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How to submit your Empty Homes Tax declaration

You must submit your 2018 property status declaration by February 4, 2019.

Each year, every owner of residential property in Vancouver is required to submit a property status declaration to determine if their property is subject to the Empty Homes Tax.

Failure to declare by February 4, 2019, will result in your property being deemed vacant and subject to a tax of 1% of its assessed taxable value.

There will be no extended declaration submission deadline in 2019.

Jan 1, 2018
Start of tax year
Dec 31, 2018
End of tax year
Feb 4, 2019
Declaration deadline

The information you provide on your declaration will determine if your property is subject to the Empty Homes Tax for this period.

Before you begin your declaration

Your declaration should take approximately five minutes to complete.

You may give permission for someone to submit your declaration on your behalf.

What you will need:

Your folio number and access code [these can be found on your property tax notices (204 KB)]
Additional information, such as tenant names, court order number, permit number, etc.

Ensure you fulfill the requirements of your property status at the time you declare.

Submit declaration

Property scenario

Occupied by a family member or friend

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
The property was used as a principal residence by a family member, friend, or permitted occupier, for at least six months of the year.	Full name and phone number of the family member or friend who occupied the property

Renting property

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
The property was rented for residential purposes for at least six months of the year, in periods of 30 or more consecutive days.	Full name of tenant(s) listed on each of the tenancy agreements

Occupancy for full-time employment

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
Your principal residence was outside of Greater Vancouver but you occupied your property for residential purposes for at least six months because you were employed full-time in Greater Vancouver. The nature of the employment required physical presence in Greater Vancouver.	Name and contact information of your employer

Property status in 2018

Information required at time of declaration

Your principal residence was outside of Greater Vancouver but you occupied your property for residential purposes for at least six months because you were employed full-time in Greater Vancouver.

The nature of the employment required physical presence in Greater Vancouver.

Name and contact information of your employer

Undergoing redevelopment or major renovations, vacant land, heritage preservation, phased development

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
The property was either: Undergoing redevelopment or major renovations where permits had been issued; or The lands are vacant, are heritage property, or part of a phased development with applications under review	Building or development permit/application number,and A short description of the construction project

Property status in 2018

Information required at time of declaration

The property was either:

Undergoing redevelopment or major renovations where permits had been issued; or
The lands are vacant, are heritage property, or part of a phased development with applications under review

Building or development permit/application number,and
A short description of the construction project

Owner, tenant, or subtenant under care

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
The property was unoccupied for more than six months because all occupiers were residing in a hospital, long-term or supportive care facility, and had previously been using the property as a principal residence or occupying it as a tenant for residential purposes.	Name of person receiving care,and Name and contact information of the medical facility

Court order

Property status in 2018	Information required at time of declaration
The property was subject to a court order, court proceedings, or governmental order prohibiting occupancy and actions to permit occupancy were carried out diligently and without delay, in accordance with any timelines in the order.	Court file/order number

Audit process

Property status declarations will be subject to an audit process, in line with best practices for provincial and federal tax programs. If your property is selected for an audit, you will be asked to provide evidence in support of your declaration.

False declarations will result in fines of up to $10,000 per day of the continuing offense, in addition to payment of the tax.

Need assistance with your online declaration?

Learn more about the Empty Homes Tax

Chat with an online representative

Access Live Chat
(Bottom right-hand corner of this page.)

Get assistance when making your online property status declaration

City staff will be available to assist you at City Hall during opening hours.

Vancouver City Hall
453 West 12th Avenue
Monday to Friday (except holidays)
8:30 am – 5pm

Line-ups may be long.

Staff at Vancouver Public Library locations will also be available to assist you with technical and information support.

You will need a library card to access the computers at the library. If you don't have one, you can use a temporary internet card instead, which you can get by presenting your ID to the service desk at your local library.

Still have questions?

Phone 3-1-1
(Outside Vancouver: 604-873-7000)

How to submit your Empty Homes Tax declaration

Before you begin your declaration

Additional information that may be required when submitting declaration

Audit process

Need assistance with your online declaration?

Chat with an online representative

Get assistance when making your online property status declaration

Still have questions?