BC First-Time New Home Buyers’ Bonus – a one-time payment worth up to $10,000 for BC residents who are first-time home buyers and who purchase an eligible new home.
BC Resident – if you file a 2011 BC resident personal income tax return, or if you move to BC after Dec. 31, 2011, or you file a 2012 BC resident personal income tax return (you will not be eligible for the bonus if you move to BC after Dec. 31, 2012)
First-time home buyer – an individual who has never previously owned a primary residence anywhere in the world. If multiple buyers, each must be a first-time home buyer (unlike PTT).
Primary residence – generally a house that you own, jointly or otherwise, that you intend to live in on a permanent basis.
An eligible new home includes new homes (i.e. newly constructed and substantially renovated homes) that are purchased from a builder and that are owner-built.
Other conditions:
- Contract of purchase and sale is entered into on or after February 21, 2012;
- HST is payable on the home;
- no one else has claimed a bonus in respect of the home;
- construction of the home is complete, or the home is occupied, before April 1, 2013
How much is the Bonus – equal to 5% of the purchase price of the home (or in the case of owner-built homes, 5% of the land and construction costs subject to HST) to a maximum of $10,000.
Bonus will be reduced if income is too high:
- for individuals, bonus reduced by $.20 for every $ in net income over $150,000 (bonus is reduced to zero at $200,000 net income),
- for couples, bonus reduced by $.10 for every $ in family net income over $150,000 (bonus is reduced to zero at $250,000 family net income).
The builder sent in my BC HST New Housing Rebate. Am I still entitled to the bonus? Yes, so long as you meet all the other eligibility requirements.
Is the bonus taxable? No. The bonus is a refundable personal income tax credit, meaning it will not be added to your income on your tax return.
Christos Gitersos – Your Money Saving Mortgage Broker
christos@gitersos.com