FINTRAC fines are real—and brokerages are not insulated.
FINTRAC administrative monetary penalties happen regularly across regulated sectors in Canada. Real estate brokerages represent dozens of published enforcement actions, and mortgage administrators, mortgage brokers, and covered lenders have been subject to full FINTRAC compliance obligations since October 11, 2024.
Public fines against real-estate brokerages
These administrative monetary penalties were published by FINTRAC between 2021 and 2026. The table below lists all 28 real estate brokerage enforcement notices published by FINTRAC, with direct links to the official notices on Canada.ca.
| Entity and Notice | Province | Notice Date | Amount Imposed | Violations Cited | Status Reviewed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP Realty Inc. | Ontario | 2026-07-09 | $33,000 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc. | Ontario | 2026-05-05 | $24,750 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Manor Windsor Realty Ltd. | Ontario | 2026-02-12 | $107,250 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd. | Ontario | 2026-02-10 | $148,912.5 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Houston & Associates Realty Ltd. | Alberta | 2025-11-20 | $117,975 CAD Resolved: $63,987.5 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| HomeLife New World Realty Inc. | Ontario | 2025-11-20 | $36,135 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Pacesetter Marketing Ltd. | British Columbia | 2025-11-20 | $41,085 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| 1135233 B.C. Ltd. | British Columbia | 2025-11-20 | $149,886 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| 9321-0599 Québec Inc. | Quebec | 2025-11-20 | $23,100 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Immeubles Village Pointe-Claire Inc. | Quebec | 2025-05-06 | $36,360 CAD | Will Pay | ||
| Immeubles Jack Sera, Inc. | Quebec | 2025-05-01 | $107,250 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Jones Lang Lasalle Real Estate Services, Inc. | Ontario | 2024-10-29 | $107,827.5 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| 1000085532 Ontario Inc. | Ontario | 2024-09-24 | $57,750 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Masters Realty (2000) Ltd. | British Columbia | 2024-07-16 | $83,655 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Global West Realty Limited | Ontario | 2024-01-17 | $132,000 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Norwich Real Estate Services Inc. | British Columbia | 2023-10-27 | $156,750 CAD | Appealed | ||
| The Centre Pacific Project Marketing Corp. | British Columbia | 2023-08-10 | $57,915 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Cathay Pacific Realty Ltd. | British Columbia | 2022-10-18 | $206,250 CAD | Appealed | ||
| LaBoutique Realty Ltd. | British Columbia | 2022-10-13 | $275,385 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Pan Pacific Platinum Real Estate Services Inc. | British Columbia | 2022-10-06 | $282,397.5 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Nu Stream Realty Inc. | British Columbia | 2022-07-12 | $230,423 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| 9293-0809 Québec Inc. | Quebec | 2022-05-10 | $101,227 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. | Ontario | 2022-03-22 | $22,770 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Pacific Place – Arc Realty Ltd. | British Columbia | 2021-11-04 | $255,750 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Les Immeubles Diamant Diamant Inc. | Quebec | 2021-06-25 | $50,000 CAD | Appealed | ||
| HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack Ltd. | British Columbia | 2021-06-11 | $59,235 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Park Georgia Realty Ltd. | British Columbia | 2021-03-22 | $33,371.25 CAD | Appealed | ||
| RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc. | Ontario | 2021-03-18 | $31,350 CAD | Paid / Closed |
Fines can be much larger in other industries
FINTRAC's public record includes multi-million dollar penalties in banking, casinos, and money-services businesses—far above the largest real-estate amount in this reviewed set. Real-estate brokerages are already being fined, and mortgage businesses are now covered by FINTRAC. Neither sector is insulated from enforcement.
| Entity and Notice | Sector | Notice Date | Amount Imposed | Public Violations | Status Reviewed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xeltox Enterprises Ltd. | Money-services business | 2025-10-22 | $176,960,190 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Peken Global Limited | Foreign money-services business | 2025-09-25 | $19,552,000 CAD | Appealed | ||
| The Toronto-Dominion Bank | Bank | 2024-05-02 | $9,185,000 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Royal Bank of Canada | Bank | 2023-12-05 | $7,475,000 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Binance Holdings Limited | Foreign money-services business | 2024-05-09 | $6,002,000 CAD | Appealed | ||
| Exchange Bank of Canada | Bank | 2024-12-11 | $2,457,750 CAD Resolved: $1,027,975 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | Bank | 2023-12-07 | $1,329,150 CAD | Paid / Closed | ||
| Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority | Unavailable | 2025-09-12 | $1,175,000 CAD | Appealed | ||
| British Columbia Lottery Corporation | Casino | 2025-08-28 | $1,075,000 CAD | Appealed |
The compliance gaps FINTRAC keeps citing
Across dozens of real estate brokerage and financial entity examination notices, FINTRAC consistently flags five core statutory operational failures under the PCMLTFA and its regulations.
Compliance-Program Governance
Failing to develop, document, and keep up to date written compliance policies and procedures. Missing board approval or senior officer sign-off. Deficient firm-wide risk assessments that fail to evaluate client, geographic, delivery channel, and transaction vulnerabilities.
Training & 2-Year Effectiveness Review
Failing to implement an ongoing compliance training program for front-line agents and staff. Missing documentation verifying training was delivered. Failure to conduct an independent review of the compliance program’s effectiveness every two years under PCMLTFR s. 156(1)(c).
KYC & Record-Keeping Completeness
Failing to ascertain client identity using prescribed government-issued photo ID or dual-process methods before transactions close. Missing receipt of funds records, unverified third-party payor origins, and failing to retain full records for the mandatory 5 to 7 year statutory retention custody period.
Beneficial Ownership & PEP/HIO Determinations
Failing to determine whether clients are Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) or Heads of International Organizations (HIOs). Incomplete beneficial ownership determination for corporate entities, trusts, and holding companies controlling 25% or more of property interests.
Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR)
Failing to submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to FINTRAC where there were reasonable grounds to suspect transactions were related to money laundering or terrorist activity financing. Failing to assess large cash deposits or structured wire transfers with human reconciliation rationale.
How FinFile Eliminates These Gaps
FinFile automatically checks Canadian compliance rules, validates client IDs, records explanatory notes for any changes, and organizes audit-ready packages with two-person review and 7-year storage.
Mortgage businesses are now in scope
Mortgage administrators, mortgage brokers, and covered non-financial entity lenders have had full FINTRAC obligations since October 11, 2024. Compliance programs, client ID verification, PEP checks, and large transaction reporting are now actively examined.
Penalty limits increased after March 26, 2026
The amended framework applies to violations occurring after March 26, 2026. It introduces significantly higher maximum penalties—up to 40 times current limits for prescribed serious and very serious violations—alongside statutory ability-to-pay considerations, mandatory compliance agreements, and binding compliance orders.
Protect Your Brokerage Before Your Next Examination
FinFile is Canada’s purpose-built compliance platform for real estate and mortgage brokerages. Dual-process ID verification, zero-token risk scoring, and 7-year evidentiary audit trails ensure you are examination-ready every day.