Stamp responsibility, in any other case referred to as switch or conveyance responsibility, is a tax imposed by state and territory governments every time an individual purchases a property.

It might probably apply to owner-occupiers and investors, in addition to first dwelling consumers. Although, many jurisdictions waive or low cost stamp responsibility for first dwelling consumers.

In some locations, it may possibly even be enforced even when a brand new proprietor would not pay a cent for a property, akin to when a property is presented.

Whereas it is simple to neglect about stamp responsibility while you’re looking to purchase a property, the tax should not be neglected. It might probably add tens of 1000’s of {dollars} to a sale transaction and significantly minimise a purchaser’s borrowing power.

Property consumers are required to pay stamp responsibility on to their state or territory’s income workplace, and the method is mostly greatest dealt with with the help of a solicitor or conveyancer.

Now, let’s get right down to tin tacks.

How a lot is stamp responsibility?

The quantity of stamp responsibility a purchaser should pay will depend upon the state or territory wherein they’re shopping for in, in addition to the kind of property being bought and its worth.

Typically, the extra a purchaser pays for his or her dwelling or funding property, the extra stamp responsibility they will face.

Each state and territory has a special manner of calculating stamp responsibility, and a few jurisdictions supply extra beneficiant exemptions and reductions than others.

Stamp responsibility usually runs into the tens of 1000’s of {dollars} (although, there are a couple of methods of getting out of paying it), so you will have to issue it into your own home shopping for calculations.

Your Mortgage’s stamp duty calculator can information you on how a lot you is perhaps liable to pay when shopping for a house in your state or territory.

Are you able to keep away from stamp responsibility?

Some stamp responsibility exemptions and concessions can be found, with many depending on the place you are buying, whether or not you are shopping for your first dwelling, and when you’re planning to occupy the property.

In most locations, if property is being transferred between relations because of a dying or divorce, the brand new proprietor won’t have to pay stamp responsibility.

Some states additionally waive or low cost stamp responsibility for first dwelling consumers, and others supply concessional charges for pensioners, downsizers, carers, and farmers.

When you do not qualify a stamp responsibility exemption or concession the place you reside, you would possibly take into account buying in one other state that costs much less stamp responsibility or gives extra beneficiant concessions. In any other case, shopping for a less expensive property is admittedly the one technique to scale back your stamp responsibility invoice.

It is price being aware of the purported function of stamp responsibility.

State and territory governments say the collected funds are put in direction of upscaling and enhancing providers like healthcare, regulation enforcement, planning and infrastructure, to call a couple of. That stated, again within the yr 2000, the introduction of the GST was meant to cowl the price of such providers. Go determine.

When you’re trying to purchase property, it might pay to debate your stamp responsibility choices with a solicitor or conveyancer prior to buying. This might provide help to be financially ready and provide the alternative to ahead plan, particularly if you have to accumulate further funds to pay for the tax.

That can assist you put together and perceive when stamp responsibility must be paid, here’s a snapshot of how your state or territory calculates and applies stamp responsibility.

How stamp responsibility works in New South Wales (NSW)

Commonplace stamp responsibility charges for many NSW properties are as follows:

• When you spend $97,000 to $364,000: $1,564 plus $3.50 for each $100 over $97,000

• When you spend $364,000 to $1,212,000: $10,909 plus $4.50 for each $100 over $364,000

• When you spend over $1,212,000: $49,069 plus $5.50 for each $100 over $1.212 million

• When you spend over $3,636,000: $182,389 plus $7.00 for each $100 over $3,636,000

When you’re an eligible first dwelling purchaser, you might be able to obtain a full or partial exemption supplied the property you buy is valued at lower than $1 million.

Vacant land valued as much as $350,000 can be exempt from stamp responsibility for first dwelling consumers, they usually would possibly be capable to pay a concessional fee when shopping for a block valued between $350,000 and $450,000. There isn’t any exemption or concession for land valued over $450,000.

NSW stamp responsibility must be paid to the state’s income workplace no later than three months after settlement day on a property buy. In terms of off-the-plan purchases, so long as you intend to reside within the property, there’s an opportunity it’s possible you’ll be eligible to postpone paying tax for as much as 15 months, or on the handover of the property if that is sooner.

