British Columbia land transfer tax calculator.

How land transfer tax works in British Columbia

BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is a one-time tax the buyer pays when title changes hands. It’s due on closing day, must be paid in cash, and cannot be added to your mortgage. 1% on the first $200K of purchase price, 2% on the portion to $2M, 3% on the portion to $3M, and 5% above $3M. Each bracket applies only to the dollars inside it, so your effective rate lands below the top bracket your price reaches.

First-time buyer relief in British Columbia

First-time buyers can be fully exempt from PTT on homes up to $500K with partial relief up to $835K. The Newly Built Home Exemption can fully exempt purchases up to $750K when buying new construction. The rebate is a credit against your bc property transfer tax (ptt), applied on closing — it lowers the cash you bring, not your mortgage. Confirm eligibility before you firm up an offer: typically you must be 18+, never have owned a home anywhere, and (if buying with a partner) the rebate is prorated to your share.

The municipal layer

Metro Vancouver also has municipal Empty Homes Tax (1–3% annually) on non-principal-residence properties — relevant for investor buyers. Use the municipality selector above to see the combined figure.

Fold it into your closing budget

BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is usually the largest single line on your closing statement, so once you know it, add it to your full closing costs estimate alongside legal fees, title insurance, and the PST on any CMHC premium. First-time buyer? The first-time buyer guide covers the FHSA, the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan, and how they stack. Then lock your British Columbia mortgage rate.