Rates, first-time buyer & newly-built exemptions, and how to estimate your PTT — 2026
The short answer
Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is a one-time tax you pay when a property’s title is registered in your name in BC. It is 1% on the first $200,000, 2% from $200,000 to $2 million, 3% from $2 million to $3 million, and an additional 2% (5% total) on residential value above $3 million. First-time buyers and buyers of newly built homes may be fully or partly exempt.
PTT is charged on the fair market value of the property at the time the title transfers — almost always at completion, paid through your lawyer or notary. It applies to most purchases in BC, including resale and new homes, unless you qualify for an exemption. It is separate from GST (which applies only to new homes) and from your annual property taxes.
PTT is tiered — each portion of the price is taxed at its own rate, like income tax brackets.
| Portion of fair market value | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| First $200,000 | 1% |
| $200,000 to $2,000,000 | 2% |
| $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 | 3% |
| Residential value above $3,000,000 | Additional 2% (5% total on that portion) |
Effective April 1, 2024, a qualifying first-time buyer pays no PTT on a home with a fair market value of $835,000 or less — the exemption applies to the tax on the first $500,000, so on a home between $500,000 and $835,000 you still pay PTT on the portion above $500,000. A partial exemption phases out between $835,000 and $860,000.
To qualify you generally must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in BC for at least a year (or filed two BC income-tax returns recently), have never owned a principal residence anywhere in the world, and move into the home within 92 days and live there for at least a year. Confirm the current criteria before relying on the exemption.
Buyers of a newly built home (new construction, a new strata unit, or a substantially renovated home) can claim a full PTT exemption up to a fair market value of $1,100,000 (effective April 1, 2024), with a partial exemption phasing out to $1,150,000.
As with the first-time buyer program, conditions apply — you generally need to be an individual who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, move in within 92 days, and live in the home for at least a year. The first-time buyer and newly-built exemptions are separate programs; you claim the one that fits.
PTT is due at completion, when the title is registered in your name. Your lawyer or notary collects it as part of your closing costs and remits it to the province — you do not file it separately.
Budget for it up front: on a $1.2 million home with no exemption, PTT is $22,000 (1% of $200,000 + 2% of $1,000,000). Use the calculator below to estimate yours, including any exemption.
Beyond the first-time buyer and newly-built programs, PTT exemptions exist for situations such as:
How much is property transfer tax in BC?
PTT is 1% on the first $200,000 of fair market value, 2% from $200,000 to $2 million, 3% from $2 million to $3 million, and an additional 2% (5% total) on residential value above $3 million. On a $1 million home with no exemption, that is $18,000.
Do first-time buyers pay property transfer tax in BC?
Often no, or a reduced amount. Since April 1, 2024, qualifying first-time buyers pay no PTT on a home valued at $835,000 or less (the exemption covers the tax on the first $500,000), with a partial exemption to $860,000. Eligibility conditions apply.
Is there PTT on a newly built home?
Buyers of a newly built home can claim a full exemption up to a $1,100,000 fair market value (effective April 1, 2024), phasing out to $1,150,000. Conditions include moving in within 92 days and living there at least a year.
When do I pay property transfer tax?
At completion, when the title is registered in your name. Your lawyer or notary collects and remits it as part of your closing costs — you do not file it separately.
Is property transfer tax the same as GST?
No. PTT applies to most property transfers (resale and new). GST (5%) applies only to newly built or substantially renovated homes, not resale homes. A new home can attract both PTT and GST.
Can I avoid property transfer tax in BC?
Only by qualifying for an exemption — most commonly the first-time buyer or newly-built home programs. There is no general way to avoid it on a standard resale purchase. Confirm eligibility with your lawyer or notary before completion.
This page is general information, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and figures are current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Tax rules have exemptions and conditions that depend on your situation — always confirm with the BC Government, the CRA, and a qualified tax professional or real estate lawyer before acting. Sebastian Czarkowski is a licensed REALTOR® (BCFSA), not a tax advisor.