How stamp responsibility works in Victoria

Normal stamp responsibility charges in Victoria are:

• When you spend $130,000 to $960,000: $2,870 plus 6% of the dutiable worth over $130,000

• When you spend $960,000 to $2,000,000: 5.5% of the dutiable worth

• When you spend over $2,000,000: $110,000 plus 6.5% of the dutiable worth over $2 million

When you’re an eligible first dwelling proprietor in Victoria, you will not be required to pay stamp responsibility so long as your property’s worth is $600,000 or much less. If it is priced between $600,000 and $750,000, you will be eligible for a concessional fee. Such charges might also be out there for pensioners, farmers, and people buying a property off-the-plan.

Stamp responsibility in Victoria must be paid by the purchaser 30 days after the property is transferred.

As of 21 October 2024, all consumers of off-the-plan strata residential properties inside the Metropolis of Melbourne native authorities space shall be eligible for a short lived concession for a interval of 12 months. A 50% concession applies to new residential properties and a full exemption is accessible for brand spanking new properties which have remained unsold for 12 months or extra since development was accomplished. This contains models, residences, and townhouses however doesn’t prolong to accommodate and land packages.

How stamp responsibility works in Queensland

Commonplace charges for Queensland properties bought for $75,000 or extra are as follows:

• When you spend $75,000 to $540,000: $1,050 plus $3.50 for each $100, or half thereof, over $75,000

• When you spend $540,000 to $1,000,000: $17,325 plus $4.50 for each $100, or half thereof, over $540,000

• When you spend greater than $1,000,000: $38,025 plus $5.75 for each $100, or half thereof, over $1 million

Decrease stamp responsibility charges apply to properties you intend to reside in, fairly than hire out.

From 1 Might 2025, first dwelling consumers who enter right into a contract to buy a new-build dwelling to reside in (or vacant land to construct a house to reside in) pays no stamp responsibility whatever the worth of the property.

For established houses, a primary dwelling purchaser concession applies if the property you are buying is valued at lower than $800,000. Seniors or pensioners will not be prolonged normal concessions in Queensland.

In Queensland, stamp responsibility is payable to the state’s income workplace no later than 30 days after settlement of the property.

How stamp responsibility works in South Australia (SA)

Commonplace charges for properties bought in SA, valued at $250,000 and up, are as follows:

• When you spend $250,000 to $300,000: $8,955 plus $4.75 for each $100, or half thereof, over $250,000

• When you spend $300,000 to $500,000: $11,330 plus $5 for each $100, or half thereof, over $300,000

• When you spend greater than $500,000: $21,330 plus $5.50 for each $100, or half thereof, over $500,000

South Australia solely gives stamp responsibility reduction for eligible first dwelling consumers buying new houses or blocks of land, not these shopping for already established properties. Nevertheless, first dwelling consumers claiming stamp responsibility exemptions aren’t restricted by property value caps.

Stamp responsibility in SA is normally required to be paid on or earlier than settlement day.

How stamp responsibility works in Tasmania

Stamp responsibility on property purchases price $200,000 and over are as follows:

• When you spend $200,000 to $375,000: $5,935 plus $4 for each $100, or half thereof, over $200,000

• When you spend $375,000 to $725,000: $12,935 plus $4.25 for each $100, or half thereof, over $375,000

• When you spend over $725,000: $27,810 plus $4.50 for each $100, or half thereof, over $725,000

Stamp responsibility concession charges can be found to first dwelling consumers and pensioners downsizing their houses in Tasmania.

Eligible first dwelling consumers spending $750,000 or much less to enter the market will see stamp duty waived. The primary dwelling purchaser low cost in Tasmania applies to each new-build and established properties.

Downsizing pensioners who buy a brand new dwelling lower than the worth of their previous dwelling and valued at $600,00 or much less might get a 50% low cost.

These buying off-the-plan residences might be eligible for a 50% concession if the unit is valued at $750,000 or much less.

