Calculate the deed transfer tax (DTT) on a home purchase in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has no provincial land transfer tax; each municipality sets its own deed transfer tax rate, charged on the purchase price. The calculator above uses the Halifax rate of 1.5%. Other provinces’ taxes are on the land transfer tax calculator for Canada.
Nova Scotia Deed Transfer Tax Rates
In Service Nova Scotia’s list of municipal deed transfer tax rates (July 2026), rates run from 1% to 1.5%. Some examples:
| Municipality | Deed Transfer Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Halifax Regional Municipality | 1.5% |
| Cape Breton Regional Municipality | 1.5% |
| Municipality of the District of Lunenburg | 1.25% |
| Town of New Glasgow | 1% |
Rates change when a municipality notifies Service Nova Scotia, so confirm the rate for your area with your lawyer or the municipality before closing.
How to Calculate Nova Scotia Deed Transfer Tax
Multiply the purchase price by your municipality’s rate.
- Halifax: a $400,000 home x 1.5% = $6,000
- A municipality at the lowest listed rate: a $400,000 home x 1% = $4,000
NS Deed Transfer Tax by Home Price
| Purchase Price | Halifax (1.5%) | Lowest Listed Rate (1%) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $3,750 | $2,500 |
| $350,000 | $5,250 | $3,500 |
| $400,000 | $6,000 | $4,000 |
| $500,000 | $7,500 | $5,000 |
| $600,000 | $9,000 | $6,000 |
| $800,000 | $12,000 | $8,000 |
First-Time Homebuyers in Nova Scotia
There is no first-time homebuyer exemption from the deed transfer tax. Nova Scotia’s own first-time buyer programs, and the federal ones, are in the Nova Scotia first-time home buyer guide.
Halifax’s rate is higher than the flat New Brunswick transfer tax and the PEI transfer tax, while Newfoundland and Labrador charges a registration of deeds fee instead of a tax.
On top of the deed transfer tax, a Nova Scotia purchase has the costs set out in closing costs in Nova Scotia.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on October 2, 2026. How we check facts.
- Government of New Brunswick: <<SR_PageTitle>>
- Government of Nova Scotia: Municipal Deed Transfer Tax Rates
- Government of Prince Edward Island: Real Property Transfer Tax Act