Stamp duty is one of the biggest costs you'll pay when buying property in Australia. Stamp duty is a form of tax charged by the state government, and it applies when you buy a property, but not when you sell. Our stamp duty calculator can help you work out how much stamp duty you'll pay when buying a home or investment property.
Luckily, first home buyers in most states and territories can qualify for one-off discounts or concessions, depending on the type of property you buy and the purchase price.
Stamp duty calculator
To use this calculator select your state or territory, enter the value of your property (the full value, not your loan amount), choose the type of purchase (home to live in, investment or land) and select yes or no if you're a first home buyer or not.
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Stamp duty exemptions and concessions by state/territory
Your stamp duty cost varies depending on where you live. Governments update these costs every few years, depending on state budgets and tax policy.
Click your state or territory below to find out about stamp duty exemptions.
Your stamp duty is determined by several factors beyond where you live. These are:
- The cost of the property. The more you pay for your property the higher your stamp duty cost will be.
- Whether you're a first home buyer. If you've never owned a property before then you may quality for a concession (discount) on your stamp duty or even a full exemption. Pensioners and seniors may also qualify for a discount or exemption.
- The type of home you buy. The amount of stamp duty that you will be charged may depend on the type of property you purchase, with concessions or exemptions for buying new or off-the-plan properties.
What is stamp duty?
Stamp duty in Australia is a state/territory level tax levied on large transactions such as property purchases, cars or other assets. Historically, stamp duty was levied on the signing of various legal documents, hence the word stamp. Stamp duty is sometimes referred to as transfer duty.
How do I pay my stamp duty?
Many buyers pay stamp duty at settlement. Depending on your state or territory, it may be due on settlement day, and in other states you have around 30 days from settlement to organise the payment.
Your lawyer or conveyancer can help you with the logistics of paying stamp duty and will advise you of deadlines. Your conveyancer can also help you organise your paperwork when applying for a concession or exemption.
Can I borrow stamp duty with my loan?
Depending on your borrowing power and the size of your deposit, you may be able to have the amount of stamp duty added to your loan. This is known as having your stamp duty capitalised into the principal of the loan.
This means you are borrowing the money to pay stamp duty, so you'll pay interest on that amount for 30 years.
Keep in mind that this may increase your loan to value (LVR) ratio, which could require you to pay a higher Lenders Mortgage Insurance premium, if your loan is above 80% of the property's overall value.
Stamp duty in unique cases
Do I have to pay stamp duty on vacant land?
All transfers of land come with these costs, which you see by using the stamp duty calculator above. The exception to this is through the various concessions and exemptions available from each state, particularly for first home buyers.
Do I have to pay stamp duty on off-the-plan property?
Yes, stamp duty is still payable on off-the-plan property, but keep in mind there are concessions and exemptions available in different states.
Do I have to pay stamp duty on a loan I am refinancing?
In most cases you will have to pay stamp duty again even if you are refinancing. However, there are situations in which you can avoid paying stamp duty. For example, if the names of the borrowers are the same and the amount of the loan is the same, there might be a chance you could avoid paying stamp duty. In some cases, you might also have to refinance with the same lender to avoid this cost.
If you're borrowing more when refinancing (say, a home loan top up) you may have to pay stamp duty on any amount above the original loan.
Note that in some situations you may have to pay the fees but you can then apply for a refund from the lender. Thus, it pays to make sure you do your research before deciding to refinance because any savings you incur from a lower rate might be completely obliterated if you have to pay stamp duty again. In this case, refinancing may simply not be worth the hassle.
Divorce and stamp duty
Stamp duty isn’t payable if one of you is transferring the title to a home or land to another. However, you can only save on stamp duty if the transfer is done so you can obey a court order. The court must be able to know what assets are owned by each of the parties. This includes all of your assets like land, bank accounts and superannuation. It may be necessary to hire an expert to value an asset.
It’s important to know that parenting is seen as a very important contribution. If the marriage has been a long one, it is often seen as equal to financial contributions. Usually, the court gives the party whose financial future is not as good as the other some extra part of the property owned by the parties.
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Ask a question
Is the stamp duty on apartments you buy off the plan in Melbourne less than buying a property of the same value that is already built?
Hi Angela,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.com.au, a financial comparison website.
Stamp Duty charges vary from state to state so it would be best to contact your local revenue office to discuss what your state’s charges are. Generally it is calculated on the value of the property, so if an already existing property is valued at around the same amount as one you are looking to purchase off a plan then the stamp duty may be similar.
But it would be best to contact your local revenue office or a financial specialist to get a better understanding of how stamp duty is calculated in your state.
Regards
Jodie
Hi I am 64 and about to purchase a home I do not require finance. Will I have to pay stamp duty as this will be permanent residence?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your enquiry.
The amount of stamp duty payable on the purchase of the property will depend on the state that you live in, the cost of the property and the property type.
You can use our stamp duty calculator on this page to estimate the fees payable for the purchase, including stamp duty, transfer fee and mortgage registration fees.
However, if you receive any government benefits you may be eligible for a concession or exemption but you’ll need to check with your local Office of State Revenue to find out.
Thanks,
Belinda
What stamp duty is payable on an Off-The-Plan purchase in Victoria?
Hi Sognare,
Thanks for your enquiry.
The amount of stamp duty you will be charged will be determined by the amount you pay for the home and the type of property you’re purchasing. Unfortunately, when buying off the plan there are no exemptions for stamp duty in Victoria.
You can use our stamp duty calculator provided above on this page, where you can enter your details to estimate the fees payable (including stamp duty, transfer fee and mortgage registration fee).
It would be best that you contact the State Revenue Office of Victoria if you have any further enquiries about stamp duty.
Thanks,
Belinda
my husband and I are aged pensioners. if we sell our home of over 50yrs do we pay any stamp duty or are we exempt in W A
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for your enquiry.
If you’re receiving the Australian Aged Pension, you may be eligible for a concession or exemption from stamp duty. I’ve sent you an email with contact details for the Western Australian Office of State Revenue.
Kind regards,
Belinda
My husband and I purchased a house with daughter and husband. They would like to sell their half to us, is there stamp duty on the whole house or just their share.
Hi Fiona,
Thank you for your question.
The rules and regulations for stamp duty vary depending on which state or territory the home is titled in, I would recommend that you contact your local state revenue service for further information regarding stamp duty. You may be eligible for an exemption as you are transferring the property within the family but this will need to be discussed with your state revenue office.
You should also consider speaking to a conveyancer who will give expert and practical advice on what to do at every step of the process.
Regards
Jodie