BC Property Transfer Tax Calculator 2026
The property transfer tax a buyer pays in British Columbia, at the 2026 rates, with the first-time buyer rebate.
In British Columbia, the property transfer tax on a $750,000 home is $13,000 in 2026, 1.73% of the price. A first-time buyer pays $5,000 after the rebate of $8,000. On the average home in Greater Vancouver, $1,225,426 in September 2026, it comes to $22,509.
Work out yours
Land transfer tax
$13,000.00
Effective rate: 1.73% of purchase price
Provincial
$13,000
Estimates only. Rates and thresholds change; always confirm with your lawyer at closing. Non-resident buyer taxes (NRST, FBT) are not included.
British Columbia property transfer tax rates, 2026
B.C. property transfer tax
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $200,000 | 1% |
| $200,000 to $2,000,000 | 2% |
| $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 | 3% |
| Over $3,000,000 | 5% |
Each rate applies only to the part of the price in its bracket, so the share of the price you pay is always below the top rate.
The property transfer tax at common prices
| Home price | Tax | Share of price | First-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $4,000 | 1.33% | Exempt |
| $500,000 | $8,000 | 1.60% | Exempt |
| $750,000 | $13,000 | 1.73% | $5,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $18,000 | 1.80% | $18,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $28,000 | 1.87% | $28,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $38,000 | 1.90% | $38,000 |
| $3,000,000 | $68,000 | 2.27% | $68,000 |
On a typical home in Greater Vancouver
| Market | Price | Tax | First-time buyer | Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Vancouver | $1,225,426 average price | $22,509 | $22,509 | September 2026 |
Prices are from our monthly reports, linked in the table. For the down payment, the other closing costs and the income needed to buy one, see the cost to buy in Greater Vancouver.
First-time buyers
First-time buyers pay no tax on the first $500,000 of a home worth up to $835,000, a saving of up to $8,000; the exemption shrinks between $835,000 and $860,000 and is gone above that. You must be a citizen or permanent resident who has lived in B.C. for at least a year (or filed two of the last six B.C. tax returns), never have owned a principal residence anywhere, and move in within 92 days. Separately, anyone buying a newly built home to live in pays no tax up to $1.1 million, partially to $1.15 million.
The other help for first-time buyers in British Columbia, from the federal savings accounts to provincial loans and rebates, is in our guide to first-time home buyer programs by province.
About the property transfer tax in British Columbia
British Columbia's property transfer tax is paid by the buyer when the transfer is registered at the Land Title Office, through your lawyer or notary. It is worked out on the fair market value of the property, usually the price, in marginal brackets: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% up to $2 million and 3% above that, plus a further 2% on the part of a residential property's value over $3 million.
Foreign nationals, foreign corporations and taxable trustees pay an additional 20% in Metro Vancouver, the Capital, Fraser Valley, Nanaimo and Central Okanagan regional districts, which this page leaves out.
Property Transfer Tax in British Columbia: Quick Answers
How much is the property transfer tax in British Columbia?
British Columbia charges 1% on the first $200,000, 2% up to $2,000,000, 3% up to $3,000,000 and 5% above that. That is $8,000 on a $500,000 home, $13,000 on $750,000 and $18,000 on $1,000,000.
Do first-time buyers pay property transfer tax in British Columbia?
First-time buyers pay no tax on the first $500,000 of a home worth up to $835,000, a saving of up to $8,000; the exemption shrinks between $835,000 and $860,000 and is gone above that. You must be a citizen or permanent resident who has lived in B.C. for at least a year (or filed two of the last six B.C. tax returns), never have owned a principal residence anywhere, and move in within 92 days. Separately, anyone buying a newly built home to live in pays no tax up to $1.1 million, partially to $1.15 million. On a $500,000 home, that means nothing to pay.
What is the property transfer tax on a typical home in Greater Vancouver?
The average price in Greater Vancouver was $1,225,426 in September 2026, so the tax on it is $22,509.
Who pays the property transfer tax, and when?
The buyer, on closing day: your lawyer collects it with the other closing costs and pays it when the transfer is registered. It cannot be negotiated, deferred or added to the mortgage, so it must be in cash on top of the down payment.
Other provinces and cities
Sources
Rates checked October 2026. They change with budgets and by-laws, and your lawyer confirms the amount at closing. Taxes on non-resident buyers are left out.
Related guides & tools
Once you own the home, the yearly tax is on our British Columbia property tax rates page.
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