GST on BC Presales & the First-Time Buyer Rebate
New homes in BC carry 5% federal GST on top of the advertised price — and since Bill C-4 became law, eligible first-time buyers can get up to $50,000 of it back. Here's how the numbers work on a presale.
Reviewed July 29, 2026 · Facts cited to CRA, BC government and BCFSA sources below
How much is GST on a new home in BC?
GST on a new home in British Columbia is 5% of the purchase price. It applies to presale condos, townhomes and houses bought from a developer, and it is charged on top of the advertised price — a home listed at $800,000 costs $840,000 before any rebate. GST is separate from BC's Property Transfer Tax, which has its own rules and its own newly-built-home exemption.
What is the First-Time Home Buyer GST Rebate?
The First-Time Home Buyer GST Rebate refunds 100% of the GST on a new home priced up to $1,000,000 — a maximum of $50,000 — for eligible first-time buyers. Between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000 the rebate shrinks on a straight line, and homes priced $1,500,000 or more get nothing. The rebate became law when Bill C-4 received Royal Assent on March 12, 2026, and it applies retroactively to purchase agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025.
How the first-time buyer rebate shrinks with price
GST & rebate estimator
Estimates only — confirm your eligibility and exact figures with the CRA and the developer.
- GST (5%)
- $40,000
- First-time buyer rebate
- −$40,000
- Net GST you'd pay
- $0
- Total price including GST
- $800,000
Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?
To claim the rebate you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and you must not have lived in a home that you — or your spouse or common-law partner — owned, in Canada or abroad, in the current calendar year or the four calendar years before it. The home must become your primary residence and you must be its first occupant. The rebate can be claimed once per person, and not at all if your spouse or partner has already claimed it.
Which presale purchases qualify?
The purchase agreement must be signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031, construction must begin before 2031, and the home must be substantially completed before 2036 — timelines most current BC presales fit comfortably. Two traps to know: buying by assignment doesn't qualify if the original agreement was signed before March 20, 2025, and cancelling a pre-March-2025 contract just to re-sign under the new rules can get a claim rejected. Assigning a contract has tax consequences of its own — see our guide to assignments and flipping taxes.
What if I'm not a first-time buyer?
The long-standing GST New Housing Rebatestill exists: 36% of the GST back, to a maximum of $6,300, on homes priced up to $350,000, phasing out entirely at $450,000 — thresholds that exclude most Metro Vancouver presales. Investors buying a new home to rent out may instead qualify for the New Residential Rental Property Rebate. You can't stack the first-time buyer rebate on top of the regular one — an eligible buyer claims whichever single rebate applies.
Common questions
Do I pay GST on a presale condo in BC?⌄
Yes. New and substantially renovated homes in BC — including presale condos and townhomes — are subject to 5% federal GST on the purchase price. Presale prices are usually advertised before GST, so budget for it on top of the sticker price.
How much is the first-time buyer GST rebate on a $900,000 presale?⌄
On a $900,000 new home, GST is $45,000 and an eligible first-time buyer gets all $45,000 back, because homes priced up to $1,000,000 qualify for a 100% rebate of the GST (to a maximum of $50,000).
Does the first-time buyer GST rebate apply to a $1.2 million home?⌄
Partially. Between $1 million and $1.5 million the rebate phases out on a straight line — at $1.2 million a first-time buyer would get back about $30,000 of the $60,000 GST. At $1.5 million or more the rebate is zero.
When did the first-time home buyer GST rebate become law?⌄
Bill C-4 received Royal Assent on March 12, 2026, making the First-Time Home Buyer GST Rebate law. It applies retroactively to purchase agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025, and the CRA is now processing claims.
Is GST charged on resale homes in BC?⌄
Generally no. GST applies to new and substantially renovated homes. A typical resale (previously lived-in) home is exempt — which is one reason comparing a presale price to a resale price without adding GST is misleading.
Is the GST rebate the same as the Property Transfer Tax exemption?⌄
No — they are separate. GST is a 5% federal tax with its own rebates, while Property Transfer Tax is a provincial tax with its own newly-built-home exemption. A BC presale buyer may qualify for both programs independently.
Sources
- CRA — First-time home buyers' (FTHB) GST/HST rebate
- Department of Finance — GST relief for first-time home buyers on new homes valued up to $1.5 million
- CRA — GST/HST new housing rebate
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and individual situations differ — confirm your own eligibility with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Province of BC, or a professional advisor before relying on any figure here.
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