Skip to content

A new provincial deed transfer tax and property tax regime for non-residents of Nova Scotia

Brian Tabor, QC and Eyoab Begashaw

Effective April 1, 2022, the Province of Nova Scotia announced that it will be implementing new property taxes impacting non-resident property owners. As a part of the 2022-2023 provincial budget, the Province of Nova Scotia is introducing the Nova Scotia Non-Resident Property Tax and Non-Resident Provincial Deed Transfer Tax.

The province has not provided comprehensive details, but has made the following information available regarding the taxes:

Nova Scotia Non-Resident Property Tax

  • The non-resident property tax will be calculated at $2 per $100 of assessed value and is effective April 1, 2022.
  • If housing owned by a non-resident is rented out for twelve (12) months or longer, then they will not have to pay the tax as they are providing homes for Nova Scotians.
  • If a property has multiple owners, an exemption from this tax is provided if fifty per cent (50%) or more of the owners are residents of Nova Scotia.

Non-Resident Provincial Deed Transfer Tax

  • Residential property purchasers who are non-residents of Nova Scotia will be required to pay a deed transfer tax rate of five per cent (5%).
  • All purchasers of residential properties who are residents of Nova Scotia are exempt from the non-resident deed transfer tax.
  • If a purchaser is planning to move to Nova Scotia to live and buys a home, the purchaser will be exempt from the deed transfer tax – usually within six (6) months.

Key details are yet to be provided leaving many questions regarding the scope of these taxes unanswered. Legislation is expected to be introduced in the Financial Measures Act 2022 (“FMA”) addressing these changes. The FMA should provide further clarity on considerations such as what constitutes a residential property, a resident and a non-resident, and payment, collection and reimbursement mechanisms.

We will provide a follow-up thought leadership piece as details become available.


This client update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Real Property group.

 

Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership.

SHARE

Archive

Search Archive


 
 

2024 Nova Scotia election: Employer obligations

October 31, 2024

By Killian McParland and Sophie Poulos As recently announced, the next Nova Scotia provincial election will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Under Nova Scotia’s Elections Act, every employee who is an eligible voter (i.e.…

Read More

Greener light for growth – Province provides further clarity on renewable energy future in Nova Scotia

October 24, 2024

By Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, Nancy Rubin, Kimberly MacLachlan, and Onye Njoku Bill 471, the Advancing Nova Scotia Opportunities Act, received Royal Assent and introduces changes to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation…

Read More

Bill C-49 is blowin’ a gale: A significant step in offshore renewable energy legislation

October 22, 2024

By Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, Nancy Rubin, G. John Samms, Kimberly MacLachlan, and  Jamie Gamblin Bill C-49 received Royal Assent and will amend the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia…

Read More

2024 New Brunswick election: employer obligations

October 17, 2024

By John Morse The New Brunswick provincial election is set to take place on Monday, October 21, 2024, with polling hours between 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Under the New Brunswick Elections Act, all employees…

Read More

CAPSA releases guidelines on Capital Accumulation Plans and Pension Plan Risk Management

September 11, 2024

Level Chan and Dante Manna On September 9, 2024, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) released the long-awaited final revisions to Guideline No. 3 – Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans (CAPs) and the…

Read More

Nova Scotia legislative update: “Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act” – Bill No. 464

September 6, 2024

Sean Kelly and Tiegan A. Scott On September 5, 2024, the “Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act” (Bill No. 464) was introduced in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for first reading by the Honourable Jill Balser…

Read More

Historic human rights ruling: Alberta tribunal sets record with landmark damages award, redefining the rules on compensation and deterrence

September 3, 2024

John A.C. Morse and Lauren Sorel The Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta (the “Tribunal”) recently awarded three complainants a total of $273,274.91 in compensation, with $155,000.00 of this amount designated as general damages – a…

Read More

Zoning changes and constructive taking: Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal affirms the finding in Index v Paradise

August 28, 2024

Stephen Penney and Megan Kieley1 The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Index Investments Inc v Paradise (Town)2 is a significant decision for municipalities. The Court of Appeal endorsed the Newfoundland and…

Read More

Immigration red flags: five organizational issues that open employers to risk

August 15, 2024

By Kathleen Leighton & Brittany Trafford The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (“TFWP”) and International Mobility Program (“IMP”) provide Canadian employers the opportunity to hire foreign workers to address their labour needs, particularly when qualified Canadians…

Read More

Supreme Court of Canada denies leave to appeal of Alberta ruling on post-death life insurance conversion (Part II)

August 15, 2024

This is the second in a two-part Thought Leadership series on a recent life insurance case out of Alberta, and the implications for life insurers. Michelle Chai and Liz Campbell1 Part I of this two-part series…

Read More

Search Archive


Scroll To Top