Canada Introduces GST Rebate for First-Time Homes up to $1.5M Starting 2025

The Canadian government has introduced the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate (FTHB GST Rebate) to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing new homes for first-time buyers and stimulate new home construction nationwide. The rebate fully eliminates the 5% federal GST on new homes valued up to $1 million and provides a phased rebate for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million, potentially saving buyers up to $50,000. Eligibility requires buyers to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have not owned a home in the past five years and plan to use the property as their primary residence. This measure, expected to deliver $3.9 billion in tax savings over five years, also applies to self-built homes and cooperative housing shares, with construction required to start by 2031 or 2036 depending on the case. The initiative is part of broader tax relief efforts by the Liberal government, which contrasts with Conservative proposals that set a higher price threshold for GST elimination, and it has garnered support from the Canadian Home Builders’ Association as a step toward addressing housing affordability and encouraging new construction. However, some industry groups urge that the rebate be extended to all buyers and based on closing dates to better meet housing market needs.