Quebec School Tax Calculator
by City
Estimate your annual school tax in seconds: select your city, enter the assessed value, the uniform 2026 provincial rate and the $25,000 exemption. Share or print your estimate. Followed by a comprehensive guide.
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Get an offer →Estimate for informational purposes only. The school tax is determined by the school service centre based on the provincial rate in effect. The official amount appears on your annual school tax notice.
The Quebec school tax: everything you need to know
The school tax is an annual contribution paid by Quebec property owners to fund part of the education system. Since the reform, the calculation is simple and identical everywhere in the province. This guide explains how it works, how to calculate it and how it differs from other real estate taxes.
A single rate across all of Quebec
Before the reform, each school board set its own rate, creating large disparities from one region to the next. Quebec now applies a single provincial rate, set each year by the Ministry of Education. Whether your property is in Saint-Jérôme, Laval or Terrebonne, the same rate applies.
How the school tax is calculated
The calculation rests on two elements: the assessed value of your property (the standardized municipal assessment) and the provincial rate. A $25,000 base exemption is subtracted from the value before the rate is applied.
The formula
School tax = (Assessed value − $25,000) × Rate ÷ 100
Example: for a property assessed at $500,000 with a rate of 0.08423 per $100: (500,000 − 25,000) × 0.08423 ÷ 100 = $400.09 per year.
The school tax rate and its evolution
The rate is revised annually and has generally trended downward since standardization. It is expressed per $100 of taxable value. Because it changes every year, our calculator lets you adjust the rate to match the one shown on your notice.
| Assessed value | Taxable value (after exemption) | Estimated tax (0.08423) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $225,000 | ≈ $190 |
| $500,000 | $475,000 | ≈ $400 |
| $1,000,000 | $975,000 | ≈ $821 |
| $2,000,000 | $1,975,000 | ≈ $1,664 |
Who pays the school tax and when?
Every property owner pays the school tax, whether they occupy the property or not. For an income property, the owner covers it (it is part of operating expenses). The notice is generally sent in summer and payable in one or two instalments depending on the amount.
School tax, municipal tax and welcome tax: what are the differences?
- School tax: annual, uniform provincial rate, funds education. Relatively low amount.
- Municipal (property) tax: annual, set by your city, funds municipal services. Much higher.
- Welcome tax (land transfer tax): paid once, at purchase, by the buyer.
The school tax for an income property
In a multiplex analysis, the school tax is added to operating expenses alongside the municipal tax, insurance and utilities. Even though it is modest, it reduces net operating income (NOI) and therefore the property's value as measured by the cap rate. Our other tools — offer calculator, NOI, cap rate — factor it into the overall assessment.
Can I reduce or contest my school tax?
The school tax depends directly on the municipal assessment. If you believe that your property's assessment is too high, you can contest it with your municipality when the assessment roll is tabled. A downwardly revised assessment reduces both your municipal tax and your school tax.
Quick glossary
- Assessed value: the value of the property listed in the municipal assessment roll.
- Base exemption: the $25,000 non-taxable slice.
- School tax rate: uniform provincial rate, per $100 of taxable value.
- School service centre: the body that collects the school tax.
- Assessment roll: the municipal register of assessed property values.
20 answers about the
Quebec school tax
It is an annual tax paid by Quebec property owners to fund part of the education system. It is collected by the school service centres.
Subtract the $25,000 base exemption from the assessed value, then multiply by the provincial rate divided by 100. Our calculator does it for you instantly.
Yes. Since the reform, a single provincial rate applies across all of Quebec, regardless of region or school service centre.
It is a $25,000 slice of the assessed value that is not taxable. It is subtracted from the value before the rate is applied, which slightly reduces the tax.
It appears on your municipal tax bill and in your city's assessment roll. It is the standardized municipal assessment of your property.
Every property owner, whether they live in the property or not. For an income property, the owner covers it as part of operating expenses.
Generally in summer. Depending on the amount, the tax is payable in one or two instalments, on the dates shown on the notice.
Not necessarily. The rate is revised annually and has generally trended downward since standardization. However, if your property's assessed value rises on the roll, your tax may increase even with a lower rate.
Because the Ministry sets a new rate every year. That is why our calculator lets you enter the exact rate shown on your most recent notice.
Since the tax depends on the municipal assessment, the only real way to reduce it is to contest an assessment you believe is too high, when your city's assessment roll is tabled.
Yes, within the prescribed deadlines after the triennial assessment roll is filed. A downwardly revised assessment reduces both your school tax and your municipal tax.
The municipal tax is set by your city, funds municipal services, and is substantially higher. The school tax has a uniform provincial rate and a much more modest amount.
The welcome tax (land transfer tax) is paid once, by the buyer, upon purchase. The school tax is recurring and annual. They are two distinct taxes.
For an income property, the school tax is part of operating expenses and is generally deductible from rental income. Consult an accountant for your specific situation.
Yes, the $25,000 base exemption is applied by default. You can disable it if your situation requires it, but in the vast majority of cases it applies.
Use the standardized municipal assessment (the roll value), not the purchase price. The purchase price is used instead to calculate the welcome tax.
Yes, completely free, no sign-up required, and it runs directly in your browser. No data is collected.
No. It is an estimate. The official amount is the one shown on your school tax notice, established by your school service centre based on the rate in effect.
Like any operating expense, it reduces net income (NOI), and therefore value based on NOI or the cap rate. Its impact is modest compared to the municipal tax, but it matters in a detailed analysis.
At closing, the notary typically makes an adjustment (proration) between seller and buyer based on the closing date, so each party pays their share of the year.
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