Harmonized Sales Tax: Information on Owner-built Homes, Mobile Homes and Floating Homes in British Columbia

GST/HST Info Sheet GI-081
June 2010

This info sheet provides information for individuals who build or substantially renovate, or hire someone else to build or substantially renovate, their own home, or who buy a new mobile or floating home. It explains how the tax changes will apply and the new housing rebates that may be available.

Builders who sell newly constructed or substantially renovated housing in B.C. should refer to GST/HST Info Sheet GI-084, Harmonized Sales Tax: Information for Builders of New Housing in British Columbia.

Definitions for GST purposes, e.g., builder, mobile home, and substantial renovation, will generally apply under the HST, as will the CRA's current policies on the application of the GST to housing. Guide RC4052, GST/HST Information for the Home Construction Industry and GST/HST Info Sheet GI-005, Sale of a Residence by a Builder Who is an Individual explore many of these important terms and concepts.

New housing

The term "new housing" used throughout this info sheet refers to newly constructed or substantially renovated housing. Housing that has been substantially renovated is generally given the same treatment under the GST/HST as newly constructed housing. Extensive modifications must be made to the housing in order to meet the definition of a "substantial renovation" for GST/HST purposes. For a full explanation of the factors to consider in deciding if a substantial renovation has taken place, refer to Technical Information Bulletin B-092, Substantial Renovations and the GST/HST New Housing Rebate.

How will the HST apply?

In general, the HST at 12% (5% federal part and 7% provincial part) will apply to purchases, leases, and other acquisitions of property and services made in B.C. in the same way that the 5% GST currently applies.

This means that if an individual purchases property, including land, or a service that is normally subject to the GST under the existing rules, the purchase will be subject to the HST, subject to the transitional rules that apply to transactions that straddle the July 1, 2010 implementation date for the HST..

Most of the property and services purchased to build or substantially renovate a house are currently subject to the GST and will be subject to the HST.

Special rules for the transition from the GST to the HST

Special rules apply for determining whether the GST at 5% or the HST at 12% applies to purchases that straddle July 1, 2010.

For example, if goods are purchased, such as lumber, and the amount owed to the supplier becomes due or is paid without having become due after April 2010 and before July 2010, the tax will apply based on when delivery and ownership of the goods take place, as follows:

• if the individual takes delivery and ownership before July 2010, the GST at 5% applies, and
• if the individual takes delivery and ownership after June 2010, the HST at 12% applies, even though the amount the supplier charged for the supply becomes due or is paid without having becoming due before July 2010.

For more information on the special rules that apply for determining which tax applies to purchases and other acquisitions of property or services, see GST/HST Info Sheet GI-056, Ontario and British Columbia: Transition to the Harmonized Sales Tax - Services, and GST/HST Info Sheet GI-070, Ontario and British Columbia: Transition to the Harmonized Sales Tax - Goods.

GST/HST new housing rebate

An individual who builds or substantially renovates, or hires someone else to build or substantially renovate, their own house may be entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate in respect of the GST or the federal part of the HST paid to construct or substantially renovate the house.

The GST/HST new housing rebate is generally available if the individual builds or substantially renovates housing for use as the primary place of residence of the individual, or a relative, the fair market value of the housing (building and land) upon substantial completion of the housing is less than $450,000, and all of the other rebate conditions are met.

The GST/HST new housing rebate will continue to be available following the implementation of the HST in British Columbia.

Paying tax at different rates

Following the implementation of the HST, some purchases made to build or substantially renovate a house may be subject to the HST at 12% while other purchases made for that purpose were subject to the GST at 5%.

Further, due to the reductions in the rate of the GST (from 7% to 6%, effective July 1, 2006, and then from 6% to 5%, effective January 1, 2008), purchases made to build or substantially renovate a house may have been subject to GST at different rates.

For example, an individual may have paid 7% GST on the purchase of land in December 2001, 6% GST when acquiring architectural services in November 2007, and 12% HST for plumbing and electrical services that the individual will receive after June 2010.

In this case, individuals may be entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate in respect of the GST, or federal part of the HST, that they paid on these purchases, no matter which rate of the GST/HST applied to the purchases. However, the maximum rebate they are entitled to claim may be adjusted based on the purchases made. The maximum rebate amounts are reflected on the GST/HST new housing rebate application and are explained in the Guide RC4028, GST/HST New Housing Rebate.

British Columbia new housing rebate

An individual who builds or substantially renovates, or hires someone else to build or substantially renovate, their own house may be entitled to claim a B.C. new housing rebate in respect of the provincial part of the HST paid by the individual to build or substantially renovate their house.

