About

Closing Tally is an independent information site about the costs of buying and selling a home in Canada. It explains how realtor commission, GST and HST on commission, land transfer tax and Quebec transfer duties, legal and notary fees, GST/HST on new homes and rules for non-Canadian buyers work, with worked examples that show every step of the arithmetic.

The site is for homeowners preparing to sell, buyers working out how much cash they need on closing day, and anyone comparing a full-service listing with a flat-fee or private sale. Each guide names the official source for the rule it describes, such as the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the City of Toronto, the BC government, Revenu Québec, the Canada Revenue Agency and the provincial real estate regulators.

We do not sell real estate, refer clients to brokerages or lenders, or rank companies. We do not cover mortgage renewal or mortgage rates. Dollar examples are illustrative, not quotes. Rates, thresholds and programs change, so always check the official source and, for your own transaction, ask your lawyer, notary or accountant.

How this site is made

Closing Tally is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.