The Ontario government is assuring taxpayers their cheque will be in the mail next week.

Beginning June 10, eligible tax filers age 18 and over will receive the first of three payments aimed at helping them weather the province's transition to a harmonized sales tax.

For those who receive their income tax refund through direct deposit, the payment will be deposited in their bank account. For others, a cheque will arrive in the mail.

The other two payments are to come in December 2010 and June 2011.

Families with an annual income below $160,000 will receive three payments totalling $1,000 while individuals with an annual income below $80,000 will receive three payments totalling $300.

The HST, which combines the existing eight per cent PST and the five per cent GST into a single 13 per cent sales tax, comes into effect July 1.