The rebate will be available if the individual:

• is entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate in respect of the federal part of the HST; or
• would be entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate for the federal part of the HST if the fair market value of the housing at the time of substantial completion were less than $450,000.

The B.C. new housing rebate will be equal to 71.43% of the 7% provincial part of the HST that the individual paid to build or substantially renovate their house up to a maximum rebate amount of:

• $17,588, if the individual did not pay the HST on the purchase of the land (e.g., the HST would not have applied if ownership or possession of the land was transferred to the individual before July 2010 or if the purchase was exempt of the HST) or if the individual leases the land; or
• $26,250, if the individual paid the HST on the purchase of the land (e.g., if ownership and possession of the land are transferred to the individual after June 2010).

How to apply for the B.C. new housing rebate

Individuals apply for the B.C. new housing rebate by completing a new provincial schedule, RC7191-BC, GST191 - British Columbia Rebate Schedule that will form part of the GST/HST new housing rebate application, Form GST191, GST/HST New Housing Rebate Application for Owner-Built Houses and Form GST191-WS, Construction Summary Worksheet. This new schedule and a revised GST/HST new housing rebate application will be available on the CRA Web site by July 2010. The rebate application and the new schedule will also be available in the Guide RC4028, GST/HST New Housing Rebate.

All forms necessary to claim the existing GST/HST new housing rebate are available on our Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/gsthstpub.

How will the HST apply to mobile or floating homes?

The sale of a new mobile or floating home by a builder or dealer of such homes is currently subject to the GST and will be subject to the HST following the implementation of the HST.

The HST will generally apply to purchases of new mobile or floating homes if, under a written agreement of purchase and sale for the home, both ownership and possession of the home are transferred to the purchaser after June 2010. If either ownership or possession is transferred to the purchaser under the written agreement before July 2010, the GST at 5% will apply and the HST will not apply.

Where the HST applies, the HST will generally be payable on the earlier of the day on which ownership or possession of the mobile or floating home is transferred to the purchaser.

An individual who purchases a new mobile or floating home may be entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate for the GST, or federal part of the HST, they paid on the purchase of the home. A B.C. new housing rebate will be available in respect of the provincial part of the HST paid on the purchase of the new mobile or floating home.

Where an individual meets all of the conditions for claiming a new housing rebate for the purchase of a mobile or floating home, the individual can choose one of the following two options to claim their new housing rebate. Depending on the individual's particular circumstances, one of these options may be more beneficial than the other.

Option 1 - new housing rebate for owner-built home

Under this option, the individual could claim a GST/HST new housing rebate in respect of the GST, or federal part of the HST, paid to purchase the mobile or floating home and to acquire other eligible property and services from the builder or dealer under a separate agreement or from another supplier(s). For example, if the individual paid the GST/HST on the purchase of the land or on improvements to the land or to the mobile or floating home, that tax may be included in the calculation of the GST/HST new housing rebate.

In addition, a B.C. new housing rebate may be available for 71.43% of the provincial part of the HST paid to purchase the mobile or floating home, the land and other eligible property and services up to a maximum B.C. new housing rebate of $17,588 (if the individual did not pay the HST to purchase the land) or $26,250 (if the individual paid the HST to purchase the land).

To claim a new housing rebate under Option 1, an individual will complete Form GST191, GST/HST New Housing Rebate Application for Owner-Built Houses, Form GST191-WS, Construction Summary Worksheet, and Form RC7191-BC, GST191 - British Columbia Rebate Schedule.

Option 2 - new housing rebate for a home purchased from a builder

Under this option, the individual who paid the HST for the purchase of a mobile or floating home may be entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate in respect of the GST, or federal part of the HST, and/or a B.C. new housing rebate for the provincial part of the HST, paid on the purchase of the home. In this case, the B.C. new housing rebate would be calculated as 71.43% of the provincial part of the HST, up to a maximum of $26,250.

In general, under option 2, the GST/HST paid on other purchases related to the new mobile or floating home cannot be included in the purchaser's rebate claim. However, if the individual purchased both a mobile home and the land from the builder or dealer under a single written agreement of purchase and sale, the individual may be entitled to claim a new housing rebate for the purchase of both the mobile home and the land.

To claim a new housing rebate under Option 2, an individual will complete Form GST190, GST/HST New Housing Rebate Application for Houses Purchased from a Builder, Form RC7190-WS, GST190 Calculation Worksheet, and Form RC7190-BC, GST190 – British Columbia Rebate Schedule.

Date modified:

2010-06-21