Welcome Tax and Municipal Taxes in Sainte-Thérèse (2026)

In Sainte-Thérèse, the welcome tax is calculated on the tax base (the highest of the price paid, the consideration in the deed, or the standardized assessed value) according to a progressive scale. The first three brackets follow the provincial scale (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% up to $500,000), to which Sainte-Thérèse adds a municipal rate of 3.0% on the portion exceeding that threshold. On an income property of $2,000,000, the bill comes to approximately $50,610 — of which $45,000 is generated by the 3% bracket alone, versus roughly $28,110 if only the provincial ceiling of 1.5% applied. The bill is paid by the buyer after the transaction and may be settled in 1 or 4 installments (by-law 1355 of the City). Annual property taxes are in addition: for 2026, the average tax bill increase is 3.89%, against the backdrop of a new assessment roll 2026–2028 (+24% in total assessed value). This guide details the scale, the statutory exemptions, and the implications for seller and buyer. Figures are indicative (2026); confirm with the City of Sainte-Thérèse.

What is the welcome tax in Sainte-Thérèse?

The welcome tax (droit de mutation immobilière) is a one-time charge paid by the buyer each time a property changes hands. The City of Sainte-Thérèse bills the new owner after deed registration — the seller owes nothing.

The "welcome tax" is the popular name for the real property transfer duty (droit de mutation immobilière). It is a sum collected by every Quebec municipality — Sainte-Thérèse included — whenever a property on its territory changes hands. It is governed by the Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables and applies equally to a house and to an income property.

The essential point for transactions: it is the buyer who pays this duty, not the seller. The City of Sainte-Thérèse bills the new owner after registration of the deed in the land registry. For the general mechanism and the provincial thresholds, see our guide on the welcome tax and our article Welcome Tax 2026 in Quebec.

How is the welcome tax calculated in Sainte-Thérèse?

Calculated on the highest of: sale price, standardized assessed value, or deed consideration. Progressive brackets: 0.5% / 1.0% / 1.5% up to $500,000; then 3.0% above $500,000 (Sainte-Thérèse municipal supplemental rate, by-law). Confirm the current scale with the City.

The calculation rests on two elements: the tax base and the bracket scale.

1. The tax base

The duty is calculated on the highest of: the price paid, the standardized value on the municipal assessment roll (roll value multiplied by the comparison factor), and the consideration stipulated in the deed. For an income property, it is often the sale price that prevails, since it frequently exceeds the assessed value.

2. The 2026 bracket scale

The first three brackets follow the provincial scale (indexed annually). Above $500,000, Sainte-Thérèse has adopted a supplemental municipal rate of 3.0% (tarification by-law; source: City of Sainte-Thérèse). The applicable 2026 scale:

Source: base tiers set by the Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables (CQLR c D-15.1); 3% supplemental rate above $500,000 adopted by by-law of the City of Sainte-Thérèse.

The thresholds of $62,900 and $315,000 are indexed annually by the Quebec government and may vary slightly from year to year; the $500,000 municipal threshold is fixed. The 3% bracket above $500,000 is the decisive item for income properties: every dollar above $500,000 is taxed at twice the provincial ceiling (1.5%). Always confirm the current scale with the City before budgeting your transaction.

Welcome tax calculatorEstimate the transfer duty from the price and the assessed value.

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How much is the welcome tax on a $2,000,000 property in Sainte-Thérèse?

Approximately $50,610 (2026): $314.50 + $2,521 + $2,775 on the first $500,000, plus $45,000 at 3% on the remaining $1,500,000. The bill may be paid in 1 or 4 installments (by-law 1355). Only the notary produces the official calculation.

Take an income property purchased for $2,000,000 in Sainte-Thérèse, assuming the price paid constitutes the tax base. Applying the 2026 Sainte-Thérèse scale, 3% municipal rate above $500,000 included:

• Bracket $0 → $62,900 at 0.5% = $314.50
• Bracket $62,900 → $315,000 ($252,100) at 1.0% = $2,521.00
• Bracket $315,000 → $500,000 ($185,000) at 1.5% = $2,775.00
• Bracket $500,000 → $2,000,000 ($1,500,000) at 3.0% = $45,000.00
• Total indicative: approximately $50,610

The 3% municipal rate above $500,000 accounts for $45,000 of the bill on its own. By comparison, without this municipal rate (provincial ceiling of 1.5%), the duty would be only about $28,110: the difference of more than $22,000 illustrates the full weight of the municipal scale on a high-value multiplex. These amounts are indicative (2026) and rounded; only the notary produces the official calculation.

