Property transfer tax exemption codes

The following is a list of the exemption codes available on the property transfer tax return and a description for each. Go to our Property Transfer Tax Exemptions page to find more detailed information about qualifying for property transfer tax exemptions.

FTH – First Time Home Buyers’ Program

A transfer where an exemption is claimed under the First Time Home Buyers’ Program. 

See the Guide to the First Time Home Buyers’ Program (FIN 269 Guide) (PDF, 215 KB) for more information.

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You must contact us before you claim this code. 

03 - Transitional Rate of Tax

Use the transitional tax rate of 0.1% to calculate the property transfer tax due if:

• There is an agreement for sale or lease registered before March 23, 1987
• The transferee is the purchaser under the agreement for sale or the lessee under the lease who is acquiring the fee simple ownership in the land

The transitional tax rate will be automatically applied when you select this code in the web-based return.

[section 38(d) or (e)]

04 - Transitional Rate of Tax

Use the transitional tax rate of 0.1% to calculate the property transfer tax due if:  

• There was a court order or an order absolute of foreclosure, given before March 23, 1987, or
• An option to purchase contained in a Crown lease was entered into prior to November 1, 1987 (provided the lessee notified the Minister of Forests of their intention to purchase before January 1, 1989)

Attach a copy of the letter exercising this option to the property transfer tax return.

The transitional tax rate will be automatically applied when you select this code in the web-based return.

[section 38(f)(g) or (h)]

05 - Related Individual – Principal Residence

A transfer of a principal residence, or an interest in a principal residence, to a related individual of a transferor.

See Transfer of a principal residence for the detailed qualifications for this exemption.

[section  14(3)(b)]

06 - Recreational Residence

Transfer of a recreational residence between related individuals.   

Find more information about exemptions when transferring a recreational residence.

[sections 14(3)(a), (c) or (d)]

07 - Family Farm

A transfer of a family farm:

• To a related individual, a sibling or a spouse of a sibling of the transferor, or
• From a registered trustee of a deceased’s estate to a beneficiary who, at the time of the deceased’s death, was a related individual of the deceased, a sibling of the deceased or a spouse of a sibling of the deceased, or
• From a registered trustee of a trust settled in the lifetime of the settlor, to a beneficiary who is a related individual of the settlor, a sibling of the settlor or a spouse of a sibling of the settlor.

Find more information about exemptions when transferring a family farm.

[sections 14(3)(a) (c.2) or (d.2)]

08 - Survivorship

A transfer to the survivor of a joint tenancy as a result of the death of a joint tenant.

If you’re an individual transferring an interest from another joint tenant who is deceased, use the Transmission to Surviving Joint Tenant online application available through the LTSA. 

Note: This exemption does not apply to the additional property transfer tax.

[section 14(3)(m)]

09 - Executor/Executrix of Estate

A transfer to a personal representative of the deceased (administrator or executor) if the property being transferred is part of the deceased’s estate.

[section 14(3)(q)]

10 - Subdivision – Multi Lot

Two or more registered owners transfer adjacent parcels of land to a registered trustee to complete a plan of subdivision, and the trustee transfer(s) the new parcels created by the subdivision back to the original owners.  There can be no change in each original owner's proportionate share of the fair market value of the land held before and after subdividing.

See Exemptions for transfers in the course of subdivisions for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(4)(k) and (k.1)]

12 - Trustee/Bankruptcy

A transfer arising from an owner’s bankruptcy qualifies for exemption if the property forms part of the bankrupt’s estate and the transfer is:

• To the trustee in bankruptcy
• From the trustee in bankruptcy back to the bankrupt:
  • If no consideration is paid, a full exemption applies
  • If consideration is paid, the full exemption applies if the property was the principal residence of the bankrupt immediately before the bankruptcy and the property is not greater than 0.5 hectares (1.24 acres). If the property is greater than 0.5 hectares, a partial exemption may be available
• From the trustee in bankruptcy to the spouse or former spouse of the bankrupt:
  • The full exemption applies if the property was the bankrupt's principal residence immediately before bankruptcy and the property is not greater than 0.5 hectares.  If the property is greater than 0.5 hectares, a partial exemption may be available. These rules apply whether consideration is paid or not.

