At CMBA-BC, we are committed to being a proactive voice for our members and ensuring clarity on important issues affecting the mortgage industry. When a member recently brought to our attention a question about the newly announced First-Time Home Buyers GST/HST Rebate, we promptly reached out to the Canada Revenue Agency to seek clarification.

Here’s what we learned:

On May 27, 2025, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue tabled legislative proposals to amend the Excise Tax Act to introduce a new GST/HST Rebate for first-time home buyers (FTHB GST/HST Rebate). The proposed legislation is currently subject to parliamentary approval and may change. Consistent with standard practice, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will not process applications for the FTHB GST/HST Rebate until the related legislation has received Royal Assent.

Before Royal Assent is received, where a house is purchased from a builder and ownership is transferred to an individual, the builder may credit the existing GST/HST New Housing Rebate if applicable, but not the FTHB GST/HST Rebate. In such a case, the individual would need to pay the GST/HST and, where the FTHB GST/HST Rebate conditions are met, apply separately to the CRA for the rebate after royal assent is received.

After Royal Assent is received, when a house is purchased from a builder, the builder may credit the FTHB GST/HST Rebate in the same manner as the existing GST/HST New Housing Rebate against the total amount payable by the individual for the house, provided that the FTHB GST/HST Rebate conditions are met.

Updates are in progress to add information about the FTHB GST/HST Rebate on Canada.ca. This is expected to be available to the public by the end of next week.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to Burnaby North-Seymour MP Terry Beech for connecting with the CRA and helping facilitate this important clarification. His support, along with our strong relationships with the CRA and other key government representatives, has been invaluable in ensuring our industry’s needs and concerns are addressed.

As updates are finalized, additional information about the FTHB GST/HST Rebate will be available on Canada.ca, with public access expected by the end of next week.

A special thank you also goes to Marci Deane, Chair of the CMBA-BC Government Relations Committee, for her leadership in driving this clarification forward.