What are the property taxes in Sainte-Thérèse?

For 2026, the City of Sainte-Thérèse announced an average tax bill increase of 3.89%, in the context of a new assessment roll 2026–2028 (+24% in total assessed value). Income properties are assessed by the income approach; rates vary by category — check your tax bill.

Separate from the transfer duty (paid once at purchase), the property tax is annual. It corresponds to the municipal rate (expressed per $100 of assessed value) multiplied by the value on the roll, plus various service charges (water, waste, etc.).

For the 2026 budget, the City of Sainte-Thérèse announced an average tax bill increase of 3.89%. This budget coincides with the introduction of a new assessment roll 2026–2028, which brings the city's total assessed value from approximately $4.46 to $5.5 billion (+24% approximately). Note: an income property is assessed using an income approach, based on the rents generated and comparable sales. Assessment increases for rental buildings may therefore differ from those of single-family homes.

To understand how a building's value is built from its income, see our tools on the cap rate and the gross rent multiplier (GRM). The only authoritative figures are on your tax bill and the assessment roll of the City of Sainte-Thérèse.

Who can be exempt from the welcome tax in Sainte-Thérèse?

Exemptions apply to transfers between spouses, between relatives in a direct line, and certain corporate reorganizations — all subject to strict conditions. Have your notary confirm eligibility before closing. Arm's-length sales of income properties rarely qualify.

The Act provides several exemptions. The most common ones concern:

• Transfers between close relatives: between spouses, or in a direct line (parents/children, grandparents/grandchildren), under conditions.
• Certain reorganizations between a natural person and a corporation they control, or between closely related corporations.
• Transfers where the tax base is very low, where a minimal supplementary duty may apply instead.

These exemptions have strict conditions and declaration obligations; a poorly documented exemption can be revoked. Always have your eligibility validated by your notary before closing. For family property transfers, see our guide on real estate inheritance.

What is the impact of the welcome tax for the seller and buyer in Sainte-Thérèse?

Buyer: add ~$50,610 in transfer duties to the $2M purchase price, plus notary fees — budget for this after closing. Seller: you don't pay, but the buyer factors this cost into their offer. Knowing the number helps you negotiate and price realistically.

For the buyer: the transfer duty is a real acquisition cost on top of the price, notary fees, and adjustments. On a $2,000,000 property, it can represent $28,000 to over $50,000 depending on the municipal by-law. Better to build this into the profitability analysis from the start — a line item not to forget in your purchase offer calculator.

For the seller: you do not pay the welcome tax, but it indirectly influences your transaction. A well-informed buyer factors this cost into the price they propose. Knowing this amount helps you better understand the pricing logic and negotiate more effectively. If you are considering selling, our dedicated page sell an income property in Sainte-Thérèse details the steps, timelines, and commission-free options.

Where the rates come from: the 2026 provincial scale in detail

The first three brackets come from the Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables: 0.5% on the first $62,900, 1.0% from $62,900 to $315,000, and 1.5% above $315,000. These thresholds are indexed every January 1; the indexation applied on January 1, 2026 is 2.05%. Sainte-Thérèse then layers its 3% municipal rate above $500,000.

Many sellers discover the amount of the welcome tax only once the offer is accepted, without ever seeing how it is built. Understanding the mechanics avoids nasty surprises and, above all, lets you anticipate the buyer's reasoning — a negotiating asset. The scale applied in Sainte-Thérèse reads as two layers: a provincial base, common to every Quebec municipality, and a municipal surcharge specific to the City.

The provincial base, common to all of Quebec

The Quebec government sets, through the Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables (CQLR, c. D-15.1), a floor scale that every municipality must at minimum apply. For 2026, it is as follows (source: Government of Quebec):

The thresholds of $62,900 and $315,000 are not fixed: they are indexed annually to the increase in Quebec's consumer price index. The indexation rate applied on January 1, 2026 is 2.05%. That is why a scale published for 2025 differs slightly from the 2026 one, and why you should always confirm the brackets for the year of signing.

