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Quebec property tax is your municipality’s tax base multiplied by its rate, and the rate is set per $100 of value. There’s no single provincial rate, so a $580,000 home can cost quite different amounts in two towns. The value comes from the assessment roll, which is redone every three years.
How is Quebec property tax worked out?
Each municipality sets its own rates every year, based on the total value of its buildings and the money it needs for services. Your bill is your tax base times the rate, and the rate applies to each $100 of that base. Montreal spells this out on its site, and the same idea holds elsewhere in the province.
The rate isn’t the same for every building. In Montreal it varies by category, such as homes with up to five units, larger residential buildings, non-residential buildings and vacant land. Boroughs add a services tax and an investment tax at rates they set themselves. Other cities have their own structures, so the only reliable rate is the one on your own bill or on your city’s website.
To test a number, use the property tax calculator. Enter your assessed value and the total rate from your bill.
What is the assessment roll?
It’s the municipality’s list of every property and its value, and it’s tabled every three years. The value on it is meant to reflect the most probable selling price on a free market. The assessor looks at market conditions about 18 months before the roll takes effect. For the 2026, 2027 and 2028 rolls, Montreal gives the reference date as July 1, 2024.
So if you’re wondering why your value doesn’t match what houses on your street sold for last month, that’s the reason. The roll describes the market at a fixed earlier date.
Why doesn’t a new assessment change your bill at once?
Because Montreal spreads the change out. When a new roll moves your value, one third of the difference is added to your old value each year. The city’s own example is a property worth $560,000 on the old roll and $620,000 on the new one. Its tax base is $560,000 in 2025, $580,000 in 2026, $600,000 in 2027 and $620,000 in 2028. The same smoothing applies to falls in value.
Suppose the rate were 0.80% of the tax base. That’s a made-up figure for the example, not any city’s real rate. The calculator then gives $4,480 on $560,000 and $4,640 on $580,000. The step in 2026 costs you $160 a year, though the rate itself usually moves too.
| Year | Tax base (Montreal’s example) | Tax at a made-up 0.80% |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $560,000 | $4,480 |
| 2026 | $580,000 | $4,640 |
| 2027 | $600,000 | $4,800 |
| 2028 | $620,000 | $4,960 |
We only confirmed this averaging on Montreal’s pages. If you live elsewhere, ask your municipality whether it does the same.
Can you challenge your assessment?
Yes, and you have a short window. According to the Quebec government, a request for review at the time the roll is deposited must reach the assessor before May 1 following the roll’s start, or within 60 days of the assessment notice, whichever is later. For properties valued at $3 million or more, it’s 120 days.
The forms are available only in French, although the government says English instructions are available on request. Fees can apply, so ask the municipal assessor. If the review doesn’t settle it, you can go to the Administrative Tribunal of Quebec within 60 days of the assessor’s answer.
Don’t wait until your first bill arrives. By then the deadline may be behind you.
Is the welcome tax a property tax?
No, and mixing them up is a common mistake. The welcome tax (droits de mutation) is a one-time duty you pay when you buy. Property tax is a yearly bill. On a $450,000 purchase in Montreal the welcome tax calculator gives $4,860.50, about 1.08% of the price. On $620,000 it gives $7,749 in Montreal and $7,410.50 elsewhere in Quebec.
When you’re budgeting for a purchase, add both to your monthly costs. The mortgage affordability calculator shows what you can borrow, and the yearly property tax comes on top of the payment.
What did we leave out?
We didn’t find a provincial rate table, because there isn’t one. We also didn’t confirm instalment dates, discounts for early payment or the school tax. Those depend on your municipality and school service centre, and your bill lists them.
Where do the numbers come from?
The assessment roll and review rules come from the Government of Quebec’s property assessment pages. The rate method, roll dates and the $560,000 example come from the City of Montreal’s tax pages. The welcome tax figures come from the site’s calculators, based on Montreal’s 2026 brackets. We read these in September 2026. This website has no connection with any government.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one property tax rate for all of Quebec?
No. Each municipality sets its own rates every year. Montreal's vary by building category and borough.
How often does Quebec reassess property?
Assessment rolls are tabled every three years. The 2026 to 2028 roll uses a reference date of July 1, 2024, according to Montreal.
How long do I have to contest my assessment?
Generally before May 1 after the roll takes effect or within 60 days of the notice, whichever is later. It's 120 days for properties valued at $3 million or more.
Is the welcome tax part of my property tax?
No. The welcome tax is paid once when you buy. Property tax is billed every year.
Does a higher assessment raise my bill straight away?
In Montreal, one third of the change is added each year. We didn't confirm the same phase-in for other municipalities.
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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.