What is the Ontario first-time home buyer land transfer tax rebate?
Ontario offers a land transfer tax rebate for first-time home buyers designed to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing your first home. The rebate can offset all or part of the provincial LTT you owe, up to a maximum amount set by the provincial government. As of the time of writing, eligible first-time buyers can receive a rebate of up to $4,000 toward their Ontario LTT.
To qualify, you must never have owned a home anywhere in the world before — not just in Ontario. You must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and you must occupy the home as your principal residence within a set period after closing.
If you have a co-purchaser, both purchasers must be first-time buyers to receive the full rebate. If only one purchaser qualifies, the rebate is prorated based on that person's interest in the property. The rebate is applied directly at closing through your lawyer — you do not need to file a separate claim afterward.
Key takeaways
- The Ontario first-time buyer LTT rebate is up to $4,000 on provincial land transfer tax.
- You must never have owned a home anywhere in the world before.
- You must be 18+, a citizen or permanent resident, and intend to occupy the home.
- If co-purchasing, both buyers must qualify to get the full rebate.