# PST on Strata Management Fees in BC: What Changes Oct 1, 2026 > The Province is adding 7% PST to a list of professional services from October 1, 2026. Here is what strata councils need to know. Published: 2026-06-26 Author: Julian (OpenStrata Team) Topics: BC strata basics, Documents & records, Strata councils ## Key takeaways - The Province has announced 7% PST on a list of professional services, effective October 1, 2026, and that list names strata management services. - The same notice makes accounting, bookkeeping, and engineering services newly taxable, which touches budgets like your audit and your depreciation report. - This is a provincial tax change set by government, not a fee chosen by your strata manager, and the official details are in the Province's Notice 2026-001. ## What the Province actually announced In Budget 2026, the B.C. government announced that provincial sales tax will apply to a set of professional services at a rate of **7%, effective October 1, 2026**. The Province's Notice 2026-001 lists the affected services, and that list includes strata management services within a broader category of non-residential real estate services. If you pay for management or other professional services, you may start seeing PST added from that date. > Note: This article is general information only and is not legal or tax advice. For legal questions, consult a qualified strata lawyer or the relevant BC government resources. ## When the change takes effect The effective date is October 1, 2026. The Province has said service providers who sell newly taxable services must charge and collect PST from that date, and that providers who are not already registered will need to register to do so. In short, the timing is set by the legislation and the notice, not by individual companies. ## Which strata costs this could touch Beyond management services, Notice 2026-001 names several other services that become taxable on the same date. A few of these are common strata expenses: - Accounting and bookkeeping services, which can include your year-end review or audit. - Engineering and geoscience services, which can include the depreciation report and building assessments. The Province applies PST to 30% of the fee for these, giving an effective rate of about 2.1%. - Security and private investigation services, if your building contracts patrols, concierge, or monitoring. If your strata is planning a budget, the depreciation report is a good example of a cost that may now carry tax. For background on that requirement, see our guide to the [BC strata depreciation report deadline](https://openstrata.ca/blog/strata-depreciation-report-deadline-bc-2026/index.md). ## The open question for residential stratas Here is an honest point councils should know. The legislation lists strata management services inside a category described as non-residential real estate services. Industry associations and brokerages have been seeking clarity from government on exactly how this applies to residential strata corporations and to mixed-use buildings. The Province has said further detail will come once the supporting regulations are released. > Tip: If you are building a budget right now, some councils add a modest contingency line for potentially affected services rather than treating the management fee question as settled. A professional can help you decide what is reasonable for your building. ## Where to find the official source The primary source is the Province's Notice 2026-001, which sets out the services, the 7% rate, the October 1, 2026 date, and the registration rules. For questions about your own strata's situation, the right people to ask are the Province, your strata manager, or your accountant. Keeping your contracts, invoices, and reserve documents in one organized place makes it easier to see where PST may appear and to plan ahead. > Note: This article is general information only and is not legal or tax advice. For legal questions, consult a qualified strata lawyer or the relevant BC government resources. ## Questions and answers ### When does PST on strata management fees start in BC? The Province has set October 1, 2026 as the effective date for 7% PST on the professional services listed in Notice 2026-001. Strata management services appear on that list. Providers are expected to charge and collect the tax from that date. ### How much is the PST? The rate is 7% on the full fee for most newly taxable services. Architectural, engineering, and geoscience services are an exception: PST applies to only 30% of the fee, which works out to an effective rate of about 2.1%. ### Does this affect self-managed stratas? A self-managed strata that does not pay a management company may not have a management fee to tax. It can still see PST on other taxable services it buys, such as bookkeeping or an engineering depreciation report. Check the notice and speak with a professional about your specifics. ### Is this a new fee from my strata manager? No. This is a provincial tax change announced in Budget 2026. Where it applies, the manager or provider collects it on behalf of the government. It is not a price increase chosen by the management company. ### Who can answer questions about my strata's specific situation? For the tax rules, the Province is the authority through Notice 2026-001 and the supporting regulations. For how it applies to your building's invoices and budget, your strata manager or accountant is the right contact. ## More from OpenStrata - [All BC strata guides](https://openstrata.ca/blog/index.md): Browse every published OpenStrata guide. - [OpenStrata features](https://openstrata.ca/features/index.md): See how the platform supports BC strata councils.