Prior year updates to property taxes

May 2, 2024

Information about applying for the home owner grant on behalf of a deceased owner has moved to the Home owner grant for spouse or relative of a deceased owner web page.

February 22, 2024

The provincial government announced its 2024 Budget on February 22, 2024. Programs administered by the Property Taxation Branch are amended as a result.

Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

January 2, 2024

The home owner grant threshold for 2024 is increased to $2.15 million. This new threshold ensures the same percentage of British Columbia homes are below the threshold compared to 2023.

Property tax deferment

September 5, 2024

The Property tax deferment program web pages have been reorganized to improve navigation and user experience. 

The updated property tax deferment website includes a new Frequently asked questions web page.

June 21, 2024

FIN 58, Physician Certification Property Tax Deferment Program (PDF, 180KB), has been updated to clarify the property tax deferment process. For more information see our property tax deferment web page.

May 2, 2024

Property tax deferment information has been updated.

Property transfer tax

December 3, 2024

The PDF version of the First Time Home Buyers' Program Guide, FIN 269 has been removed from our web site. For information on the program, see the First time home buyers' program web page. Please update your bookmarks to the new location on our website.

September 11, 2024

The Property transfer tax exemptions for First Nations web page has been updated to better reflect current and relevant information respecting the tax treatment for First Nations and Modern Treaty Nations.

April 25, 2024

Newly built home exemption amounts and qualifying criteria have been updated to reflect the Budget 2024 changes. You can also see the exemption amounts before April 1, 2024.

April 8, 2024

The online application to transmit ownership to a surviving joint tenant is now available through the Land Title and Survey Authority of B.C. (LTSA).

April 2, 2024

A new version (Version 37) of the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) web-based return has been introduced. This version introduces the threshold change to the first time homebuyers' exemption and the newly built home exemption.

First time home buyers' exemption amounts and qualifying criteria have been updated. You can also see the exemption amounts before April 1, 2024.

January 22, 2024

The following bulletins are now web content:

• Bulletin PTT 007, Exemptions for the Transfer of a Recreational Residence (PDF)
• Bulletin PTT 008, Exemptions for Transferring a Family Farm (PDF)
• Bulletin PTT 009, Exemptions for Transfers to and from a Family Farm Corporation (PDF)

Please update your bookmarks to the new location of our website. These pages have also been updated to include the updated definition of “spouse”.

General property tax information

No 2024 updates.

Home owner grant

June 28, 2023

The home owner grant web pages have been refreshed to improve usability. 

Note: There have been no changes to legislation or to home owner grant eligibility and processes. 

February 28, 2023

The provincial government announced its 2023 Budget on February 28, 2023. Programs administered by the Property Taxation Branch are amended as a result. Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

January 3, 2023

The home owner grant threshold for 2023 is increased to $2.125 million. This new threshold ensures the same percentage of British Columbia homes are below the threshold compared to 2022.

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Property tax deferment

October 1, 2023

Property tax deferment interest rates have been updated.

May 2, 2023

Property tax deferment applications are now open. For more information, see Apply for or renew a property tax deferment program application.

April 28, 2023

The property tax tax deferment program web pages have been updated to provide more content to assist home owners in program criteria, interest rates and what to expect when applying. See Apply for or renew a property tax deferment program application for more information.

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Property transfer tax

November 27, 2023

The Property transfer tax exemptions page has been updated to provide information on the purpose-built rental exemption that is effective January 1, 2024.

July 17, 2023

The Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement, Nisga’a Final Agreement and Tla’amin Final Agreement are amended to reinstate or continue the exemptions from property transfer tax. See Property transfer tax exemptions for First Nations for information about who is eligible for these exemptions and the effective date for each Treaty Nation. 

May 19, 2023

Refunds for the additional property transfer tax has been updated to clarify how the effective start date for permanent residency status of transferees is determined. In addition, information about acceptable documents for determining permanent residency status has been updated.

May 5, 2023

Bulletin PTT 003, Property Transfer Tax Exemptions (PDF, 240KB), has been revised to reflect that a property transfer tax return is no longer required to be filed at the land title office when forfeited land is transferred back to the original owner under the Taxation (Rural Area) Act.

March 28, 2023

Effective March 27, 2023, the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement is amended to reinstate tax exemptions for eligible Tsawwassen Members and other First Nations individuals for property transfer taxes on Tsawwassen Lands that are former reserve lands. See Property transfer tax exemptions for First Nations for more information.

February 28, 2023

The provincial government announced its 2023 Budget on February 28, 2023. Programs administered by the Property Taxation Branch are amended as a result. Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

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General property tax information

July 17, 2023

The web pages related to property taxes in rural areas have been refreshed to improve usability. 

Note: There have been no changes to legislation.

November 7, 2022

A new version (Version 35) of the Property Transfer Tax web-based return was introduced. See the updated Tax Return Guide and Information for legal professionals for more information.

The consent and privacy statements on the following Property Transfer Tax forms have been updated to provide consistency across all forms.

