Land Transfer Tax

Buyers in most areas will have to add Land Transfer Taxes to their closing costs.

These taxes which are levied on properties that are changing hands, are the responsibility of the buyer.  Ontario taxes can range from 0.5% to 2.5% of the total purchase price of the property.

This multi-tiered taxation system can sometimes be difficult to understand.  For example, if you buy a property for $500,000 in Ontario, 0.5 percent is charged on the first $55,000.  1 percent is charged on the portion from $55,000 – $250,000, then the amount from $250,000 – $400,000 range is taxed at 1.5 percent and lastly $400,000 – $2,000,000 is taxed at a rate of 2%.  In this example your total provincial tax bill would be $6, 475.00.

Tax Rates

Ontario:

Effective January 1, 2017, the following are the Provincial rates for land transfer tax:

0.5% — amounts up to and including $55,000
1.0% — amounts exceeding $55,000, up to and including $250,000
1.5% — amounts exceeding $250,000, up to and including $400,000
2.0% — amounts exceeding $400,000, up to and including $2,000,000
2.5% — amounts exceeding $2,000,000, where the land contains one or two single family residences

First time homebuyers may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the Provincial tax.  To see if you qualify please visit — Ontario’s Rebate Program.

Buying a Property in Toronto?

If you are purchasing a home in Toronto, there is an additional municipal land transfer tax.  Toronto’s land transfer tax applies to properties purchased within the following boundaries:  Steeles Avenue as the North border, Etobicoke as the West border, Scarborough as the East border and Lake Ontario as the South border.

The following Tax Rates apply to properties purchased in Toronto with a closing on or after March 1, 2017:

0.5% — amounts up to and including $55,000
1.0% — amounts exceeding $55,000, up to and including $250,000
1.5% — amounts exceeding $250,000, up to and including $400,000
2.0% — amounts exceeding $400,000, up to and including $2,000,000
2.5% — amounts exceeding $2,000,000, where the land contains one or two single family residences

First time homebuyers may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the Toronto tax.  To see if you qualify please visit — Toronto Rebate Opportunities.

If you would like to use our calculators