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
Thanks – so If I get this right and we are 50% each co-owners then my parent is entitled to a concession (if they apply) on their share i.e. $500K on a sliding scale between 330K and $500K?
The fact that the total property value is $1,000,000 and is therefore over $750K does not matter? It is only calculated on their interest in the property?
Thanks Shirley for help – much appreciated
Hi Greg,
That’s correct. Your parent is entitled to an exemption or concession from duty depending on the value of their interest in the house and land (which is 50%).
Thanks,
Shirley
If I buy a property with a parent (a pensioner) property valued at 1,000,000 is there a concession on my parent’s share for stamp duty in victoria?
Hi Greg,
Thanks for your question.
If your parent is a concession cardholder, they may be entitled to the exemption or concession for eligible pensioners.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi,
We have purchased a vacant block of land which we intend to build our first home on once the land has been settled.
We have been told by our bank and Conveyancer that we pay stamp duty on the vacant land, but not the new home when it’s built.
Is this correct?
Thanks,
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that rules and regulations regarding stamp duty vary according to the state or territory that holds the property.
You may be liable for land tax if you own vacant land, assessed on a calendar year basis. Generally if your land holdings have a total taxable value of at least $250,000 you must pay land tax.
Cheers,
Shirley
My husband passed away nearly 4 years ago. I have recently discovered his name is still on the property deeds, even though his name has been removed from our rates notice. Do I have to do anything?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your question.
If the property was held under a joint tenancy and one party dies, the other automatically inherits the property.
In this case it’s best to confirm the details with your trusted solicitor to ensure there are no implications.
Cheers,
Shirley
In South Australia if the property is in joined name and the husband wants to transfer to the wife’s name only (not divorced). Will they have to pay stamp duty?
Thank you kindly.
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your question.
Generally the person receiving the property is liable to pay stamp duty.
Cheers,
Shirley