The tax base: three values, keep the highest

The duty is never calculated "at random" on the listed price. The notary uses the tax base, defined as the highest of three values:

• The price paid (the consideration actually given, including the value of any goods exchanged);
• The consideration stipulated in the deed of transfer;
• The market value on the roll, i.e. the value on the assessment roll multiplied by the year's comparative factor (the "standardized value").

The comparative factor brings the roll value — often established two or three years earlier — back to a current market value. On an income property, the sale price almost always exceeds the standardized value, so the price serves as the base. But in a declining market, or when a property sells well below its roll value, the standardized value can prevail and push the duty above what the price suggested. It is a classic trap in transactions between relatives or sales under pressure.

Sainte-Thérèse compared to neighbouring North Shore cities

The Act caps the municipal rate at 3% on the portion above $500,000. Sainte-Thérèse applies this 3% maximum. Some neighbouring cities have adjusted it: Blainville, for example, lowered its rate from 3% to 1.5% on the $500,000-to-$750,000 bracket in its 2026 budget. On a multiplex, the gap between two municipalities can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Since 2016, the Act allows each Quebec municipality to impose a higher rate, up to 3%, on any bracket of the tax base exceeding $500,000 (source: Government of Quebec). Montreal benefits from a special regime allowing it to go further. The result: two identical properties, a few kilometres apart, can generate very different transfer duties depending on the tarification by-law in force.

Sainte-Thérèse chose to apply the maximum permitted, 3%, on the entire portion above $500,000. That is the most expensive scenario for a multiplex buyer. Conversely, some cities have recently eased their scale to support access to ownership: in its 2026 budget, the City of Blainville announced that the rate would drop from 3% to 1.5% on the $500,000-to-$750,000 bracket (source: City of Blainville).

What the gap represents on a $2,000,000 property

Take our $2,000,000 property again and compare two scale structures, purely for illustration. The first three brackets (up to $500,000) always give $5,610.50. It is the top bracket that makes the difference:

The gap, on a single property, exceeds $22,000. For an investor comparing two similar buildings in two neighbouring cities, the municipal surcharge can tip the balance — and a Sainte-Thérèse seller must know that their buyer factors this reality into the offer. Beware, however: each city has its own by-law, its own bracket thresholds and its own rates. The figures above are indicative (2026); always confirm the exact scale of the municipality concerned with its finance department before comparing. For the general mechanics, see our article welcome tax 2026 in Quebec.

From closing to the bill: the payment procedure, step by step

The welcome tax is not paid on the day of signing. The City bills the buyer after registration of the deed in the land registry. Payment is due, by law, before the 31st day following the sending of the account, unless a municipal by-law allows installments — in Sainte-Thérèse, 1 or 4 installments (by-law 1355).

Contrary to a widespread belief, the welcome tax is not settled at the notary's office on the day of the sale. Here is the real sequence, from the standpoint of the seller who accompanies the buyer all the way through:

The deadlines and interest not to miss

The Act provides that the transfer duty is payable before the 31st day following the sending of the account by the municipality; past that deadline, interest accrues, unless a municipal by-law authorizes payment by installments (source: Government of Quebec). In Sainte-Thérèse, by-law 1355 authorizes settlement in 1 or 4 installments; each installment after the first must be paid within 45 days of the due date of the previous one, failing which interest applies.

The disclosure declaration: a 90-day trap

An often-overlooked point: when a transfer is not registered in the land registry (for example certain transfers of control or of rights), the new owner must file a disclosure declaration with the municipality within 90 days. Failing this, a supplementary duty of up to 150% of the transfer duty may be required by Revenu Québec, part of which is remitted to the municipality (source: Government of Quebec). For a seller, the lesson is simple: any "clever" transaction structure that bypasses registration must be validated by a notary, or it can cost far more than the duty itself.

Seven mistakes that inflate the transfer duty bill

The most costly mistakes: budgeting on the roll value rather than the price, forgetting the 3% municipal bracket, confusing the welcome tax with property taxes, assuming an undocumented exemption, and missing the 90-day disclosure deadline. Each can cost thousands of dollars.

On an income property, a poor estimate of the welcome tax feeds straight into profitability — and therefore into the price a buyer is willing to offer. Here are the seven mistakes we see most often, on both the seller and buyer sides.

