GST Rebate Guide
What First-Time Buyers Need to Know
- On a $600,000 home, that is $30,000 you do not pay at closing.
- On a $500,000 home, that is $25,000.
- On a $750,000 home, that is $37,500.
What changed and why it matters
Do you qualify? The four requirements
01.
You are a first-time buyer
For the purposes of this rebate, “first-time buyer” means you have not owned a property used as your principal place of residence in Canada at any time in the four years preceding the purchase. This four-year lookback period matters — it means buyers who previously owned but sold and rented for four or more years may qualify again.
Life changes count: buyers who are separated or divorced may qualify even if they previously owned a home with a spouse, depending on circumstances. If your situation is complex, confirm with a tax professional or real estate lawyer before assuming eligibility.
02.
You are buying from a registered builder or developer
The rebate applies to new homes purchased directly from a registered GST/HST registrant — a builder or developer. Livinfuture Homes is registered. This means the transaction qualifies at the point of sale; you do not need to identify or separately apply to a GST registrant.
Private resale purchases, assignment sales, and homes purchased from a previous buyer who originally bought new do not qualify under the same structure.
03.
The home will be your principal residence
The property must be intended as your primary home — the place you live, not a rental investment or vacation property. If you are purchasing Livinfuture’s Invermere homes as a secondary or investment property, this rebate does not apply to that transaction.
04.
The purchase price is $1 million or under
For the full rebate elimination, the purchase price must not exceed $1 million. Above $1 million and up to $1.5 million, a partial rebate applies on a sliding scale. Above $1.5 million, no rebate applies.
How Much You Save by Purchase Price
| Purchase Price | GST Saving | Effective Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $499,000 | $24,950 saved | $499,000 |
| $549,000 | $27,450 saved | $549,000 |
| ★ $579,000 | $28,950 saved | $579,000 |
| $600,000 | $30,000 saved | $600,000 |
| $650,000 | $32,500 saved | $650,000 |
| $750,000 | $37,500 saved | $750,000 |
| $850,000 | $42,500 saved | $850,000 |
| $999,999 | $50,000 saved | $999,999 |
GST Calculator
How it works in Practice?
What you actually have to do
What if i am buying with a partner?
FAQs
Does the GST rebate apply to resale homes?
No. GST is not charged on resale home purchases in Canada — individuals selling their personal residence do not collect or remit GST. There is therefore no GST rebate available on a resale purchase. This benefit is exclusive to new construction purchased from a registered builder or developer.
I owned a home six years ago. Do I qualify?
Yes — if the home you previously owned was not used as your principal residence at any time in the four years before your current purchase date, you meet the first-time buyer definition under this program. The four-year lookback is measured from the date of your new purchase, not from today.
Can I use the rebate on an investment property or rental?
No. The home must be your principal place of residence. A purchase intended purely for rental income does not qualify under this program.
Is the rebate retroactive? I bought new construction in 2025.
The rebate applies retroactively to purchases made on or after March 20, 2025. If you purchased a qualifying new home after that date and the rebate was not applied, contact the Canada Revenue Agency or a tax professional to discuss your options.
Does the rebate stack with the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) or Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)?
Yes. The GST rebate is a separate benefit from the FHSA and the HBP. A first-time buyer can access all three independently — the rebate at closing, the FHSA for tax-free savings used toward the down payment, and the HBP to withdraw from an RRSP. Used together, these represent the most powerful combination of first-time buyer benefits available in Canadian residential real estate right now.
What if my purchase price is just over $1 million?
A partial rebate still applies for homes between $1 million and $1.5 million on a sliding scale. The partial rebate phases out to zero at $1.5 million. Ask your lawyer or the CRA for the exact calculation on your specific purchase price.