Land transfer tax in Newfoundland and Labrador: there isn’t one
No land transfer tax — what the Registry of Deeds charges on the deed and the mortgage instead, worked at six prices.
Is there a land transfer tax in Newfoundland and Labrador?
No. Newfoundland and Labrador charges Registry of Deeds fees instead: $100 for the first $500 of value plus 40 cents for each further $100, on the deed and again on the mortgage, which is capped at $5,000. On the September 2026 average of $372,633 that is $1,589 for the deed and $1,571 for an insured mortgage.
Registry of Deeds fees at six prices
| Purchase price | Deed fee | Mortgage fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $898 | $888 | $1,786 |
| $300,000 | $1,298 | $1,284 | $2,582 |
| $372,633 (September 2026 average price) | $1,589 | $1,571 | $3,160 |
| $400,000 | $1,698 | $1,679 | $3,377 |
| $500,000 | $2,098 | $2,074 | $4,172 |
| $750,000 | $3,098 | $3,010 | $6,108 |
The deed and the mortgage are each registered at the Registry of Deeds on the schedule above; the government’s online calculator gives the exact figure.
Go deeper
The detail, if you want it
How the fee is worked
Up to $500 of value the fee is $100. Above that, each further $100 — or part of $100 — adds 40 cents, so $501 counts as one step. The deed is charged on the price and the mortgage on the amount it secures, including a financed CMHC premium.
No first-time buyer exemption
The published fee schedule has no first-time buyer exemption; only the Crown and non-profit airport authorities are exempt.
NL Housing’s program helps with closing costs instead: A grant of 50% of legal closing costs (up to $1,500) plus a loan of up to 5% of the price, interest-free for five years; full loan under $85,000 of household income, price caps of $350,000 in the St. John’s area and Labrador, $300,000 in regional centres and $250,000 elsewhere. First-come, first-served while funding lasts.
Who registers it
A lawyer closes: title searching here is complex, and the deed and mortgage are registered at the Registry of Deeds, where the first valid interest registered has priority.
Why a broker
Licensed, independent, paid by the lender
- Licensed across Atlantic Canada Indi Mortgage brokerage licences in NS, NB and NL (PEI has no licensing regime); Riley Oickle, Associate Mortgage Broker, NS 3001134
- $0 broker fee On a standard residential mortgage the lender pays, not you
- 33 lenders, one application Banks, credit unions, monolines; one credit check
Questions people ask
Do you pay land transfer tax in Newfoundland?
No. Newfoundland and Labrador has no land transfer tax. The buyer pays Registry of Deeds fees on the deed and the mortgage — about $3,160 together on the $372,633 average with an insured mortgage.
How much is the deed registration fee in NL?
$100 for the first $500 of value plus 40 cents for each further $100 or part of $100: $1,298 on a $300,000 home and $2,098 on a $500,000 one. There is no cap on the deed fee.
Is the mortgage registration fee capped?
Yes, at $5,000. It uses the same scale as the deed, worked on the amount the mortgage secures; on an insured mortgage that includes the financed CMHC premium.
Do first-time buyers get a break on registration fees?
The published fee schedule has no first-time buyer exemption; only the Crown and non-profit airport authorities are exempt. NL Housing’s First-time Homebuyers Program instead grants 50% of legal closing costs, up to $1,500, to buyers who qualify.
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