What is the welcome tax in Repentigny in 2026?
The welcome tax in Repentigny in 2026 is calculated in brackets: 0.5% on the first $62,900, 1% from $62,901 to $315,000, 1.5% from $315,001 to $500,000, and 3% on everything above $500,000, a municipal rate that many generic calculators miss. For a home around Repentigny's median price, about $580,000, the bill generally lands around $8,000. The good news: since 2026, a new Quebec government credit can reimburse a large part of that amount for eligible first-time buyers, up to $5,875. Here is how it works. The amounts in this article are estimates for information purposes: the official amount of your tax is the one calculated and billed by the City.
What exactly is the welcome tax?
Its real name is "droits de mutation immobilière" (property transfer duties). It is a municipal tax that every new owner must pay after buying a property, in any city in Quebec. The nickname "welcome tax" comes from minister Jean Bienvenue, who introduced the measure in the 70s. Contrary to what many think, it cannot be rolled into the mortgage: it is an expense to plan for in cash, on top of the down payment and notary fees.
The brackets applicable in Repentigny in 2026
The calculation is done in successive brackets, like income tax : From $0 to $62,900: 0.5% From $62,901 to $315,000: 1% From $315,001 to $500,000: 1.5% Above $500,000: 3%
The important point: the first three brackets are the provincial base rates, but the 3% bracket above $500,000 is a choice made by the City of Repentigny, allowed by law. Not all municipalities apply it. With a median single-family price around $580,000 in Repentigny, this bracket now affects a good portion of buyers, and that is exactly where generic calculators get it wrong when they apply 1.5% across the board.
On what amount is the tax calculated?
Not necessarily on the price you pay. The basis of imposition is the higher of the sale price and the standardized value on the assessment roll (the municipal value multiplied by the comparative factor). Concretely: if you negotiate a price below the standardized municipal value, the tax is still calculated on the higher value. It is a check I do systematically with my clients before the offer, so there is no surprise on the bill.
Illustrative example: a $580,000 home in Repentigny
Here is how the bracket calculation works, in approximate figures:
First bracket: $62,900 × 0.5% = about $314 Second bracket: ($315,000 − $62,900) × 1% = about $2,521 Third bracket: ($500,000 − $315,000) × 1.5% = about $2,775 Fourth bracket: ($580,000 − $500,000) × 3% = about $2,400
Estimated total: about $8,010. The City of Repentigny actually publishes its own example for a $550,000 home: $7,110.50. Same mechanics. Important reminder: this example illustrates how it works, but only the bill issued by the City is official. The actual basis of imposition (price paid or standardized value, whichever is higher) and the parameters in effect at the time of your transaction can move the amount up or down.
When and how do you pay it?
In Repentigny, the transfer duty is payable in a single payment, within 30 days of billing by the City. The bill generally arrives a few weeks after signing at the notary, once the transfer is registered in the land register. That is why I tell all my buyers to keep this amount set aside after the transaction: it is the expense most often forgotten in the purchase budget.
Quebec's new credit: the real good news of 2026
Since 2026, the Quebec government reimburses part of the transfer duties for eligible first-time buyers, retroactive to January 1, 2026, for properties under one million dollars. How it works: the first $5,000 paid in transfer duties is fully reimbursed, then 25% applies to the next $3,500, for a maximum additional $875. The credit can therefore reach $5,875. The reimbursement gradually decreases for properties above $750,000 and becomes nil at $1 million.
Back to our approximate $580,000 example, with a tax estimated around $8,000, for an eligible first-time buyer: the first $5,000 would be fully reimbursed, plus 25% of the excess portion, for a total credit in the range of $5,700. The real cost of the tax would then go from about $8,000 to about $2,300. Again, these are orders of magnitude for information purposes: the exact amount of the credit depends on the tax actually billed by the City and on your eligibility.
Important: this example illustrates the calculation for an eligible file, but the credit is case by case. It targets first-time buyers, you or your spouse must have paid the transfer duty, it is claimed in the provincial income tax return (first payments are expected as early as fall 2026), and the amount gradually decreases for properties above $750,000 until it becomes nil at $1 million. Your exact situation should be verified before counting on the amount, not after.
A detail very few people know: instead of waiting for the tax refund, it is possible to request an advance payment of the credit once the tax has been paid. It is the kind of check we do together when planning your purchase.
Can you avoid the welcome tax?
In certain specific situations, yes, there is an exemption. The main ones: a transfer between spouses, a direct-line transfer (parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren), or a basis of imposition under $5,000. For a normal purchase on the market, the honest answer is no: the tax applies, and the real strategy is to plan for it in your budget and claim the credit if you are eligible, not to look for a loophole that does not exist.
Frequently asked questions about the welcome tax in Repentigny
What is the welcome tax for a $500,000 home in Repentigny?
As an indication, about $5,600 based on the 2026 brackets: about $314 on the first bracket, about $2,521 on the second, and about $2,775 on the bracket from $315,001 to $500,000. The 3% rate only applies above $500,000. The official amount is the one billed by the City, calculated on the actual basis of imposition of your transaction.
Is the welcome tax tax-deductible?
For a principal residence, no, it is not deductible. However, since 2026, eligible first-time buyers can obtain a Quebec credit of up to $5,875, which is even better than a deduction. For an income property, the tax treatment is different and is a matter for your accountant.
How can you avoid the welcome tax?
Exemptions exist only in specific cases: transfers between spouses, direct-line transfers between parents and children, or a basis of imposition under $5,000. For a standard purchase, it is unavoidable, but the 2026 credit reimburses a large part of it for eligible first-time buyers.
Can the welcome tax be included in the mortgage?
No. It is paid in cash, in a single payment within 30 days of the City's bill. It is one of the reasons the complete purchase budget must include more than the down payment: welcome tax, notary fees, inspection and tax adjustments.
Conclusion
The welcome tax in Repentigny is not a surprise when you calculate it in advance, and in 2026, Quebec's new credit genuinely changes the game for first-time buyers. I am Samuel Gendron, residential real estate broker in Repentigny, and the complete calculation of acquisition costs, welcome tax included, is part of the planning I do with every buyer before the first visit. If you are planning a purchase in Repentigny or anywhere in Lanaudière, the first meeting comes with no commitment.