[sections 14(3)(n), (o), (p)]

13 - Vendor’s Interest Under Agreement for Sale

A transfer of the vendor’s interest under an agreement for sale, if the transferee is not the purchaser under the agreement for sale.

See Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 236 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(4)(l)]

14 - Fee Simple/Agreement for Sale

A transfer of property to the purchaser, or assignee of the purchaser, under a registered agreement for sale if the property transfer tax was paid when the agreement for sale, or the assignment of the agreement for sale, was registered at the land title office.

See Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 236 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(3)(l)]

15 - Separation Agreement – Related

A transfer made in accordance with a written separation agreement or a court order under the Family Law Act where the transferee and transferor are spouses or former spouses of each other.  Attach a copy of the signed separation agreement, court order or divorce decree to the tax return.

See Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 236 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(3)(h)]

16 - Changing a Joint Tenancy to a Tenancy in Common

A transfer to change a joint tenancy to a tenancy in common if:

• the owners before and after the transfer are the same, and
• there is no change to the ownership interest held by each owner.

This same code can be used if a transfer is made to change a tenancy in common to a joint tenancy if the same conditions are met.

See Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 236 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(3)(i)]

17 - Lease

Registration of a lease agreement with a term of 30 years or less, including all extensions and options to renew, remaining at the date of registration.

[section 14(4)(o)]

18 - Family Farm Corporation

A transfer of a family farm:

• From an individual to a family farm corporation
• From a family farm corporation to an individual
• From a trustee of a deceased’s estate to a family farm corporation
• From a trustee of a trust settled in the lifetime of the settlor to a family farm corporation

Find more information about exemptions for transfers to and from a family farm corporation. 

[sections 14(3)(c.1) or (d.1), (f), (g)] 

19 - Escheat or Forfeit to Crown

A transfer where land reverts, escheats or forfeits to the Crown, or the transfer back to the original owner.

See Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 236 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(3)(k)]

20 - Transfer to Municipality, Regional District, etc.

A transfer to any of the following:

• A regional district
• A municipality
• An improvement district
• The Islands Trust
• A board of school trustees (as defined in the School Act)
• A francophone education authority (as defined in the School Act)
• The Okanagan Basin Water Board
• A water users' community (as defined in the Water Users' Communities Act)
• A regional hospital district
• A library board (as defined in the Library Act)
• A greater board (as defined in the Community Charter)
• Any board incorporated by letters patent that provides services similar to those of a greater board

[section 14(3)(s)]

21 - Life Estate Interest

A transfer of a life estate, where the transferee of the life estate transferred the fee simple estate in the property to the transferor of the life estate in a concurrent transaction.

[section 14(3)(r)]

22 - Registered Charities

 A transfer to a charity as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) if:

• The charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, and
• The land will be used for a charitable purpose.

A transfer to a person if:

• The land is held by the person for a congregation, religious organization or religious society under the Trustee (Church Property) Act, the Lutheran Student Foundation of British Columbia Act, the United Church of Canada Act or An Act Respecting the President of the Lethbridge Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Canada),
• The congregation, religious organization or religious society is a charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, and
• The land will be used for a charitable purpose.

You must include the Charitable Registration Number in the tax return.

See Bulletin PTT 025, Registered Charities Exemption (PDF, 211 KB) for more information about this exemption or refer to the Religious Charity Property Transfer Tax Exemption Regulation.

[section 14(4)(b)]

23 - Health Authorities, Educational Institution, etc

A transfer to any of the following:

• A board or council as defined by section 1 of the Health Authorities Act
• A designated educational institution as defined in section 118.6(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), if the land being transferred will be used for an educational purpose
• A corporation established under the University Foundations Act or the Trinity Western University Foundation Act
• An educational institution that receives grants under the Independent School Act, if the land being transferred will be used for an educational purpose
• A corporation or committee established under the First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Cultural Act

[sections 14(4)(a), (c), (d), (i) and (j)]

 25 - Trustee/Settlor

• A transfer from a settlor to the Public Guardian and Trustee, or a trustee that’s another trust company under the Financial Institutions Act authorized to carry out trust business by an authorization under that Act, if:

  • The settlor is a natural person, (an individual human being as opposed to a corporation or organization)
  • The settlor was the registered owner of the fee simple interest in the land immediately before the transfer to the trustee
  • The administration of the trust estate is for the sole benefit of the settlor
  • On the termination of the trust, the land reverts to the settlor or to the executor or administrator of the settlor’s estate

• A transfer of property from the trustee (as described above) to the settlor of the land being transferred.

