Calculate the property transfer tax (PTT) on a home purchase in British Columbia. B.C. charges the tax on the fair market value at registration, in tiers, with a further 2% on the residential portion above $3,000,000, and first-time buyers can be exempt on part of the price. The same calculator covers every other province on the land transfer tax calculator for Canada.
BC Property Transfer Tax Rates
The B.C. property transfer tax is calculated on a tiered system based on the fair market value of the property at the time of registration.
| Fair Market Value | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First $200,000 | 1% |
| $200,000 to $2,000,000 | 2% |
| $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 | 3% |
| Over $3,000,000 (residential) | 5% |
The rate above $3,000,000 applies only to the residential portion of the property: the base 3% plus a further 2%.
How to Calculate BC Property Transfer Tax
Here is the PTT on an $800,000 home in British Columbia.
- First $200,000 at 1%: $2,000
- The remaining $600,000 at 2%: $12,000
Total B.C. property transfer tax: $14,000
BC First-Time Homebuyer Exemption
A first-time buyer can be exempt from the tax on the first $500,000 of the price, a saving of up to $8,000, on a home with a fair market value of $835,000 or less. The exemption phases out between $835,000 and $860,000. The conditions: A B.C. first-time buyer pays no property transfer tax on the first $500,000 of a home worth up to $835,000 (a partial exemption up to $860,000) if, when the property is registered, they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in B.C. for the year before or filed two B.C. returns in the last six years, have never owned a principal residence anywhere or received the exemption before, and use the home only as their principal residence; the property must be 0.5 hectares or smaller with only residential improvements, or the exemption is partial.
B.C.’s other first-time buyer programs, and the federal ones, are in the B.C. first-time home buyer guide.
Newly Built Home Exemption
B.C. has a separate property transfer tax exemption for qualifying newly built homes. First-time buyers of new construction may be exempt from PTT on homes valued up to $1,100,000 (full exemption), with a partial exemption from $1,100,001 to $1,150,000. The home must be newly constructed and never occupied. Confirm current exemption thresholds with your lawyer or notary before closing, as B.C. adjusts these limits periodically.
Additional Property Transfer Tax (Foreign Buyers)
Foreign nationals, foreign corporations and taxable trustees pay an additional 20% property transfer tax on the residential portion of the property in specified areas of B.C., on top of the general tax. The specified areas are the Metro Vancouver Regional District, Capital Regional District, Fraser Valley Regional District, Regional District of Central Okanagan and Regional District of Nanaimo. The federal ban on most foreign purchases of residential property is a separate rule, covered in the foreign buyer ban’s current status.
BC Property Transfer Tax by Purchase Price
| Purchase Price | PTT (General) | First-Time Buyer Pays (Full Exemption) |
|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $8,000 | $0 |
| $650,000 | $11,000 | $3,000 |
| $800,000 | $14,000 | $6,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $18,000 | $18,000 (no exemption) |
| $1,500,000 | $28,000 | $28,000 (no exemption) |
| $2,000,000 | $38,000 | $38,000 (no exemption) |
Homes between $835,000 and $860,000 get a partial exemption, which the calculator above works out. The additional tax for foreign buyers is not included.
Next door, Alberta charges no transfer tax: buyers there pay Alberta’s land title fees to register the transfer and the mortgage.
Legal or notary fees, title insurance and B.C.’s other purchase costs are added up in closing costs in British Columbia.
Related pages
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 24, 2026 and September 29, 2026. How we check facts.
- Government of British Columbia: Property transfer tax
- Government of British Columbia: Additional property transfer tax for foreign entities and taxable trustees
- Government of British Columbia: First time home buyers' program