Members who link their two accounts earn Canadian Tire Money at participating Tim Hortons restaurants, in addition to their usual Tims Rewards points.
How do you link your Triangle and Tims Rewards accounts?
Go to triangle.com/timsrewards, or use the Triangle Rewards app or Tim Hortons app. Sign in to both accounts, create whichever one you are missing if needed, then confirm the link. A confirmation email arrives within 24 hours. You can only link or unlink your accounts twice in a 24-hour period.
Do you need a Triangle credit card to earn 5%?
Yes. Without a Triangle credit card, you top out at 2% in CT Money before tax. The card adds 2% on the total including tax, then a final 1% if you order using Scan & Pay in the Tim Hortons app. Both Canadian Tire cards have no annual fee.
Do you keep earning Tims Rewards points?
Yes. The programs remain independent, and Canadian Tire Money is added to your Tims Rewards points without replacing them. You continue earning and redeeming your points just as before at participating Tim Hortons restaurants.
Which Tim Hortons purchases are excluded?
Catering orders, Smile Cookies, bottled drinks, specialty items and merchandise are excluded from the before-tax calculation. Locations in hospitals, airports and universities also do not participate. However, excluded items still count toward the 2% after-tax earnings from a Triangle credit card.
Can you earn Tims Rewards points at Canadian Tire?
No. The partnership works in one direction: you earn Canadian Tire Money at Tim Hortons, but there are no plans to earn Tims Rewards points on Canadian Tire purchases. Neither Canadian Tire nor Tim Hortons has announced an expansion in the other direction.
Where can you redeem Canadian Tire Money?
At Canadian Tire, Party City, SportChek, Mark’s, L’Équipeur, Pro Hockey Life, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, Atmosphere, L’Entrepôt du Hockey and participating Sports Experts stores. Your Tims Rewards points can only be redeemed at participating Tim Hortons restaurants. Our tips for saving at Canadian Tire will help you put them to work.
When does CT Money appear in your account?
The program portion and Scan & Pay bonus are deposited immediately. The portion earned through your Triangle credit card appears within 5 to 7 days. You must spend at least $0.10 before tax, and your accounts must remain linked until the deposit.
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