Land transfer tax in 2026: how it works, with a worked example

Questions people ask

How much is land transfer tax in Ontario?

0.5% on the first $55,000, 1% to $250,000, 1.5% to $400,000, 2% to $2,000,000 and 2.5% above that for a home. On a $800,000 house that is $12,475. In Toronto the city charges the same again, so the total is $24,950 before rebates.

How much do first-time buyers save?

Ontario refunds up to $4,000 and Toronto rebates up to $4,475, together eliminating the tax on a Toronto home up to about $368,000. BC exempts up to $8,000 on homes up to $835,000. PEI exempts first-time buyers entirely. Quebec has a new refundable credit of up to $5,875 claimed on the tax return. Manitoba, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick offer nothing.

What changed in Toronto in 2026?

From April 1, 2026 the graduated rates on homes over $3,000,000 rose to 4.40% (over $3M), 5.45% (over $4M), 6.50% (over $5M), 7.55% (over $10M) and 8.60% (over $20M). The brackets below $3,000,000 and the $4,475 first-time buyer rebate are unchanged.

Which provinces have no land transfer tax?

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. They charge registration fees instead: Alberta $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value, Saskatchewan 0.4% of the value, the territories a few hundred dollars. Newfoundland and Labrador also charges a registration fee rather than a tax.

What is the Quebec welcome tax?

The transfer duty (droits de mutation) every municipality charges on a purchase, nicknamed after the minister who introduced it. The 2026 base brackets are 0.5% to $62,900, 1% to $315,000 and 1.5% above, but Montreal charges up to 4% and Quebec City up to 3% on higher bands. It is billed by the municipality a few months after closing, not paid at the notary.

Is land transfer tax calculated on the price or the assessed value?

Usually on the greater of the price paid and the fair market or assessed value. In Quebec it is the greatest of the price, the consideration in the deed and the municipal assessment times the comparative factor. The calculator uses the price you enter.

Can I add land transfer tax to my mortgage?

No. It is a closing cost paid from your own funds on the day the deal closes, alongside legal fees and the sales tax on any CMHC premium. Budget for it on top of your down payment.

Do I qualify for the first-time buyer rebate?

In Ontario you must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (or become one within 18 months), never have owned a home anywhere in the world, and your spouse cannot have owned a home while your spouse; you must move in within 9 months. BC, PEI and Quebec have similar never-owned rules with their own residency conditions. If you fail any test, the full tax applies.

What else do I pay at closing besides land transfer tax?

Legal fees and disbursements (typically $1,200 to $2,500), title insurance, a home inspection if you had one, adjustments to reimburse the seller for prepaid property tax or utilities, and in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan the sales tax on any CMHC premium. The calculator adds an estimate of each so you know the total cash to bring.

Why is Toronto's tax double?

Toronto charges its own municipal land transfer tax on top of Ontario's, on the same brackets, with graduated rates above $3 million. A first-time buyer gets both rebates, up to $4,000 provincially and $4,475 from the city. Homes outside the city limits, in Mississauga or Vaughan for example, pay only the provincial tax.

Which provinces have no land transfer tax?

Alberta and Saskatchewan charge only registration fees (a few hundred dollars for the transfer and the mortgage), as do Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Nova Scotia's deed transfer tax is set by each municipality, 1% to 1.5% of the price.