Stamp responsibility in Tasmania must be paid by the purchaser within the three months after a property is transferred, which is normally included within the paperwork signed on settlement day.

How stamp responsibility works in Western Australia (WA)

Normal stamp responsibility charges for WA property, beginning with properties valued at over $150,000 are as follows.

• When you spend $150,000 to $360,000: $3,135 plus $3.80 for each $100, or half thereof, above $150,000

• When you spend $360,001 to $725,000: $11,115 plus $4.75 for each $100, or half thereof, above $360,000

• When you spend $725,001 or over: $28,453 plus $5.15 for each $100, or half thereof, above $725,000

A concessional stamp responsibility fee is accessible for these shopping for a complete WA property price lower than $200,000.

First dwelling house owners might also be exempt from stamp responsibility when buying a property price as much as $500,000. First dwelling proprietor concessions could apply for houses valued between:

• $500,001-$700,00 (Metropolitan and Peel areas) – fee of $13.63 per $100 or half thereof above $500,000

• $500,001-$750,000 (outdoors Metropolitan and Peel areas) – fee of $11.90 per $100 or half thereof above $500,000.

No first dwelling proprietor concession applies to houses price $700,001 and above in Metropolitan and Peel areas or $750,0001 and above outdoors Metropolitan and Peel areas.

For first dwelling consumers buying vacant land, no stamp responsibility applies to land below $350,000 and for land valued between $350,001-$450,000, the concessional fee is $15.39 per $100 or half thereof above $350,000.

No concessions apply for first dwelling house owners buying vacant land valued above $450,001.

In WA, a purchaser has two months after settlement day to use for a Duties Evaluation Discover by means of the state’s income workplace. As soon as the workplace points the discover, which states the stamp responsibility fee relevant, a purchaser has one month to lodge the cost.

A whole run-down of charges is supplied by the state’s revenue office.

How stamp responsibility works within the Northern Territory (NT)

Out of all of the states and territories, Northern Territory has made calculating stamp responsibility most intricate. It has a posh method for properties valued as much as $525,000. Are you prepared for it? It is:

stamp responsibility payable = (0.06571441 x V²) + 15V

The place ‘V’ refers to at least one one-thousandth (1/1000) of the property’s worth.

On a $500,000 property, this basically means you would be on the hook for $23,928.60 in stamp responsibility.

When you’re not into algebra, it is perhaps greatest to enter the property worth into the stamp duty calculator supplied by the NT Authorities.

Charges for property purchases of greater than $525,000 are a lot less complicated to work out and are as follows:

• When you spend $525,001 to $3,000,000: 4.95% of the property worth

• When you spend $3,000,000 to $5,000,000: 5.75% of the property worth

• When you spend greater than $5,000,000: 5.95% of the property worth

When you purchase a home and land package deal within the Northern Territory in a single transaction, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for a stamp duty exemption whatever the property worth below the Home and Land Bundle Exemption (HLPE). Circumstances apply.

The NT Authorities doesn’t at present supply first dwelling proprietor exemptions or concessions for stamp responsibility (though it did for a brief interval between February 2019 to June 2021).

If buying within the NT, stamp responsibility is payable 60 days after the switch of the property is legally finalised, which might happen on settlement day.

How stamp responsibility works within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The ACT calls stamp responsibility ‘conveyance responsibility’. Among the present customary charges for eligible proprietor occupier property transactions are as follows:

• When you spend $300,001 to $500,000: $1,920 plus $3.40 per $100 over $300,000

• When you spend $500,001 to $750,000: $8,720 plus $4.32 per $100 over $500,000

• When you spend $750,001 to $1,000,000: $19,520 plus $5.90 per $100 over $750,000

• When you spend $1,000,001 to $1,454,999: $34,270 plus $6.40 per $100 over $1 million

• When you spend $1,455,000 and over: A flat fee of $4.54 per $100 utilized to the whole worth

There at the moment are additionally numerous concessions in place, together with:

• No stamp responsibility payable on proprietor occupier off-the-plan unit purchases as much as $1 million. (Shopping for ‘off-the-plan’ is outlined as signing a contract to purchase a unit earlier than the models’ plan has been registered.)

