Since January 1, 2026, first-time buyers in Quebec can get a good part of their welcome tax back through a refundable tax credit from the Quebec government. In Montreal, this credit replaces the City's former program, which no longer accepts applications. Here's how the Quebec welcome tax rebate for first-time buyers is calculated, who qualifies, and how to receive it before you even file your tax return.
How the welcome tax rebate is calculated
The credit depends on the amount of welcome tax (property transfer duties, droits de mutation) you actually paid:
- 100% of the first $5,000 of tax paid;
- plus 25% of the next $3,500;
- up to a maximum of $5,875, reached as soon as the tax paid is $8,500 or more.
In other words, on a smaller property, the tax can be reimbursed in full. On a more expensive property, the credit caps out and you pay the difference.
| Tax base | Welcome tax | Access-to-property credit | Net cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $2,686 | − $2,686 | $0 |
| $450,000 | $4,861 | − $4,861 | $0 |
| $600,000 | $7,349 | − $5,587 | $1,762 |
| $800,000 | $11,349 | − $5,875 | $5,474 |
Amounts rounded to the nearest dollar, for a single eligible buyer who owns 100% of the property. Outside Montreal the rates are different: redo the calculation with the tool below or see our page on calculating the welcome tax.
Welcome tax calculator
ToolProperty transfer duties (droits de mutation), calculated bracket by bracket.
| Bracket | Rate | Amount taxed | Tax |
|---|
2026 scales in force on October 9, 2026. Outside Montreal, some municipalities charge higher rates above $500,000 — check with your city. The municipality sends the bill after the signing. Quebec's credit (maximum $5,875) is paid once the tax has been paid in full — see the conditions.
Who qualifies for the access-to-property credit?
- Be a first-time buyer: you didn't live, as your principal residence, in a home owned by you or your current spouse, in the current year or the previous 4 calendar years. A home adapted for a person with a disability can also qualify.
- Live in Quebec on December 31 of the year.
- Have acquired the home during the year, on or after January 1, 2026.
- Have paid the welcome tax in full.
Buying with someone else? The credit is split between the co-owners according to their share of the property. For example, two co-owners with equal shares split the credit 50/50.
How to claim it: tax return or advance payment
With your tax return
Attach form TP-752.HA to your Quebec income tax return for the year of the purchase. Because the credit is refundable, you receive it even if you don't pay any tax.
The advance payment
You can receive the credit before you file your return, through Revenu Québec's My Account (Mon dossier) or with form TPZ-1029.AP, if:
- the property's tax base doesn't exceed $1,000,000;
- the estimated credit is more than $1,000;
- you're signed up for direct deposit.
For 2026, the deadline is December 1, 2026. Note: only one person can request the advance payment for the same home. If you're buying as a couple, agree on who will apply.
Remember that the welcome tax bill arrives a few weeks after the signing at the notary's office, and it must be paid before the credit is paid out. Plan for that amount in your cash flow.
The end of Montreal's home purchase assistance program
Many first-time buyers are still looking for the City of Montreal's home purchase assistance program (Programme d'appui à l'acquisition résidentielle, sometimes still called by its former name, "Accès Famille"). That program has ended: the City has not accepted new applications since July 7, 2026.
- Already applied? Applications received before July 7, 2026 will be processed by the end of 2026.
- Buying now? Quebec's access-to-property tax credit, described on this page, replaces it.
This credit comes on top of the federal and Quebec non-refundable credits. See what they're worth on our page about the first-time home buyer tax credit, or every program side by side in our programs table.
Official sources: Revenu Québec — access-to-property tax credit (in French), City of Montreal — home purchase assistance program (in French).
Frequently asked questions
Can you get the welcome tax refunded in Quebec?
Yes, in part. Since 2026, the refundable access-to-property tax credit reimburses first-time buyers 100% of the first $5,000 of welcome tax paid and 25% of the next $3,500, up to $5,875.
Does Montreal's home purchase assistance program still exist?
No. The City of Montreal has not accepted new applications since July 7, 2026; applications received before that date will be processed by the end of 2026. The Quebec credit replaces it.
When do you get the Quebec welcome tax rebate?
With your Quebec income tax return (form TP-752.HA), or earlier through an advance payment if you meet the conditions. For 2026, the advance payment must be requested by December 1, 2026, and the tax must first be paid in full.
