Rates by province
Transfer taxes are charged in slices of the price, with a higher rate on the higher slices.
| Province | Rates |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 0.5% to $55,000; 1% to $250,000; 1.5% to $400,000; 2% to $2 million; 2.5% above (for one or two single-family homes) |
| Toronto (extra) | Same slices as Ontario, plus 4.4%, 5.45%, 6.5%, 7.55% and 8.6% on the slices above $3 million, $4 million, $5 million, $10 million and $20 million |
| British Columbia | 1% to $200,000; 2% to $2 million; 3% above; plus 2% on the residential value over $3 million |
| Quebec (standard) | 0.5% to $62,900; 1% to $315,000; 1.5% above (2026 thresholds) |
| Manitoba | 0% to $30,000; 0.5% to $90,000; 1% to $150,000; 1.5% to $200,000; 2% above |
| New Brunswick | 1% of the greater of the price and the assessed value |
| Prince Edward Island | 1% of the greater of the price and the assessed value |
How land transfer tax works
You pay it once, when the purchase closes, and lenders do not finance it. Plan for it in cash on top of your down payment.
Slices, not one rate
Each rate applies only to the part of the price inside its slice. In Ontario, a $400,000 home pays $4,475, not 1.5% of $400,000.
Toronto pays twice
Buyers in the City of Toronto pay both the Ontario tax and the City’s municipal land transfer tax, which uses its own, higher slices.
First-time buyer relief
Ontario refunds up to $4,000 and Toronto up to $4,475, which fully covers the tax on homes up to about $368,000 and $400,000 respectively. British Columbia exempts the whole tax up to $835,000.
Other provinces
Alberta and Saskatchewan charge registration fees, not a tax on the price. Nova Scotia leaves the deed transfer tax to each municipality. Ask your lawyer for these.
Forgetting the tax at closing. On a $900,000 Toronto home, the two taxes together come to about $29,000 before any rebate.
Frequently asked questions
When do I pay land transfer tax?
On the closing date. Your lawyer or notary usually collects it from you with the other closing costs and pays it for you.
Can I add land transfer tax to my mortgage?
No. Lenders do not finance closing costs, so it is part of the cash you need on top of your down payment.
Does the first-time buyer refund apply to everyone?
No. You and your spouse must meet the province’s conditions, which include never having owned a home anywhere in the world (in Ontario) and occupying the home. This calculator only subtracts the refund or exemption amount; it does not check your eligibility.
Why does Quebec have a year choice?
The Quebec thresholds change every January. We include the 2026 and 2027 amounts published by the province.
Why is there no result for my province?
We calculate six provinces. The others either do not have a transfer tax on the price or use rules we have not added. Ask your lawyer or notary for the amount.
Last updated
Related tools
Sources
- Ontario — Calculating land transfer tax
- Ontario — Land transfer tax refunds for first-time homebuyers
- City of Toronto — Municipal land transfer tax rates and fees
- City of Toronto — Municipal land transfer tax rebates
- Government of British Columbia — Property transfer tax calculation examples
- Government of British Columbia — First-time home buyers’ exemption
- Gouvernement du Québec — Transfer duty thresholds (in French)
- Government of Manitoba — Land transfer tax
- New Brunswick — Real Property Transfer Tax Act
- Prince Edward Island — Real property transfer tax
How we check it
The tests reproduce Ontario’s own worked example ($4,475 on $400,000) and its shortcut formulas, the Toronto slices including the 2026 tiers over $3 million, the BC rates and first-time buyer thresholds, the Quebec 2026 and 2027 thresholds, the Manitoba slices and the 1% New Brunswick and PEI rule. Other figures are hand-computed from the published rates.
We did not compare with a notary’s or lawyer’s statement. We could not confirm the partial BC exemption amount, PEI’s first-time buyer exemption, or whether Toronto’s rebate has changed since the City’s page was last updated, so those are flagged on the result or left out. Quebec’s municipal scales are not calculated.