• FIN 265 - First Time Home Buyers' Application for Refund
• FIN 272 - Newly Built Home Application for Refund
• FIN 537 - Declaration of Trustee
• FIN 544 - Surviving Joint Tenant Manual Property Transfer Tax Return
• FIN 274 - Additional Property Transfer Tax Application For Refund

October 24, 2022

The release of the new version (Version 35) of the Property Transfer Tax web-based return has been deferred until November 7, 2022. See the updated Information for legal professionals for more information. 

October 11, 2022

The release of the new version (Version 35) of the Property Transfer Tax web-based return has been deferred until October 24, 2022.  See the updated Information for legal professionals for more information.

October 6, 2022

Bulletin GEN 002, Appeals (PDF, 160KB) and the Can you appeal? page have been revised to update the appeal deadline information for property transfer tax, as a result of Budget 2022.

September 14, 2022

The Property transfer tax return guide has been updated to clarify differences between information required from directors and corporate interest holders

August 23, 2022

A new version (Version 35) of the Property Transfer Tax web-based return will be introduced on October 17, 2022.  See the updated Information for legal professionals for more information.

August 8, 2022

Application requirements for the low income home owner grant supplement and veterans supplement have been simplified. You no longer need to provide additional documentation up front with your application. Learn more about the low income grant supplement for:

• Seniors
• People with disabilities
• Surviving spouses of veterans who received war veterans allowance
• Veterans under 65

May 27, 2022

When applying for a multiple home owner grant, the eligible occupants spreadsheet is now available online to upload to eTaxBC.

May 26, 2022

Information about the home owner grant for people with disabilities has been revised for clarity. 

April 6, 2022

Payment options for rural property taxes have been updated to indicate that Interac e-transfers and credit cards are not accepted.  

April 5, 2022

Instructions have been added for filling out the authorization or cancellation of a representative form (FIN 146) for annual property tax. These instructions are for the purpose of rural property tax, home owner grant and property tax deferment. 

February 22, 2022

The provincial government announced its 2022 Budget on February 22, 2022. As a result, amendments to property taxes were made. Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

November 5, 2021

Information has been added about how to change your home owner grant application after you've applied. 

May 17, 2021

Applications for the 2021 home owner grant are now being processed. Claim your 2021 grant as soon as you receive your property tax notice.

The fastest and easiest way to apply is online.

You can also apply by phone with help from an agent Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (excluding statutory holidays), or anytime using our automated self-serve phone application system if you are applying for the regular grant or senior grant.

Learn more at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

May 3, 2021

Applications for the property tax deferment program are now available online. Municipalities no longer accept applications for property tax deferment.

Learn more about the online property tax deferment application process at gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment

Reminder: If applicable, you must apply for your home owner grant separately from your property tax deferment application. Effective 2021, applications for the home owner grant are made directly to the province online at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

April 20, 2021

The provincial government announced its 2021 Budget on April 20, 2021. As a result, amendments to the property transfer tax were made. Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

February 16, 2021

Retroactive home owner grant applications for 2020 are now being accepted online. Learn more about applying for a retroactive grant and about other information updates at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

December 31, 2020

The home owner grant application process has changed.

Effective 2021, residents in municipalities no longer apply for the home owner grant through their municipal office. Everyone will now apply directly to the province using a new online system that’s easy to use and will process applications faster.

The system will be available in early 2021. Visit gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant for more information.

December 14, 2020

Effective December 14, 2020, legal professionals must submit property transfer tax returns using the new web-based return. Go to Information for legal professionals on filing a property transfer tax return for more information.

The Guide to the First Time Home Buyers' Program (PDF) has been updated to reflect the new web-based property transfer tax return.

An updated Property Transfer Tax Return Guide is also available.

Surviving Joint Tenant Manual Property Transfer Tax Return (FIN 544) (PDF) is now available for individuals who choose not to use a legal professional when they transfer an interest from another joint tenant who is deceased.

May 19, 2020

Property taxes are due July 2, 2020. Find out how to pay online and learn important information about rural property taxes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 14, 2020

Applications for the property tax deferment program are now submitted online through eTaxBC. Your municipality will no longer accept paper applications. Learn more about the online application process at gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment. Program details and eligibility requirements have not changed.

March 23, 2020

Effective immediately, the B.C. government has introduced tax changes to assist in the response to COVID-19. Learn more at COVID-19 action plan - provincial tax changes.

March 9, 2020

The B.C. Taxpayer Fairness and Service Code is now available online.

February 18, 2020

The provincial government announced its 2020 Budget on February 18, 2020. Programs administered by the Property Taxation Branch are amended as a result. Learn more at B.C. Provincial budget tax changes.

May 31, 2019

Information on school tax, the additional school tax rate, and school tax exemptions and credits has been revised for clarity.

March 5, 2019

Bulletin GEN 002, Appeals, has been updated with information on speculation and vacancy tax appeals.