Quebec Welcome Tax 2026: How Transfer Duties Really Work
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In brief — The Quebec welcome tax is tiered on the tax base, which is the highest of the price paid, the deed price, or the municipal roll value times the comparative factor. Standard 2026 rates are 0.5% up to 62,900 dollars, 1% up to 315,000, then 1.5% above. Use our welcome tax calculator for the exact amount on your purchase.
In Quebec, land transfer duties are nicknamed the welcome tax (taxe de bienvenue). It is a one-time municipal tax on every property purchase — often several thousand dollars, billed weeks after closing, payable in one shot.
The tax base
Duties are calculated on the highest of three amounts: the price paid, the price stated in the deed, or the property's market value (municipal roll value × the year's comparative factor). Buying below roll value does not help — the roll value can still set the base.
Standard provincial brackets (2026)
| Portion of the tax base | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $62,900 | 0.5% |
| $62,900 – $315,000 | 1.0% |
| Over $315,000 | 1.5% |
Municipalities may add higher tiers (up to 3%) on the portion above $500,000. Montreal also has a special regime with higher tiers (see below).
Montreal
Montreal applies higher tiers in 2026 on the high-value portion: 2% above $552,300, 2.5% above $1,104,700, 3.5% above $2,136,500, then 4% above $3,113,000 (indexed annually). Use our Montreal welcome tax calculator, which includes Montreal's tiers, for the exact amount. As an order of magnitude, a $700,000 base in Montreal is roughly $9,350 in duties.
When you pay
The municipality bills you after closing — often weeks later — and it is payable in a single instalment. It is not financed by your mortgage; keep the cash aside.
It lowers your future tax
The welcome tax is added to your property's adjusted cost base, reducing your taxable capital gain when you sell. Keep the receipt. See our guide to capital gains on a rental property.
Build it into your analysis
DeedWorth includes transfer duties in its acquisition-cost calculation, so your cash-on-cash return reflects the real closing cost. Analyze a property with DeedWorth →
FAQ
How is the welcome tax calculated in Quebec? It is tiered on the tax base, which is the highest of the price paid, the deed price, or the municipal roll value times the comparative factor. Standard 2026 rates are 0.5% up to 62,900 dollars, 1% up to 315,000, then 1.5% above.
When do you pay the Quebec welcome tax? The municipality bills you after closing, often weeks later, and it is payable in a single instalment. It is not covered by your mortgage.
Does Montreal charge more? Yes. Montreal adds higher tiers above $552,300, up to 4% on the highest portion in 2026. Use our welcome-tax calculator for the exact amount.
Is the welcome tax deductible? Not against rental income in the year of purchase, but it is added to your adjusted cost base, which reduces your taxable capital gain at sale.
Related guides
- Free decision card: assessment value and welcome tax by address
- Quebec welcome tax by city
- Down payment for a plex: the 2026 rules
- Buying a first plex in Quebec
- Capital gains on a rental property
- Building a plex: rent it out or sell it?
For information only, not tax or legal advice. Rates vary and change; confirm with the province, the municipality, and your lawyer/notary. Last verified: August 2026.