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
Hello
My partner and I have lived in my property since May 2012 and married last month.
I want to add his name to the title, this is our marital home. Would we have to pay additional stamp duty?
Where can I find more information about this?
Thanks in Advance
Hi Sammy,
Thanks for your question.
Generally stamp duty is not payable if the property is to be your matrimonial home.
You can find more information about this from your local Office of State Revenue and their official website.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi,
My wife and I are considering building a home with her parents. We believe there could be tax implications depending on how we go about it. We will buy the land and the in-laws will contribute to the cost of the home. I’ve been reading about tenants in common and believe this may be the best way to go? If we do this can we both claim the property as our primary residence. are there any other implications?
Cheers
Hi Damien,
Thanks for your question.
For a more detailed discussion of your circumstances, please consult a property tax specialist.
Cheers,
Shirley
Do I pay stamp duty when purchasing land only?
If so, how much on a block of land worth $500,000 in Lysterfield,Victoria?
Hi Bronwyn,
Thanks for your question.
Stamp duty is payable on all transfers of land.
Please use our stamp duty calculator to give you an indication of costs.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi, we’ve agreed and signed to purchase a property on the 18th of june but we have a settlement date of the 14th of august. we know the stamp duty rate changed in wa on the 3rd of july, which rate would we pay?
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your question.
Generally if you entered into a contract to purchase the home on or before 30 June 2013, then the stamp duty rules for the financial year 2013-14 apply.
If you entered into the contract after that date, then the stamp duty rules for financial year 2014-15 apply.
Please confirm this with your local Office of State Revenue.
Cheers,
Shirley
Our primary residence is under the name of my husband and myself. We are separating and my name will be left on the title and my husband’s name taken off. Does this have to be done prior to putting in the divorce papers to save stamp duty? The property maybe over 750,000/-
Hi CM,
Thanks for your question.
Generally you’ll need the binding financial agreements or court orders that entitle you to claim exemption from transfer duty of property being transferred from one to the other before you actually claim for the stamp duty exemption.
Your lawyer or solicitor can organise these for you.
Cheers,
Shirley