• A transfer to the Public Guardian and Trustee if:

  • The land transferred is to be held in trust for the sole benefit of a minor
  • The minor is a related individual of the transferor or of the person whose estate is the transferor
  • The land transferred is a family farm or a recreational residence or was the principal residence of the transferor, or the person whose estate is the transferor, or of the minor

• A transfer from the Public Guardian and Trustee if

  • The land transferred is to be held in trust by the Public Guardian and Trustee for the sole benefit of a minor
  • The minor is a related individual, or a sibling or a spouse of a sibling of the transferor or a person whose estate is the transferor
  • The land transferred was a family farm

See Bulletin PTT 026, Exemptions to Minors for Transfers to and from the Public Guardian and Trustee (PDF, 174 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[sections 14(4)(p), ( p.1), (p.2), (p.3), (p.21) and (p.22)]

26 - Change in Trustee

A transfer from a transferor to a transferee, each of whom is registered under the Land Title Act as a trustee of the land, if the change in trustee is for reasons that do not relate directly or indirectly to a change in beneficiaries or in a class of beneficiaries or a change in the terms of the trust.

If this exemption is claimed, we may request a declaration from the transferor and the transferee.

Note: This exemption doesn’t apply to the additional property transfer tax.

[section 14(4)(q)]

28 - Ministerial Order

A transfer where the government of B.C. is the transferor and the transaction has been designated by the Minister of Finance as exempt from payment of property transfer tax.

Attach a copy of the Minister’s designation to the tax return.

[section 14(3)(v)]

29 - Mortgagee/Fee Simple Owner

A transfer to a mortgagee, if the mortgagee was the registered owner of the property immediately before the transfer.

[section 14(4)(m)]

30 - Cancellation of Agreement for Sale

A transfer due to the cancellation of an agreement for sale if the transferee is the original vendor under the agreement for sale.

[section 14(4)(n)]

31 - Lease/Concurrent Fee Simple

A transfer consisting of a lease, sublease or right to occupy premises, together with a concurrent transfer of the estate in fee simple, or a right to purchase the estate in fee simple, to the same land, and the lessee and the transferee are the same and tax was paid on the registration of the transfer to fee simple or the right to purchase.

[section 14(4)(v)]

32 - Veterans Land Act

A transfer from the Director of the Veterans’ Land Act (Canada) to a veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran.

[section 14(4)(r)]

34 - Subdivision - Single Lot

A transfer, immediately following the registration of a subdivision of a single parcel of land into smaller parcels, if each transferee acquires a registered interest in one or more parcels having a proportionate share in the total fair market value of the new parcels that is no greater than the proportionate share in the fair market value of the original parcel they held immediately before the subdivision.

See Exemptions for transfers in the course of subdivisions for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(3)(j)]

35 - Conveyance Error

A transfer for the purpose of reconveying land that was transferred in error or to correct an error in the description or survey to the property.

See Transfer to correct a conveyance error for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(4)(t)]

37 - Transfer to Crown in Right of Canada

A transfer to the Crown in right of Canada, or to a corporation listed in Schedule 1 of the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements and Federal Post-Secondary Education and Health Contributions Act (Canada).

[section 14(4)(s)]

38 - Amalgamation

• An application under section 191 of the Land Title Act in respect of an amalgamation:

  • Under Division 3 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act,
  • Under sections 181 to 186 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (Canada), or
  • Under similar provisions of an enactment of Canada or of a province.  

Attach a copy of the amalgamation certificate to the tax return.

• An application under Division 1 of Part 7 of the Societies Act in respect of an amalgamation of two or more British Columbia societies.

