Bonus and commission income in Quebec.

Lenders apply 2-year averaging on T4 box 14 income that exceeds base salary, with discounts on certain commission structures.

Quebec adds its own layer. Notarial closings replace the lawyer step elsewhere. Underwriters expect the notary, not a lawyer, on instructions. That matters here because underwriters are already scrutinizing the income side of a bonus and commission income file — a property or program complication local to Quebec can push a marginal file over the edge.

Welcome Tax (droits de mutation) on a tiered scale; Montreal adds an extra bracket above $500K.

Programs to check eligibility for in Quebec:

• Home Buyers' Plan
• FHSA
• Montreal Home Ownership Program (varies by family composition)

• Two years of T4s
• Two recent paystubs showing year-to-date
• Employment letter detailing base, bonus structure, and commission program

Quebec nuance: Income tax assessments use the Revenu Québec format alongside the CRA NOA; expect both.

• Co-ownership (divided/undivided) materially changes lender appetite.
• Quebec Law 25 affects what data lenders and brokers can collect.
• Quebec employment letters must usually be bilingual or accompanied by a translation.

Underwriter view of this scenario: Box 14 minus base salary, averaged over 24 months, is the qualifying portion. A single strong year does not move the average meaningfully.

• Two consecutive years of strong bonus/commission income
• Employment letter that clearly separates base from variable
• Use base salary alone in your affordability math; treat the average as upside

• Commission income that dropped more than 30% year-over-year without explanation.
• Less than 24 months of bonus/commission history at the current employer.