Newly built home exemption

The newly built home exemption reduces or eliminates the property transfer tax on qualifying purchases of a principal residence.

• Full exemption: Effective April 1, 2024, the fair market value threshold for a full exemption for newly built homes is increased from $750,000 to $1,100,000.
• Partial exemption: A partial exemption is also available for properties with fair market values just above the threshold. The phase out range is $50,000 above the threshold, with the complete elimination of the exemption at $1,150,000 for qualifying purchasers.

On this page

• Definition
• Do I qualify?
• Apply
• Refund

---

Definition of a newly built home

A newly built home includes:

• A house constructed and affixed on a parcel of vacant land
• A new apartment in a newly built condominium building
• A manufactured home that is placed and affixed on a parcel of vacant land
• An already constructed house that is removed from one parcel of land and affixed to another parcel of vacant land, as long as the house has not been occupied since it was placed on the new parcel of vacant land
• A house resulting from the division of an existing improvement affixed to a parcel of land that was also subdivided, as long as this house has not been occupied since the subdivision of the parcel
• A house converted from an existing improvement on the land. The previous improvement could not have been used as residential (e.g. a warehouse converted into apartments)

If you qualify for the exemption, you may be eligible for either a full or partial exemption from the tax.

If you paid property transfer tax when you purchased vacant land and you now have a newly built home on the land, you may be eligible for a refund of the property transfer tax you paid.

Do I qualify?

To qualify,

• The property (land and improvement) transfer must be registered at the Land Title Office after February 16, 2016, and
• This must be the first registration of this property with a completed improvement, and
• You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (you will be asked to provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or proof of permanent residency and your birthdate)

and the property must:

• Be located in B.C.
• Only be used as your principal residence
• Have a fair market value of $1,100,000 or less ($750,000 if the title is registered before April 1, 2024)
• Be 0.5 hectares (1.24 acres) or smaller

You may qualify for a partial exemption, if the property:

• Has a fair market value greater than $1,100,000 and less than $1,150,000 (greater than $750,000 and less than $800,000 if title is registered before April 1, 2024)
• Is larger than 0.5 hectares
• Has another building on the property other than the principal residence

Find out the amount of your exemption if you qualify.

Foreign entities and taxable trustees are not eligible for the exemption. If you're an individual who does not qualify because you're not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, but you become one within 12 months of when the property is registered, you may apply for a refund of the property transfer tax.

Find out if you're also eligible to claim a refund of any additional property transfer tax you may have paid.

Apply

Select or enter exemption code 49 on the Property Transfer Tax Return to apply for the newly built home exemption.

Occupancy requirements

After you have registered the property, you must meet occupancy requirements during the first year you own the property. To keep the tax exemption you must:

• Move into your home within 92 days of the date the property was registered at the Land Title Office
• Continue to occupy the property as your principal residence for the remainder of the first year

You'll receive a letter at the end of the first year to confirm you meet these requirements.

You may keep part of the exemption if you moved out before the end of the first year. However, you must repay a portion of the amount of the exemption based on the number of days you moved out before the end of the first year.

Note: If the owner passed away, or the property is transferred because of a separation agreement or a court order under the Family Law Act before the end of the first year, the full exemption still applies.

Refund

If you qualify for the exemption, but did not apply when you registered your home, you may apply for a refund.

Vacant land

If you purchased a vacant lot and paid the tax upon registration, you may apply for a refund if:

• You have a newly built home on the land
• You meet the qualifications for the Newly Built Home Exemption
• The fair market value of the land plus the cost of the newly built home is $1,100,000 or less (if you register title to the land on or after April 1, 2024) 
• If you take title to the land before April 1, 2024, the fair market value of the land plus the cost of the newly built home is $750,000 or less  
• You moved into your home and continued to occupy the property as your principal residence for the remainder of the first year

If you move out before the end of the first year, you may be eligible for a partial refund of the tax you paid based on the number of days you occupied the property.

If the owner passed away, or the property is transferred because of a separation agreement or a court order under the Family Law Act before the end of the first year, you may still be eligible for a refund.

Apply for a refund

To apply for a refund:

1. Complete, print and sign the Newly Built Home Application for Refund (FIN 272) (PDF, 220 KB)

2. Scan the completed form and any required supporting documentation and either:

   • Send them electronically using our secure online service

   • Email them to pttenq@gov.bc.ca

If you also qualify for a refund of the additional property transfer tax, you can indicate this on the same form and apply for both refunds together.

You must apply for a refund after the first anniversary of the registration date and within 18 months from the date you registered the property at the Land Title Office.