1. Calculating on the roll value instead of the price. On a multiplex, the sale price almost always dominates the standardized value. Estimating the duty on the roll value alone underestimates the bill, sometimes by several thousand dollars.
2. Forgetting the 3% municipal bracket. This is the heaviest error in Sainte-Thérèse: applying the 1.5% provincial ceiling instead of 3% halves the portion above $500,000 — a gap of more than $22,000 on a $2,000,000 property.
3. Confusing the welcome tax with property taxes. The former is paid once at purchase; the latter recur every year. Adding them together or swapping them distorts any cash-flow projection.
4. Ignoring the comparative factor. In a down market, the standardized value (roll × factor) can exceed the negotiated price and become the tax base — the duty is then higher than expected.
5. Believing the seller pays. The transfer duty is always the buyer's responsibility. A seller who "offers to pay the welcome tax" is really granting a disguised discount; better to price it clearly.
6. Assuming an exemption without documenting it. A poorly documented family or corporate exemption can be revoked, and the duty becomes payable retroactively, sometimes increased. Eligibility is validated before signing, not after.
7. Missing the 90-day disclosure deadline. For transfers not registered in the land registry, the absence of a declaration within 90 days exposes you to the supplementary duty — up to 150% of the duty owed.

Special cases: corporations, co-ownership and chained transfers

Transfer to a controlled corporation, purchase in undivided co-ownership, transfers of very low value (under $5,000), family exemptions: each configuration has its own rules. A supplementary duty of at most $200 can replace the transfer duty in certain exempt transfers, and exemptions carry maintenance conditions.

Most sales of income properties are "arm's length" transactions, fully subject to the transfer duty. But several configurations fall outside this standard framework and deserve particular attention.

The transfer to a corporation you control

The Act provides an exemption for certain transfers between a natural person and a corporation they control (or between closely related corporations), under strict conditions of control and maintenance. An owner "rolling" their property into a management corporation may, in some cases, avoid the duty — but the exemption comes with conditions to maintain the link for a set period; if they cease to be met, the duty can become payable again. This type of structure is the domain of the tax advisor and notary, never of improvisation.

Purchase in undivided co-ownership and shares

When a property is bought by several parties (undivided co-ownership), the duty is calculated on the total tax base of the property, not on each party's share. The later transfer of a share between co-owners is in turn a mutation, potentially subject to the duty. For a seller, this means a buyer set up as a group will pay the duty on the full value — a factor that in no way lightens their bill.

Low-value transfers and the supplementary duty

Some transfers escape the transfer duty, notably those with a tax base below $5,000. In several exemption cases, however, the municipality may require, by resolution, a supplementary duty of at most $200 to compensate (source: Government of Quebec). This amount is nothing compared to the regular duty on a multiplex, but it shows that "exempt" does not always mean "zero dollars."

Using the welcome tax as a selling lever

The seller does not pay the welcome tax, but it is part of the buyer's total acquisition cost (≈ $50,610 on $2,000,000 in Sainte-Thérèse). Knowing this figure lets you understand the logic of the offer, defend your price, and avoid "paying the tax" as a disguised discount.

The seller's perspective is often neglected in guides on the welcome tax, precisely because the seller is not the one paying. That is a mistake: this cost, though borne by the buyer, directly influences the price you will be offered. A buyer of an income property thinks in terms of total acquisition cost, not listed price.

The total cost that weighs on the buyer's offer

On a $2,000,000 property in Sainte-Thérèse, the buyer adds to the price a set of non-recoverable costs before collecting their first rent:

Figures are indicative (2026), to confirm case by case. What the seller must remember: a well-informed buyer knows they will have to lay out nearly $50,000 in transfer duties in the first year. This sum influences the maximum price they can offer while keeping their target return.

Three ways to turn it to your advantage

• Defend your price by value, not by concession. Rather than "paying the tax" (a disguised discount of tens of thousands of dollars), demonstrate the strength of your income: a good cap rate justifies the price better than a concession on fees.
• Anticipate the objection. If a buyer invokes "the huge fees" to lower their offer, you will know the transfer duty is fixed and predictable — not a reason to cut your net price.
• Sell net, commission-free. By dealing with a direct buyer, you save the brokerage commission, leaving more room on both sides. Our page sell an income property in Sainte-Thérèse details the commission-free options.

In the end, the seller who masters the mechanics of the welcome tax negotiates on equal footing: they understand every item of the buyer's acquisition cost and do not give up their net price out of ignorance. To price a realistic offer on both sides, use our purchase offer calculator.