Final week’s column mentioned the Nationwide Dwelling Purchaser’s Plan, a well-liked authorities program designed to assist first-time patrons enter the housing market. This week’s column will focus on a program with an identical goal — to encourage shoppers to put money into the true property trade. In contrast to the Nationwide Dwelling Purchaser’s Plan, nonetheless, this program is proscribed to the Province of Ontario.In Ontario, when a house is purchased, the purchaser should pay a particular tax often known as Land Switch Tax. This tax is payable on closing. The worth of Land Switch Tax relies on the worth of the house being bought. For instance, if you are going to buy a home for $200,000, you’ll owe $1,725.00 in Land Switch Tax.In an effort to stimulate the true property trade and the acquisition of latest houses by first-time patrons, the Ontario authorities launched a refund of Land Switch Tax in its 1996 Ontario Funds. This system was subsequently renewed yearly, and it’s now a everlasting program.Firstly, this system solely applies to newly constructed houses. These shopping for a resale house could not take part in this system. Secondly, you should be a first-time home-owner. Thus, you can’t have beforehand owned a house or an curiosity in a house anyplace on the planet. The identical rule applies to your partner for the time period that she or he has been your partner. Thirdly, you should be no less than 18 years previous to qualify for this system.The utmost rebate of Land Switch Tax is $2,000, the equal to the Land Switch Tax payable on a purchase order value of $227,500 (internet of GST). If a person owns lower than a 100 per cent curiosity within the newly constructed house, the quantity of the rebate can be diminished and calculated based on the curiosity within the house. For instance, in the event you personal 100 per cent of your new house and also you paid $250,000 for the house, the quantity of Land Switch Tax payable is $2,225. You’ll obtain the utmost refund of $2000. If, nonetheless, you personal a 50 per cent curiosity in your house, the quantity of the refund can be 50 per cent of $2000, or $1,000.People who’ve obtained a refund of Land Switch Tax based mostly on the Ontario Dwelling Possession Financial savings Plan (OHOSP) don’t qualify for this system.The Land Switch Tax refund program permits eligible contributors to obtain their refund by submitting an Affidavit (a sworn assertion that your lawyer will put together in your behalf) for refund on the Land Registry Workplace on the time of registration. If you don’t apply for the refund on the time of registration, you might apply by contacting the Ministry of Finance.