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Ontario probate fees work out to $15 for every $1,000 of estate value above $50,000, and nothing on the first $50,000. The province calls it the Estate Administration Tax. On an $800,000 estate you’d pay $11,250.
How much does probate cost in Ontario?
The rule is short. If the estate is worth $50,000 or less, there’s no tax. Above that, each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) over $50,000 costs $15. So the maths is easy to do on the back of an envelope, but the probate fee calculator does it in a second and covers the other provinces too.
| Estate value | Estate Administration Tax |
|---|---|
| $50,000 | $0 |
| $100,000 | $750 |
| $500,000 | $6,750 |
| $800,000 | $11,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $14,250 |
What counts toward the estate value?
Only assets that pass through the estate. That means Ontario real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, business property and anything else held in the deceased’s name alone. Property that belonged to the deceased but sits in another person’s name counts too.
Some things stay out, and you’ll want to know which. Jointly owned assets go straight to the surviving owner, so they don’t add to the value. The same goes for real estate outside Ontario, the CPP death benefit, and any account or policy with a named beneficiary (an RRSP or TFSA, say). Have you checked who’s named on yours?
A worked example on an $800,000 estate
Say the estate is a house, some savings and a car, all in one name, worth $800,000 together. The calculator gives $11,250, which is 1.41% of the estate. Try the same estate in British Columbia and the answer is $10,850, made up of a $10,650 probate fee and a $200 filing fee.
Quebec works differently.
You don’t pay a tax based on value there. The court charges a flat fee for verifying a will ($241 in the 2026 tariff), and a notarial will doesn’t need that step at all.
When do you pay, and what if the value is wrong?
You pay the tax as a deposit when you apply for the estate certificate. Then you have 180 days from the day it’s issued to file the Estate Information Return, which is where the executor states what the estate really held.
Don’t guess low. It isn’t worth it. A missing return or a misleading one can bring a fine of at least $1,000 and up to twice the tax owing.
Where people go wrong
- Counting a joint bank account as part of the estate, then paying tax on money that never needed it.
- Forgetting the “or part thereof” wording. An estate of $50,001 still pays $15.
- Deducting funeral costs or legal bills from the value. We couldn’t confirm any such deduction, so the calculator doesn’t apply one.
- Mixing up the tax with the lawyer’s or executor’s fees. Those are separate, and we can’t confirm what anyone charges, so we don’t quote a number.
The court application fee is another gap. The Ontario fee page lists $138 and $232 for some estate applications but no separate line for the usual first application, so it isn’t in our total.
If the estate sells a home or investments, the capital gains tax calculator gives an idea of the tax on the gain. Buyers who take over a property can check the land transfer tax calculator.
Where the numbers come from
The rate, the $50,000 exemption and the deadlines come from the Government of Ontario’s Estate Administration Tax page (updated June 2026). British Columbia and Quebec figures come from those provinces’ published fee schedules, read in September 2026. This site has no link with any government.
Frequently asked questions
How much is probate on a $500,000 estate in Ontario?
It's $6,750. The first $50,000 is free and the remaining $450,000 costs $15 per $1,000.
Is there probate tax on the first $50,000?
No. Estates worth $50,000 or less pay nothing, and only the value above $50,000 is charged.
Does a joint bank account count toward the estate?
No. Jointly owned assets pass to the surviving owner outside the estate, and so do accounts with a named beneficiary.
How long do I have to file the Estate Information Return?
You have 180 calendar days after the estate certificate is issued.
Can you avoid probate fees in Ontario?
Only by how assets are held. Joint ownership and beneficiary designations keep assets outside the estate, but they have other consequences, so check them first.
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Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.