Information collection requirements for property transfer tax

The administrator of property transfer tax is required by legislation to collect certain information. The Property Transfer Tax Act section 12.13 and the Information Collection Regulation (B.C. Reg. 166/2018), require the tax administrator to collect information on persons connected to receiving transfers of property, even when their involvement is through a trust or a corporation.

On this page

• Requirements for individuals
• Requirements for corporations
• Requirements when the transfer involves trusts
• Exclusions from the requirements
• What if I am unable to obtain some of the information required at registration?
• Other information requirements

Requirements for individuals

The transferee must provide, and the tax administrator is required to collect, the following information about individuals:

• Name
• Date of birth
• In some cases, their contact information
• Whether or not they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • If so: their Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • If not: the country of their citizenship, and their Canadian SIN or Individual Tax Number (ITN)

Requirements for corporations

The transferee must provide, and the tax administrator is required to collect, the following information about corporations:

• The corporation's Business Number, and in some cases its name
• The above Requirements for individuals information for the corporate directors and other interest holders

Requirements when the transfer involves trusts

The transferee must provide, and the tax administrator is required to collect, the following information about trusts:

• Whether any property held by the trust is "partnership property"
• For every beneficiary of the trust, most of the above Requirements for individuals information, or most of the above Requirements for corporations information, whichever applies
• If the transferee is a "bare trustee," this same information for themselves and for all settlors of the trust. Consult legal experts if you're unsure whether this applies

Exclusions from the requirements

The following are excluded from parts of the above requirements:

• Corporations that are government bodies, public bodies, utilities, financial institutions, or similar kinds of bodies
• Charitable trusts
• Pension plans, mutual funds, or certain other types of investment trusts
• Trusts held by the Public Guardian and Trustee of B.C.
• Properties vested in trustees in bankruptcy

This information is provided for your convenience and guidance and is not a replacement for the legislation. Consult legal experts for a detailed answer on whether any corporation or trust is excluded from submitting information. 

What if I am unable to obtain some of the information required at registration?

If you cannot obtain all the necessary information from others, some (not all) can be replaced with a detailed description showing how you have made every reasonable effort to get the information. Consult legal experts for a detailed answer on which information this applies to.

Other information requirements

As well as the above information specifically required at registration, the tax administrator can also ask transferees for other information or records when relevant to a particular case. We will let you know if more information is required.