Land Transfer Tax by Province 2026: Rates & First-Time Rebates

When you buy a home in Canada, most provinces charge a one-time land transfer tax (LTT) — also called property transfer tax (PTT) in BC — on closing. It is usually one of the largest closing costs, and the rules differ sharply by province and even by city. Here is the 2026 picture, including first-time buyer rebates.

How Land Transfer Tax Works

LTT is a percentage of the property’s purchase price, charged in graduated brackets like income tax. The buyer pays it at closing, on top of the price. Some provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan) charge no LTT at all — only smaller registration or title fees.

Ontario Land Transfer Tax (2026)

Ontario uses graduated marginal rates on the purchase price:

Price Bracket	Rate
First $55,000	0.5%
$55,000 – $250,000	1.0%
$250,000 – $400,000	1.5%
$400,000 – $2,000,000	2.0%
Over $2,000,000	2.5%

First-time buyer rebate: up to $4,000 off the provincial LTT. A first-time buyer purchasing up to about $368,000 pays no provincial LTT; above that, they pay the LTT minus $4,000.

Estimate your exact bill — including the Toronto MLTT and both rebates — with the Ontario land transfer tax calculator.

Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT)

Buyers in the City of Toronto pay a second land transfer tax on top of the provincial one, broadly mirroring the Ontario brackets (0.5% to 2.5%). Effective April 1, 2026, Toronto added steeper upper tiers for luxury homes over $3 million, rising to as high as 8.6% for ultra-high-value properties.

Toronto first-time buyer rebate: an additional municipal rebate of up to $4,475, stacked on top of the provincial $4,000.

Worked example — $800,000 Toronto home, first-time buyer:

• Provincial LTT: roughly $12,475, less $4,000 rebate = $8,475
• Municipal MLTT: roughly $12,475, less $4,475 rebate = $8,000
• Total LTT ≈ $16,475

A non-first-time buyer would pay close to $24,950 on the same property.

British Columbia Property Transfer Tax (2026)

BC’s PTT uses these rates:

Value Bracket	Rate
First $200,000	1.0%
$200,000 – $2,000,000	2.0%
Over $2,000,000	3.0%
Residential value over $3,000,000	additional 2.0%

First-time buyer exemption: homes priced up to $835,000 get a full exemption on the first $500,000 of value, with a partial exemption phasing out up to $860,000. This is far more generous than Ontario’s flat $4,000 rebate.

Other Provinces at a Glance

Province	Land transfer tax	First-time buyer relief
Ontario	Graduated 0.5%–2.5%	Up to $4,000
British Columbia	Graduated 1%–3% (+2% luxury)	Full exemption to $835,000
Manitoba	Graduated up to 2% over $200,000	None (general rates)
Quebec	Municipal “welcome tax,” graduated by municipality	Varies by city (e.g. Montreal)
Nova Scotia	Municipal deed transfer tax, ~1.5% typical	Varies; provincial non-resident tax applies
Prince Edward Island	1% of greater of price or assessed value	Exemption for qualifying first-time buyers
Alberta	None (only registration/title fees)	Not applicable
Saskatchewan	None (title transfer fee only)	Not applicable

Quebec’s “taxe de bienvenue” is set municipally and varies widely; Montreal applies higher brackets for expensive homes. Always check the specific city.

First-Time Buyer Rebates Summary

• Ontario: up to $4,000 provincial; Toronto adds up to $4,475 municipal.
• BC: full PTT exemption on homes up to $835,000 (partial to $860,000).
• PEI: exemption for qualifying first-time buyers.
• No LTT: Alberta and Saskatchewan charge none, so there is nothing to rebate.

Eligibility generally requires that you (and often your spouse) have never owned a home anywhere, occupy the property as your principal residence, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Don’t Forget the GST/HST on New Builds

Land transfer tax is separate from GST/HST. New-construction homes also attract GST/HST (with a possible new housing rebate), while resale homes are generally exempt. Factor both into your closing budget.

Key Takeaways

1. LTT is a major closing cost — often 1–3% of the price, doubled inside Toronto.
2. Toronto buyers pay twice (provincial + municipal), with new luxury tiers from April 1, 2026.
3. BC’s first-time exemption is the most generous; Ontario’s is a flat $4,000.
4. Alberta and Saskatchewan charge no land transfer tax at all.

Estimate your exact land transfer tax — by province, city, and first-time-buyer status — with the property transfer tax calculator.

Sources

• Ontario — Calculating land transfer tax
• City of Toronto — Municipal Land Transfer Tax rates and fees
• Province of British Columbia — Property transfer tax