Can I have my HST new housing rebate paid directly to the builder instead of claiming it myself?

Yes, a qualifying buyer can generally assign the federal GST/HST New Housing Rebate directly to the builder as part of closing, rather than paying the full purchase price up front and applying for the rebate personally afterward. In practice, this usually means the builder credits the rebate amount against the purchase price at closing and then applies for and receives the rebate directly from the CRA, so the buyer effectively gets the benefit immediately instead of waiting for a refund after moving in.

The federal rebate this typically involves is capped at a maximum, currently up to $6,300, available in full where the total consideration for the home is at or below $350,000, and phased out on a straight-line basis as the price rises further, disappearing entirely once the price reaches $450,000, so how much, if any, rebate there is to assign depends heavily on the home's purchase price.

Because the assignment has to be properly documented in the purchase and sale agreement and handled correctly by the builder, confirm with your lawyer and the builder, before closing, exactly how the rebate is being assigned and reflected in the final numbers you're paying, rather than assuming it's automatic.