Province retooling spec tax on homes

James hints fee might be revised after backlash from B.C. residents

B.C. Finance Minister Carole James is dropping hints the blueprint for the province’s proposed speculation tax is being redrawn after a homeowner backlash.

James introduced the speculation tax in last month’s budget, but gave few details other than saying it will come this year and it targets foreign and domestic buyers who do not pay B.C. income tax.

She said Wednesday concerns from some B.C. property owners with two properties are being heard.

The homeowners have been telling the government about fears their vacation homes will be hit with large tax bills despite promises of offsetting income tax credits.

“Details to come, as I said then [on budget day],” James said. “We’re working on those details now, including all of the issues that people have been raising. They are on our table. They are part of our considerations.”

The details in the budget pegged the proposed speculation tax at $5 for every $1,000 of assessed value this year, rising to $10 for every $1,000 of assessed value in 2019.

But the budget was not clear about British Columbia residents with vacation or second homes in the province.

“The new annual property tax will target foreign and domestic homeowners who do not pay income tax in B.C., including those who leave their homes vacant,” said the budget documents.

James said the government is preparing final details for the speculation tax, and vacation property owners from B.C. is one of the tax issues being reviewed.

“We’re aiming to make sure that we get speculators out of the market,” she said. “We don’t want people treating our housing as a stock market.”

James said earlier the tax measures in her budget are part of the government’s aim to improve housing affordability for thousands of people, including seniors forced to live in their vehicles and young professionals who refuse jobs in B.C. because they can’t find a place to live.

The proposed speculation tax will not apply to every region of the province. It will target Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria, Nanaimo Regional District, Kelowna and West Kelowna.

Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the minority New Democrat government appears to be making up tax policy on the fly. > Thousands in Vancouver face tax for leaving homes empty, B3