BC Property Transfer Tax Calculator
Enter the purchase price. This returns the exact tax band by band, and applies the first-time buyer and newly built home exemptions at their current thresholds.
2026 rates · verified 1 October 2026
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How the tax is actually calculated
The bands
Property transfer tax in British Columbia is charged in bands on the fair market value of the property on the day it registers at the Land Title Office. The bands are 1% on the first $200,000, 2% on the portion from $200,000 to $2,000,000, and 3% on anything above $2,000,000. Residential property carries a further 2% on the portion of value above $3,000,000.
The tax is paid by the buyer, in full, on completion. It is not financeable into the mortgage and it is not refunded when you sell. A buyer who is a foreign national, foreign corporation or taxable trustee buying residential property inside a specified area — which includes Metro Vancouver, and therefore the whole North Shore — pays an additional 20% of the residential fair market value on top of everything above.
The two exemptions that matter here
The first-time home buyers’ exemption is full where fair market value is $835,000 or less, and partial between $835,000 and $860,000. Where it applies it exempts the tax on the first $500,000 of value, so the most it can be worth is $8,000. Residency, occupancy and prior-ownership conditions all apply.
The newly built home exemption is full to $1,100,000 and phases out to nil at $1,150,000.
Both thresholds took effect on 1 April 2024. A good number of competing pages still publish the pre-2024 figures of $500,000 and $750,000, which are now more than two years stale.
A worked example
A $1,450,000 townhouse in Lower Lonsdale
| Band | Tax |
|---|---|
| 1% of the first $200,000 | $2,000 |
| 2% of the next $1,250,000 | $25,000 |
| 3% above $2,000,000 | $0 |
| Further 2% on residential value above $3,000,000 | $0 |
| Total due on completion | $27,000 |
At this price a first-time buyer is well past the $860,000 ceiling, so the full $27,000 is payable. That is the number people are surprised by, and it is due the same day as your down payment.
Questions people actually ask
Who pays property transfer tax in BC, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer pays it, in full, on completion. It is not split and the seller has no part in it. It is also not financeable into the mortgage, so it has to come out of cash you already have — which is why it catches so many first purchases out.
What is the property transfer tax on a $1,000,000 home in BC?
$18,000 on residential property with no exemption: 1% on the first $200,000 is $2,000, and 2% on the remaining $800,000 is $16,000. If the home is newly built and you qualify, the whole amount can be exempt.
Do first-time buyers pay property transfer tax in British Columbia?
Not always. The first-time home buyers’ exemption is full where fair market value is $835,000 or less and partial between $835,000 and $860,000. Above $860,000 it is nil. It exempts the tax on the first $500,000 of value, so the most it can save you is $8,000.
When exactly is the tax calculated?
On the fair market value of the property on the day the transfer registers at the Land Title Office — not the day you signed the contract. If value moves between acceptance and completion, the registration date is what counts.
Is there extra tax for foreign buyers on the North Shore?
Yes. A foreign national, foreign corporation or taxable trustee buying residential property inside a specified area pays an additional 20% of the residential fair market value on top of the normal bands. Metro Vancouver is a specified area, so this covers all of North and West Vancouver.
The other calculators
Sources, named and dated
This calculator is an estimate for planning only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Confirm the amount payable with your lawyer or notary before completion. Rates are those published by the Province of British Columbia on the dates cited above and can change without notice. Tom Jahed, REALTOR®, Personal Real Estate Corporation, Vanak Realty.