Which Provinces Have No Land Transfer Tax? (Alberta, Saskatchewan, NL, 2026)
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador have no land transfer tax, but charge registration fees: $1,260 in Alberta and $2,925 in Saskatchewan.
Three provinces and all three territories have no land transfer tax: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. None of them is free. Each charges fees to register the transfer and the mortgage at the land titles office, and the fees scale with the amounts registered. On a $600,000 purchase with 10% down that is about $1,260 in Alberta, $2,925 in Saskatchewan and $4,823 in Newfoundland and Labrador, against $8,475 in Ontario and $10,000 in BC.
Figures come from the CostToClose land transfer tax calculator.
What each one charges instead
Alberta. Land titles fees since October 2024: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 (or part) of property value on the transfer, and $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of the mortgage amount on the mortgage registration. Both are paid through your lawyer at closing.
Saskatchewan. Information Services Corporation charges a title transfer fee of 0.4% of the property value (raised from 0.3% in July 2023; $25 flat below $6,300), plus a mortgage registration fee in tiers: $200 up to $250,000, $275 to $500,000, $525 to $750,000, $775 to $1 million, $1,000 above.
Newfoundland and Labrador. The Registry of Deeds charges $100 for the first $500 of value plus $0.40 for each additional $100, to a maximum of $5,000, once on the deed and again on the mortgage.
Territories. Registration fees only, generally a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
Fees at common prices
Assuming 10% down; the mortgage fee is calculated on the insured mortgage including the CMHC premium, which is the amount registered on title.
| Price | Alberta | Saskatchewan | Newfoundland & Labrador |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $680 | $1,475 | $2,510 |
| $500,000 | $1,065 | $2,275 | $4,052 |
| $700,000 | $1,450 | $3,325 | $5,594 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,030 | $4,775 | $7,908 |
This example was computed with the CostToClose calculator, 14 September 2026. Older guides quoting "$400 flat" for Alberta are using the pre-2024 schedule.
What that saves against the taxed provinces
Same $600,000 purchase, repeat buyer:
| Province | Transfer tax or fee | Saving vs Ontario |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $1,260 | $7,215 |
| Saskatchewan | $2,925 | $5,550 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $4,823 | $3,652 |
| Ontario (outside Toronto) | $8,475 | — |
| British Columbia | $10,000 | −$1,525 |
| Toronto | $16,950 | −$8,475 |
The saving is real but smaller than the "no tax" label suggests, and it is dwarfed by price differences between the cities themselves.
Worked example from the calculator
Buyer relocating from Toronto to Calgary, $600,000 in each city, 10% down, repeat buyer:
| Metric | Calgary | Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax / title fee | $650 | $16,950 |
| Mortgage registration (on $556,740 insured) | $610 | — |
| PST on CMHC premium | $0 | $1,339 |
| Rule-based closing costs | $1,260 | $18,289 |
Alberta also has no provincial sales tax, so the CMHC premium tax disappears too. Reproduce this.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alberta have a land transfer tax?
No. Alberta charges land titles registration fees: $50 plus $5 per $5,000 on both the transfer and the mortgage. On a $500,000 home with 10% down that is $1,065.
Is there land transfer tax in Saskatchewan?
No tax, but a title transfer fee of 0.4% of value plus a mortgage registration fee of $200 to $1,000. About $2,925 on a $600,000 purchase.
Does Newfoundland have a land transfer tax?
No. It charges registration fees of $100 plus $0.40 per $100 of value (maximum $5,000) on the deed and again on the mortgage.
Which province has the cheapest closing costs in Canada?
Alberta, on the rule-based lines: no transfer tax, no PST on mortgage insurance, and the lowest registration fees. Legal fees and inspections are similar everywhere.
Do the territories charge land transfer tax?
No. Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut charge land-titles registration fees only.
Sources
- Government of Alberta, Land Titles fees (schedule effective October 2024) — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Information Services Corporation (Saskatchewan), Land Registry fees — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Registration of Deeds Act fee schedule — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Ontario Ministry of Finance and Government of British Columbia transfer tax schedules (for comparison) — checked 14 Sept 2026
This guide gives general information for Canadian home buyers and sellers, checked against the sources listed above on the date shown. It is not legal, tax, or mortgage advice. Because rules and rates change, confirm current figures with your lawyer or notary, your lender, or the government office that administers the tax before relying on them.