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First-time buyer rebate checker
Check if you qualify for Ontario’s (up to $4,000) and Toronto’s (up to $4,475) land transfer tax refunds, prorated by your ownership share. ✓ Rules checked Oct 10, 2026
How first-time buyer land transfer tax rebates work
Ontario refunds up to $4,000 of provincial land transfer tax to eligible first-time buyers (no tax on the first $368,000). Toronto refunds up to $4,475 of municipal tax. Both require you to be 18+, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, never to have owned a home anywhere in the world, and to move in within 9 months. If a co-owner (e.g. a parent) is not a first-time buyer, the refund is reduced in proportion to the ownership share acquired by the qualifying buyer(s).
First-time buyer rebate checker: frequently asked questions
I’m not a citizen or PR yet. Can I still claim?
Yes, if you become a citizen or permanent resident within 18 months after closing you can apply for the refund then (pay the tax at closing first).
My parent is on title just for the mortgage.
Ontario says if the parent holds title only as a trustee (e.g. bank requirement) and has no beneficial interest, the child may get the full refund with evidence of the trust — but tax is paid at registration and refunded later.
My spouse owned a home before we met.
That’s fine — only ownership while you were spouses disqualifies you.
How do I claim?
Your lawyer usually claims it at registration. Otherwise apply within 18 months of closing (Ontario online portal; Toronto by mail/email, refund fee applies).
Can I qualify twice?
No. You cannot re-qualify as a first-time buyer for these refunds.
Official sources
- Ontario — LTT Refunds for First-Time Homebuyers (updated Feb 10, 2026)
- City of Toronto — MLTT Rebate Opportunities
- Ontario — Calculating LTT
- City of Toronto — MLTT rates
Rules checked Oct 10, 2026. Estimates only — confirm with official sources and a professional.