Land Transfer Tax

When you buy property or take the transfer of a property’s title, you have to pay a Land Transfer Tax (LTT). The LTT is a provincial tax that all provinces have, except Alberta and Saskatchewan, who instead levy a small fee.

You can also get rebates on your LTT in Ontario, British Columbia, and PEI, as well as in Toronto. They differ by province (and city, in the case of Toronto).

How much you pay depends on the province you live in and the value of your new home. If you’re buying a home in British Columbia, for example, you pay 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on anything extra over $200,000. If your home was $300,000, that would look like:

First $200,000 x 1% = $2,000

Remaining $100,000 x 2% = $2,000

$2,000 + $2,000 = $4,000 total land transfer tax

Ontario land transfer tax

For example, on a $200,000 home, your land transfer tax ($200,000 x 1.0%) is $2,000.

First-time homebuyers in Ontario are eligible for a land transfer tax rebate equal to the full cost of your LTT, up to $2,000.

Toronto land transfer tax

In Toronto² there is a secondary LTT:

Added to the $2,000 you’d owe at the provincial level, your land transfer tax with the City of Toronto ($200,000 x 1.0%) an extra $2,000.

First-time homebuyers in Toronto can claim a land transfer tax rebate of the full cost of your LTT, up to $3,725.

British Columbia land transfer tax

In BC, on a $200,000 home, your land transfer tax ($200,000 x 1.0%) is $2,000.

BC first-time homebuyers are also eligible for a land transfer tax rebate of the full LTT amount, if the home is less than $475,000.

Alberta land transfer tax

There is no land transfer tax in Alberta⁴, but there are fees for title registration and mortgage registration.

Title registration fee

Base fee of $50 + additional $1 for every $5,000 of the property’s fair market value, rounded up to the nearest $5,000.

Mortgage registration fee

Base fee of $50 + additional $1 for every $5,000 of the principal amount of the mortgage.

On a $200,000 home, you’ll owe ($50 + ($1 x 40)) + ($50 + ($1 x 40)) approximately $180.

Saskatchewan land transfer tax

There is no land transfer tax in Saskatchewan⁵, but they do have a land title fee, typically paid by your real estate lawyer when they fill out the land title form on your behalf.

For example, on a home of $200,000, the title transfer fee ($200,000 x 0.3%) is $600.

Manitoba land transfer tax

The land transfer tax on a $200,000 home ($200,000 x 1.5%) is $3,000.

There is also a registration fee upon registration of the transfer of title.

Quebec land transfer tax

Land transfer tax in Quebec⁷ is collected and assessed at the municipal level. The value of the property is the greater of:

• The market value of the property, as assessed by municipal guidelines
• The purchase price
• The amount on the Deed of Sale

For example, on a $200,000 home, the tax payable ($200,000 x 1.0%) is $2,000.

Montreal land transfer tax

Land transfer tax in Montreal⁸ varies slightly from the rest of Quebec.

In Montreal, a $200,000 home has land transfer tax ($200,000 x 1.0%) of $2,000.

New Brunswick land transfer tax

The land transfer tax in New Brunswick⁹, called the New Brunswick Real Property Transfer Tax, is 0.25% of the value of the property—either the assessed value of the home or the value used in consideration for the transfer, whichever is greater.

For example, on a $200,000 home, the tax payable ($200,000 x 0.25%) is $500.

PEI land transfer tax

Also called PEI Real Property Transfer Tax¹⁰, the LTT in PEI is fixed at 1% of the greater of the sale price or the assessed value.

For example, on a $200,000 home, the tax payable ($200,000 x 1.0%) is $2,000.

First-time homebuyers in PEI are eligible to apply for a land transfer tax rebate of the full LTT amount, if the purchase price and property value are both below $200,000.

Nova Scotia land transfer tax

Land transfer tax (called Deed Transfer Tax in Nova Scotia¹¹) is set by municipality, ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% of the purchase price.

In Halifax, for example, where the tax is 1.5%, the tax payable on a $200,000 home ($200,000 x 1.5%) is $3,000.

For rates in all municipalities, see the Municipal Deed Transfer Tax Rates on the Government of Nova Scotia website.

Newfoundland and Labrador land transfer tax

In Newfoundland¹², the Registration of Deeds Prescribed Fees includes assignment fees, similar to property tax.

For example, on a $200,000 home, the fees payable ($100 + (1999 x $0.40)) total $899.60.

Yukon land transfer tax

Yukon LTT¹³ (called transfer fees) vary depending on the amount of your home, rising gradually as the property value increases. See the Transfer Fees chart on the Yukon Government website to find exact amounts.

A $200,000 home in Yukon has transfer fees of $73.00.

Northwest Territories land transfer tax

For example, on a $200,000 home, the fees payable (200 x $1.50) total $300.

Nunavut land transfer tax

Nunavut uses the same system as the Northwest Territories. Read above for NWT fees.

1 Ontario Ministry of Finance: Land Transfer Tax 2 City of Toronto: MLTT Rates and Calculation 3 Government of BC: Understand Your Taxes 4 Service Alberta: Tariff of Fees Regulation 5 Information Services Corporation: Land Titles Fees 6 Government of Manitoba: Land Transfer Tax 7 Government of Quebec: Transfer Tax 8 City of Montreal: Duties on transfers of immovables 9 Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick: Housing and Property 10 PEI Department of Finance: Real Property Transfer Tax 11 Government of Nova Scotia: Municipal Deed Transfer Tax Rates 12 Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Schedule of Fees 13 Government of Yukon Common Fees 14 CanLII Land Titles Tariff of Fees Regulations, NWT Reg