This bill puts many parts of British Columbia’s 2025 budget into law. It adjusts tax credits for people and businesses, updates property tax rules, and adds new supports for film and TV production, especially animation made outside Vancouver.
It also adds a new credit for apprentices, changes how some low‑income benefits are calculated, and creates property tax exemptions for certain First Nations lands used for community purposes.
Key changes:
Low‑income sales tax credit: sets income phase‑out starting near $15,000 (single) or $18,000 (with a spouse/partner), and aligns BC family benefits with federal rules for periods after 2024.
Film and TV: creates a new “major production” category (over $200 million in BC spending) with a 2% labour credit, adds a 5% bonus on BC labour for productions starting in 2025, and introduces extra regional credits for animation made outside the Vancouver area or in distant locations.
Apprentices: a $500 tax credit for completing Level 1 or Level 2 requirements in eligible apprenticeship programs (cannot be combined with the federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for the same requirement).
Property taxes: exempts certain land owned or occupied by First Nations from school and rural property taxes when used for cultural or community purposes; adds rules for foreshore areas under treaty agreements.
Homeowners: increases the yearly cap on a medical‑based residential property tax reduction from $2,000 to $4,000 starting in 2026, and requires a form signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Vehicles: ensures people don’t pay provincial sales tax twice when bringing a vehicle into BC if they already paid certain BC or federal taxes on it.
Venture capital: sets a transition cap so individuals can claim up to $120,000 of certain venture capital tax credits (from purchases before March 4, 2025) over tax years 2025–2029.
Administration: gives the film tax credit authority inspection and audit powers, sets record‑keeping rules, and allows some regulations to take effect retroactively (including possible changes to the Speculation and Vacancy Tax in Vernon).
If you claim the BC sales tax credit, your credit starts to shrink when your income is above about $15,000 (single) or $18,000 (with a spouse/partner).
BC family benefits (the monthly child and family payments) continue to follow updated federal rules for how eligibility is checked after 2024.
If you move a vehicle into BC, you may get credit for some taxes you already paid so you don’t pay provincial sales tax twice.
Apprentices and trainees
You can claim $500 for finishing Level 1 and another $500 for Level 2 in an eligible apprenticeship, if you don’t take the federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for the same level.
Program levels can match SkilledTradesBC standards, and rules can vary by trade.
Film, TV, and animation workers and companies
Productions that start principal photography after 2024 get an extra 5% credit on qualified BC labour.
Animation made at a real, non‑residential “physical office” outside the designated Vancouver area can get extra regional credits; even more if it’s in a distant (remote) location.
Very large “major productions” (over $200 million in qualified BC spending) get a 2% credit on total qualified BC labour for the project.
Expect tighter audits: officials can visit business locations, inspect records (including electronic), and require information.
First Nations, communities, and local governments
Certain lands owned or occupied by First Nations are exempt from school and rural property taxes when used only for cultural or community purposes (not business).
Similar rules can apply to foreshore areas covered by treaty agreements.
Homeowners with medical needs
If you qualify for a medical‑based property tax reduction, you must submit a form signed by a medical or nurse practitioner.
The maximum annual reduction doubles from $2,000 to $4,000 starting in 2026.
Investors
If you bought eligible venture capital shares before March 4, 2025, you can claim up to a total of $120,000 of those credits over the 2025–2029 tax years.
Property owners in Vernon
The province can make retroactive rules about how the Speculation and Vacancy Tax applies in Vernon, dating back to January 1, 2024. This could change who owes the tax for 2024 or later.
Supports jobs across BC, not just in Vancouver, by rewarding animation and large productions that set up real offices in regional and distant communities.
Keeps BC competitive for global film work with modest, targeted credits tied to actual BC labour.
Helps low‑income people and families by clarifying credit rules and aligning with the federal system.
Grows the skilled trades workforce with simple $500 credits at key milestones, helping fill shortages.
Advances reconciliation by removing school and rural property taxes on First Nations lands used for community and cultural purposes.
Avoids unfair double taxation when residents bring vehicles into BC.