Key takeaways
- Stamp duty is one of the biggest additional costs you'll have to pay when buying property in Australia.
- It's a form of tax charged by the state government and only applies when you buy property, not sell.
- First home buyers in most states and territories qualify for one-off exemptions or discounts.
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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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.
Stamp duty rates 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 costs where you live.
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?
Typically your stamp duty is an upfront cost, not rolled into your home loan. However, if you're not using your full borrowing power to buy the property, you may be able to use your loan to pay stamp duty. This is known as having your stamp duty capitalised into the principal of the loan.
It will depend on your borrowing power and the size of your deposit. But because you're borrowing money to pay for the duty, you'll be paying 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.
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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Everything you need to know about stamp duty in Tasmania and how it’s calculated.
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Queensland stamp duty calculator
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Everything you need to know about stamp duty in the ACT and how it’s calculated.
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Stamp duty in WA
Everything you need to know about how much stamp duty you'll pay when you buy a home in Western Australia.
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Stamp duty Victoria
Your complete guide to stamp duty in Victoria, including new discounts that could save homebuyers up to $27,500.
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NSW stamp duty calculator & guide
Stamp duty is just one of the many costs associated with property ownership. Learn everything you need to know about transfer duty in NSW.

If I buy an established home in WA and later choose to subdivide the property and create two lots, one lot containing the existing residence, the other lot being vacant land. Am I liable for any Duty on the creation of the new title for the rear vacant land? Or would Duty only be applicable for the future purchaser of the land if I ever choose to sell?
Using the same scenario, am I correct in my understanding that a CGT event could be triggered if we then sell the vacant land? but I could avoid CGT if I live in the existing residence for a subscribed period?
Regards
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thank you for getting in touch.
The subject of when capital gains tax is payable is complicated, we have emailed you some further advice for your query.
Regards
Jodie
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