When you buy land or an interest in land in Ontario, you pay land transfer tax. First-time homebuyers of an eligible home may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the tax.

To claim a refund, you must be at least 18 years of age, you cannot have owned a home or an interest in a home anywhere in the world, and your spouse cannot have owned a home or interest in a home, anywhere in the world while he or she was your spouse. Previous ownership in a home means you do not qualify for the land transfer tax first-time homebuyers refund. The method of acquiring the home (e.g., purchase, gift or through an inheritance) is not relevant.

You cannot re‑qualify as a first‑time homebuyer. This rule may be different from other federal programs for first‑time homebuyers (e.g., the Canada Revenue Agency Home Buyers' Plan).

Beginning January 1, 2017, the maximum amount of the refund is $4,000. The increased limit of $4,000 applies only to conveyances or dispositions that occur on or after January 1, 2017, regardless of the date the agreement of purchase and sale was signed.

Since January 1, 2017, no land transfer tax would be payable by qualifying first‑time purchasers on the first $368,000 of the value of the consideration for eligible homes. First‑time purchasers of homes greater than $368,000 would receive a maximum refund of $4,000.

In Toronto, there is an additional Toronto Land Transfer Tax and there is also an available Toronto LTT rebate available for first-time home buyers.

The first-time home purchase rebate applies to newly constructed and resale residential properties.

For conveyances and dispositions of beneficial interest in land of an eligible home on or after March 1, 2017, and a rebate of up to $4,475.00. The definition of a first-time purchaser is:

• the purchaser is at least 18 years of age
• the purchaser must occupy the home as their principal residence no later than nine months after the date of the conveyance or disposition
• the purchaser cannot have previously owned a home, or had any ownership interest in a home, anywhere in the world, at any time
• if the purchaser has a spouse, the spouse cannot have owned a home, nor had any ownership interest in a home, anywhere in the world while they were the purchaser’s spouse
  
• the purchaser is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. If the purchaser becomes a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within 18 months of the transfer, they may apply for and may qualify for the rebate