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
Good morning,
So we are buying a unit which we currently live in my partner owns this property with his ex wife which we are now buying her out and removing her name and putting my name on the loan. I am a first home buyer and he is obviously not so I will have some type of an exemption. But what my question is how long do we have to live here in order so we are not charged to pay back the exemption that may be provided on my behalf I think I get $4,500 off the stamp duty? We have lived at this property for 12 months I just wanted to see as it’s a little complicated :)
Thank you,
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your comment, we have followed up directly via email to your query.
Regards
Jodie
i want get my stamp duty refund
Hi Muhamad,
Thanks for your enquiry.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for a refund for stamp duty.
We suggest that you contact your state government department directly.
Thanks,
Belinda
hi i wanted to know what stamp duty i would have to pay on a property when its transferred to me and an aunty of mine when my share is only 10% do i still have to pay half the stamp duty or only 10%. the property was transferred to us from my grandma and we now have to pay stamp duty around $15,000 what do i have to pay
Hi Adam,
Thank you for contacting us.
The rules and regulations regarding stamp duty vary depending on which state or territory the property is located in.
Generally when the ownership of a property is split each owner is only responsible to for the percentage amount that they have ownership over.
For further clarification please contact your state or territories land and property department.
Regards
Jodie
Is stamp duty more on vacant land than on land with a house?
If you have purchased a home and already paid the stamp duty,
but had a pension card at the time, can you apply for a concession/part refund?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your question.
Typically stamp duty is more expensive on land with a house. In Western Australia there are no concessions available for pensioners, only for first home buyers.
Should you require anymore information, please speak to the WA Department of Finance on 1300 368 364.
Cheers,
Shirley
At present there are 3 names on our property title. We wish to remove our daughters name as we are buying out her share. What exact form do we have to fill out and is there stamp duty to pay
Thanks
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for your question.
Here is a list of land VIC forms that you may need to fill in, though your conveyancer or solicitor will be able to advise on which forms are required.
If the property is to be used as a matrimonial home, generally stamp duty is exempt.
Cheers,
Shirley
in aug 2014 we sold our duplex at banora point. we bought it off the plan in 2002 we paid 300000 dollars and we paid stamp duty when we bought it. we sold it for 425000 dollars do we have to pay more stamp duty we now live in qld and are pensioners. thank you margaret
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for your question.
Stamp duty is typically payable when you buy a property, not when you sell. If you sell the property at a gain, there may be CGT implications if it’s an investment property.
Cheers,
Shirley
SHIRLEY, Thank you for your reply but do we pay on the gain we made when we sold which would be 125000.00 as it was an investment for 12years of the 14 we had it, it is still under the threshold of 599000.00. thanking you margaret
Hi Margaret,
Since it was an investment property, it is likely that you will be liable for capital gains tax.
Stamp duty will not be payable, though you may be able to use this to reduce your capital gain.
For a more detailed discussion of your circumstances, please consult a property tax specialist.
Cheers,
Shirley