Land Transfer Tax by Province: Complete Canadian Guide

Land transfer tax (LTT) is a one-time tax that most provinces charge when a property changes hands. It's usually the second-largest closing cost after the down payment, and it's entirely separate from your mortgage. Plan for it in cash.

How LTT works

Most provinces use a tiered, marginal-rate system: the first slice of the price is taxed at one rate, the next slice at a higher rate, and so on. You don't pay the top rate on the entire price — only on the portion that falls in that bracket.

Ontario

Provincial brackets:

• 0.5% on the first $55,000
• 1.0% on $55,001 – $250,000
• 1.5% on $250,001 – $400,000
• 2.0% on $400,001 – $2,000,000
• 2.5% on the portion above $2,000,000

First-time buyer rebate: up to $4,000.

Toronto: the double tax

If your property is within the City of Toronto, you pay a second LTT to the city — using the same bracket structure as the province. A $650,000 home in Toronto pays approximately $9,475 in provincial LTT and another $9,475 in municipal LTT. First-time buyers get an additional $4,475 rebate from the city.

British Columbia

• 1% on the first $200,000
• 2% on $200,001 – $2,000,000
• 3% on $2,000,001 – $3,000,000
• 5% on the portion above $3,000,000

First-time buyer: full exemption if the price is at or below $500,000; partial exemption from $500,001 to $835,000.

Quebec

Quebec's "welcome tax" (droits de mutation) uses a similar bracket structure:

• 0.5% on the first $53,200
• 1.0% on $53,201 – $266,200
• 1.5% on $266,201 – $532,300
• 2.0% on $532,301 – $1,064,500
• 2.5% on $1,064,501 – $2,098,300
• 3.0% on the portion above $2,098,300

Alberta and Saskatchewan

Neither province charges a percentage-based LTT. Instead, you pay a flat title transfer fee — typically a few hundred dollars depending on price.

The Maritimes

• Nova Scotia: approximately 1.5% (varies by municipality)
• New Brunswick: approximately 0.5%
• Prince Edward Island: 1% on fair market value above $30,000
• Newfoundland and Labrador: no LTT — only flat title registration fees

How to minimize land transfer tax

1. Claim every rebate you're entitled to. First-time buyer rebates in Ontario, Toronto, BC, and PEI can save thousands.
2. If you're shopping in the GTA, consider areas just outside Toronto's city limits — those properties pay the provincial LTT only, not the municipal.
3. Buy in a province without LTT (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland) if you have flexibility on location.

LTT is paid by your lawyer at closing, in cash. It can't be rolled into your mortgage. Use our calculator to see the exact figure for your purchase price and province.