IMPORTANT UPDATE RE: SPECULATION TAX

M8TRIX5 would like to thank Pat Miazga your local Tri-cities realtor for sharing this article written by Peter D. Morris from Greenstead Consulting Group.

The Government has made changes to the Speculation Tax and I wanted to make sure you are aware of those changes this morning. The CBC reported that the B.C. government made a number of changes to its proposed speculation tax which will reduce both the number of British Columbians paying the tax and the amount they'll pay. The tax, first announced during February's budget, was to be assessed at 0.5 per cent of a vacant property's assessed value this year and two per cent in 2019. This morning, B.C. Finance Minister Carole James announced the tax would remain at 0.5 per cent for properties owned by B.C. residents but would now only rise to one per cent for out-of-province Canadian residents, and still remain at two per cent for foreign investors. The government also said the tax would no longer apply to properties in the Gulf Islands, Parksville, Qualicum Beach or rural Fraser Valley. The tax will still apply in the following areas: Metro Vancouver, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Mission (excluding Bowen Island). The Capital Regional District (excluding the Gulf Islands). The municipalities of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Kelowna and West Kelowna. The government said a tax credit would make homes worth less than $400,000 exempt for British Columbians only, along with those rented for more than six months of the year. Regards, Peter D. Morris Greenstead Consulting Group