• First home buyers could pay no stamp responsibility or a decreased fee, relying on the kind of property bought, their family revenue, and what number of dependent youngsters they’ve

• Pensioners and people dwelling with a incapacity could also be eligible for exemptions or concessions, relying on the worth of the property or land they buy

Conveyance responsibility varieties should be submitted to Canberra Entry no later than 14 days after property settlement. As soon as the client receives a Discover of Evaluation again, they then have 14 days to pay the set stamp responsibility prices.

Additionally learn: Frequently asked questions about stamp duty

Stamp responsibility reductions & grants for first dwelling consumers

It is necessary to notice that the eligibility necessities for first dwelling proprietor stamp responsibility exemptions or concessions could differ from these for first home owner grants in some states and territories.

Do not assume that being ineligible for one means you are ineligible for the opposite. Rigorously evaluation the eligibility necessities for each.

In some jurisdictions, you possibly can solely be eligible for both a stamp responsibility low cost or a grant, however in others, you might be able to declare each.

Be certain that to do your homework on this or search skilled recommendation.

Often requested questions on stamp responsibility

When is stamp responsibility payable?

Stamp responsibility is mostly paid upon settlement, nevertheless it is necessary to notice that cost necessities differ from state to state. Your solicitor or conveyancer will be capable to clarify precisely when and the way you have to pay stamp responsibility.

Does stamp responsibility come out of my money deposit?

Stamp responsibility is an upfront value paid along with a deposit on a property. Whether or not you pay it in money or roll it into your own home mortgage is as much as you. Keep in mind, when you add the price of stamp responsibility to the worth of your own home mortgage, you will pay curiosity on the fee and it might influence your loan-to-value ratio (LVR), probably placing you at risk of a better rate of interest or Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

How do I calculate my stamp responsibility?

A fast technique to estimate how a lot stamp responsibility might value you is to make use of a stamp duty calculator. Simply enter your anticipated buy worth, your state or territory, and whether or not you are a primary dwelling purchaser, owner-occupier, or investor to get a projection of stamp responsibility prices.

Can I add stamp responsibility onto the steadiness of my mortgage?

Sure, stamp responsibility can usually be added to your own home mortgage. Nevertheless, if this considerably will increase your mortgage steadiness, it might have an effect on your skill to fulfill your lender’s necessities. Seek the advice of along with your lender or dealer to find out if this feature works on your monetary state of affairs.

Does the kind of dwelling bought have an effect on how a lot stamp responsibility is payable?

The quantity of stamp responsibility you will have to pay can depend upon the kind of property being bought and what you propose to make use of it for. An individual’s stamp responsibility legal responsibility relies on their property’s buy worth – the extra paid, the extra stamp responsibility will sometimes be owed. Nevertheless, when you’re constructing a dwelling, you will solely have to pay stamp responsibility on the acquisition of land, not the price of development. Many states and territories additionally grant stamp responsibility reductions to owner-occupiers, which means these shopping for an funding property would possibly have to pay extra.

Do it’s a must to pay stamp responsibility when refinancing?

Stamp responsibility is mostly not payable when refinancing, as no possession change happens. Nevertheless, if refinancing includes including or eradicating somebody from the property title, stamp responsibility could apply. Seek the advice of your lender or dealer to grasp the precise prices related to refinancing.

Discovering a aggressive dwelling mortgage

The prices related to shopping for a house can appear insurmountable. That is why it is necessary to hunt out a aggressive dwelling mortgage at a time when each cent counts. The desk beneath options proprietor occupier loans with a number of the lowest rates of interest available on the market.

For additional, and extra detailed info on how stamp responsibility applies in your state, it is suggested to realize the skilled assist of an skilled, akin to a mortgage broker, solicitor, or conveyancer who operates within the state you’re shopping for inside. It’s also possible to go to the next authorities web sites:

Particulars appropriate as of April 2025.

Picture by Ylanite Koppen through Pexels.

Article first revealed by Nina Cuturic in March 2019. Final up to date by Denise Raward in April 2025.