Note: This doesn’t apply to the additional property transfer tax.

Attach a copy of the certificate of incorporation respecting the amalgamation.

See Bulletin PTT 012, Exemptions for Transfers in Respect of an Amalgamation (PDF, 207 KB) for more information about this exemption.

[section 14(4)(u) and (w)]

39 - Transfer to Crown by Municipal Bylaw

 A transfer to the government of B.C.:

• In accordance with a bylaw:

  • Under section 27 [exchange or other disposal of park land] of the Community Charter, or
  • Section 281 [exchange of park land: application of Community Charter] of the Local Government Act

• From a municipality for the purposes of exchanging land necessary for improving, widening, straightening, relocating or diverting a highway

[section 14(3)(t) or (t.1)]

40 - Related Individual - Deceased Estate

A transfer of a principal residence, or an interest in a principal residence, from a trustee of a deceased’s estate, to a beneficiary of the estate who was a related individual of the deceased at the time of death and, immediately before the deceased's death, the land transferred was the principal residence of the deceased or had been the principal residence of the transferee for a continuous period of at least six months.

Note: If the property is larger than 0.5 hectares or is classified other than residential, the transfer may not be fully exempt.

[section 14(3)(c)]

41 - Principal Residence – Trust

A transfer of a principal residence, or an interest in a principal residence, from a registered trustee of a trust settled in the lifetime of the settlor, to a beneficiary of the trust who is a related individual of the settlor of the trust. Also, the land transferred has been the principal residence of the settlor or the beneficiary for a continuous period of six months immediately prior to the transfer.

Note: If the property is larger than 0.5 hectares or is classified other than residential, the transfer may not be fully exempt.

[section 14(3)(d)]

42 - Principal Residence – Trust

A transfer from a trustee of a trust settled during the lifetime of the settlor, who has been continuously registered as such since August 18, 1990, to a transferee beneficiary who is a related individual of the settlor who occupied the property as their principal residence.

Note: If the property is larger than 0.5 hectares or is classified other than residential, the transfer may not be fully exempt.

[section 14(3)(e)]

43 - Environmental Charge

A transfer of property where, at the time of transfer, the property, or a portion of the property, within 6 months of the transfer is or will become subject to a registered conservation covenant preserving, protecting or conserving the property in its natural state.

Note: You may need to provide proof that the covenant will be registered within 6 months if it’s not done concurrently with the fee simple transfer.

[section 16(3), (4) and (5)]

45 - Strata Plan - Liquidator

A transfer:

• To a liquidator appointed under section 277 or 284 of the Strata Property Act of land, or
• Under section 275 of the Strata Property Act of land that was shown on a strata plan cancelled under that section.

[section 14(3)(p.1) or (p.2)]

46 - Final/Tax Agreement, Treaty First Nation

A transfer of land where a Treaty First Nation or its members have a Final Agreement or a Tax Treatment Agreement with the province which specifically states they're exempt from property transfer tax.

See Exemptions for First Nations for more information about this exemption.

[section 2.2]

47 - Strata Plan – Amendment

A transfer to facilitate an amendment to a strata plan:

• Under Division 1 of Part 15 of the Strata Property Act, or
• Under Division 1 of Part 15 in combination with section 80 and/or section 253 of the Strata Property Act if the transferee’s proportionate share of the fair market value of all the parcels immediately after the amendment does not exceed their proportionate share of the fair market value of all the parcels immediately before the amendment.

[section 14 (3) (p.3)]

48 - Life Estate Where Mortgage is Registered

A transfer of a life estate, if:

• Immediately before the transfer of a life estate, a mortgage is registered as a charge on the same land
• The transferee of the life estate was the tenant-for-life under a registered life estate in the same land, but the life estate was cancelled immediately before the registration of the mortgage referred to above
• The transfer of the life estate is on the same land, from the same transferor to the same transferee, and on the same conditions as the cancelled life estate.

[section 14(3)(r.1)]

49 - Newly Built Home

A transfer of a newly built home.

See Newly Built Home Exemption for more information about this exemption.

[section 12.02-12.08]