British Columbia land transfer tax calculator
BC property transfer tax on your price: 1%, 2% and 3% brackets plus 2% over $3M, with the first-time buyer exemption for homes up to $835,000.
British Columbia purchase
Your land transfer tax
Rules checked: September 2026. Source: British Columbia official source
About British Columbia land transfer tax
British Columbia charges land transfer tax in graduated brackets — each rate applies only to the portion of the purchase price within that band. The full schedule is:
- $0–$200,000: 1.00%
- $200,000–$2,000,000: 2.00%
- $2,000,000–$3,000,000: 3.00%
- Over $3,000,000: 5.00%
The top rate is the 3% general rate plus the further 2% on the residential portion of a property above $3 million.
Land transfer tax is paid at closing, in cash, on top of your down payment, legal fees, title insurance and tax adjustments. Lenders will not add it to the mortgage.
First-time buyer rebate in British Columbia
Exemption on the first $500,000 of fair market value for homes up to $835,000, phasing out to nothing at $860,000 (registrations from April 1, 2024). A separate newly built home exemption covers new homes up to $1,100,000, phasing out at $1,150,000.
Worked example: a $850,000 home in British Columbia
- Provincial tax: $15,000
- First-time buyer paying the same price: $11,800 ($3,200 saved)
Other Canadian provinces
- Alberta land transfer tax
- Saskatchewan land transfer tax
- Manitoba land transfer tax
- Ontario land transfer tax
- Quebec land transfer tax
- New Brunswick land transfer tax
- Nova Scotia land transfer tax
- Prince Edward Island land transfer tax
- Newfoundland & Labrador land transfer tax
- Yukon land transfer tax
- Northwest Territories land transfer tax
- Nunavut land transfer tax
Related calculators
- Total closing costs — everything due in cash at closing, not just the transfer tax
- Down payment and CMHC premium
- Foreign buyer tax
Rate source: British Columbia official schedule, checked 2026-09-24. Confirm the figure with your real estate lawyer before relying on it for a real transaction.
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British Columbia land transfer tax — common questions
- How much is land transfer tax in British Columbia?
- British Columbia charges it in graduated brackets — 1% on the first $200,000, 2% from $200,000 to $2,000,000, 3% from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000, 5% on everything above $3,000,000. Each rate applies only to the portion of the price inside that band, so the effective rate is always lower than the top bracket you reach.
- When do I pay British Columbia land transfer tax?
- At closing, in cash, through your lawyer. It cannot be added to the mortgage or paid in instalments, which is why it is the closing cost that most often catches first-time buyers short — it has to be saved separately from the down payment.
- Is there a first-time buyer rebate in British Columbia?
- Yes — up to $8,000 off the provincial tax. Exemption on the first $500,000 of fair market value for homes up to $835,000, phasing out to nothing at $860,000 (registrations from April 1, 2024). A separate newly built home exemption covers new homes up to $1,100,000, phasing out at $1,150,000.
- Do I still count as a first-time buyer if my partner has owned a home?
- It depends on British Columbia's definition, which looks at your own ownership history and, in some cases, your spouse's. Confirm your situation with your real estate lawyer before budgeting on the exemption.
- Can I add British Columbia land transfer tax to my mortgage?
- No. It is due in cash on closing day, and lenders will not advance funds for it. Many will also ask you to prove you hold reserves for closing costs on top of your down payment before they approve the mortgage.
- Do I pay land transfer tax on a new build?
- Yes, on the purchase price, normally at final closing rather than when you sign the agreement. A new build may also carry GST or HST, which is a separate calculation with its own rebate — worth modelling together rather than one at a time.
- Does refinancing or renewing trigger land transfer tax?
- No. The tax applies to a transfer of title, not to the mortgage on it. Refinancing, renewing or switching lenders leaves ownership unchanged, so no transfer tax is owed — though a switch may carry registration or discharge fees.
- Where do these rates come from?
- From the official source linked on this page (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/property-transfer-tax/exemptions/first-time-home-buyers), last checked 2026-09-24. Rates and rebate ceilings change with provincial budgets, so confirm the figure with your real estate lawyer before relying on it for an actual closing.