Educational tool — Quebec closing costs
Land transfer tax (welcome tax)
Buying a property in Quebec triggers transfer duties payable to your municipality — the famous "welcome tax". It is not paid at the notary's office: the bill arrives by mail a few months after the purchase. Here's how much to set aside, using the 2026 brackets.
The tax is calculated in brackets, like income tax: each slice of the value is taxed at its own rate, and the base used is the higher of your purchase price and the adjusted municipal value.
Calculate your transfer duties
The tax base is the higher of the purchase price and the standardized value (assessment value × comparative factor). The factor varies by city and year — Montreal: 1.00 in 2026. With no assessment value, the calculation uses your price.
Tax base used
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Estimated transfer duties
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| Bracket | Portion | Rate | Duties |
|---|
The 2026 scales
Provincial base scale
| Slice of the base | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $62,900 | 0.5% |
| $62,900 to $315,000 | 1% |
| Over $315,000 | 1.5% |
Note: above $500,000, your municipality may set its own rates, up to 3% (except Montreal). For example, in 2026 Laval and several other cities charge 3% on the portion above $500,000. Check your city's schedule for purchases above that threshold.
Montreal
| Slice of the base | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $62,900 | 0.5% |
| $62,900 to $315,000 | 1% |
| $315,000 to $552,300 | 1.5% |
| $552,300 to $1,104,700 | 2% |
| $1,104,700 to $2,136,500 | 2.5% |
| $2,136,500 to $3,113,000 | 3.5% |
| Over $3,113,000 | 4% |
Thresholds are indexed every year. Below $552,300, Montreal costs the same as the base scale; the gap grows on higher-value properties.
Not at the notary's — by mail, later
Unlike other closing costs, transfer duties are not paid at signing. Your municipality mails the bill after the transfer is registered — often 3 to 6 months after the purchase — payable in one payment, usually within 30 days. Set the amount aside as soon as you buy so it doesn't catch you off guard.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the land transfer tax?expand_more
The buyer. It is a cash closing cost on top of your down payment: it cannot be added to your mortgage.
Why isn't the tax always calculated on my purchase price?expand_more
The law uses a tax base: the highest of the price paid, the amount in the deed, and the market value at the time of transfer (municipal assessment value × comparative factor). If the standardized value exceeds your price — for example if you bought below municipal value — that higher amount is used.
Are there exemptions?expand_more
Yes: certain transfers are exempt, for example between spouses or between close relatives in a direct line (parents to children). A supplementary duty may then apply instead. The rules are specific — your notary will confirm your situation at the transaction.
Do first-time buyers get a break?expand_more
Two possibilities: several municipalities (including Montreal, Quebec City and Laval) run partial rebate programs for first-time buyers, each with its own conditions — you usually have to apply after the purchase. And since 2026, the Quebec government also offers a refundable tax credit offsetting part of the duties paid on a first home acquired after December 31, 2025. Check your eligibility for both.
Educational tool only. Scales in effect January 1, 2026, per Quebec.ca and the City of Montreal; thresholds are indexed annually and some municipalities apply their own rates above $500,000. Your notary and your municipality will confirm the exact amount. HypothequeGo.ca is not a mortgage brokerage firm.