Calculate BC Property Transfer Tax on any home purchase — including first-time buyer and newly built home exemptions. Updated for 2025.
BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) applies to nearly every property transfer in the province. Enter the purchase price below and check any exemptions that apply to you.
The BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is a provincial tax payable whenever real property is registered in a new owner's name in British Columbia. Whether you are purchasing a detached home, condo, townhouse, or vacant land — in most cases PTT applies. It is collected at closing by your notary or lawyer, who remits it to the BC government on your behalf at the time of title registration.
PTT is calculated based on the fair market value of the property, which is generally the purchase price. It is a BC-only tax and is entirely separate from the federal GST that applies to new home purchases. Unlike mortgage default insurance or home inspection fees, PTT is typically not financeable through your mortgage — it must be paid in cash at closing, making it an important number to budget for early in your home search.
BC uses a tiered rate structure — each rate applies only to the portion of the purchase price within that tier, not the full amount:
The tier breakdown makes it easy to work through any purchase price step by step:
BC's First-Time Home Buyers' Program provides a full or partial PTT exemption for eligible first-time buyers purchasing a principal residence. Here is how the exemption works at different price points:
To qualify, all of the following must apply:
The exemption applies to any residential property type — detached, condo, townhouse, or strata unit.
BC also exempts newly built homes from PTT — and the threshold was significantly increased on April 1, 2024. Homes that previously fell in a gap are now fully exempt:
To qualify for the newly built home exemption:
This exemption is available to all buyers — not just first-time buyers — making it especially valuable for move-up buyers purchasing new construction in the Tri-Cities, where presale condos and townhouses frequently fall within the $800,000–$1,100,000 range.
Only one PTT exemption can be applied per transaction. However, if you qualify for both the First-Time Buyer and the Newly Built Home exemption, you will automatically receive whichever one provides the greater saving. In most cases:
Our calculator above automatically applies the greater of the two when both boxes are checked.
PTT is collected at closing — you do not file a separate return or send payment directly to the BC government. Your notary or real estate lawyer calculates the PTT owing, includes it in your closing statement, and remits it to the province on your behalf at the time of title registration.
Because PTT is typically not part of your mortgage, it must be covered by your own funds. Budget for it alongside your down payment, legal fees, home inspection, and other closing costs. For a $900,000 purchase, that is $16,000 in PTT — a significant cash requirement that catches some buyers off guard if they have not planned for it.
Yes. Unlike the federal GST, which applies only to newly built homes purchased from a builder, BC's Property Transfer Tax applies to virtually all property transfers — including resale homes purchased from private sellers. The only time PTT is waived or reduced is when a specific exemption applies (first-time buyer, newly built home, qualifying family transfer, etc.).
Yes. BC uses the term Property Transfer Tax, while provinces such as Ontario and Manitoba call it Land Transfer Tax. The concept is the same — a provincial tax payable on the registration of a property transfer. Unlike Ontario, BC does not levy a separate municipal transfer tax, so you will not face a second layer of transfer tax in cities like Vancouver, Coquitlam, or Port Moody.
PTT on pre-sale assignments can be complex. When the final title transfers at completion, PTT is generally payable on the fair market value at that point — which may include both the original contract price and any assignment uplift paid by the new buyer. The specific rules depend on how the assignment is structured. If you are buying or selling a pre-sale assignment, confirm your PTT obligations with your notary or real estate lawyer before completing the transaction.
Yes. The BC First-Time Buyer PTT exemption applies to any residential property type — detached houses, condos, townhouses, and strata units — provided the home falls within the eligible price threshold and will be used as your principal residence. Property type does not affect eligibility.
If you qualify for both the First-Time Buyer and Newly Built Home exemptions, only one can be applied — the one that gives you the greater benefit. For newly built homes priced between $500,001 and $1,100,000, the Newly Built Home exemption is almost always better because it provides full PTT relief up to $1,100,000, while the FTB exemption is capped at $8,000 above $500,000. Our calculator automatically applies whichever exemption saves you more.
Yes. BC has several additional PTT exemptions beyond first-time buyers and newly built homes — including transfers between spouses or former spouses, adding or removing a spouse from title, transfers between family members for certain principal residences, and transfers to registered charities. These exemptions have their own eligibility rules and conditions. If you believe you may qualify for one not covered by this calculator, speak with your notary or real estate lawyer before your closing date.
PTT, legal fees, home inspection, and moving costs can add up quickly. As a local REALTOR® serving Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam, I help buyers understand the full picture — not just the purchase price. Let's talk before you make your next move.
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