Stamp Duty Calculator

Our stamp duty calculator can help you estimate your costs and find out if you're eligible for an exemption or discount in your state or territory.

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.

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?

Open door in a house.

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.

First home buyer? Learn how to find the right home loan here

Start comparing mortgages now

{"visibility":"visibilityTable","ctaLabel":"Calculate","tableCode":"AUFHL_FINDER_SCORE","nicheCode":"AUFHL","fields":[{"name":"LOAN_AMOUNT","value":"150000","options":"","label":"Borrowing Amount","suffix":"$","useSuffixAsPrefix":true,"useDropDownOption":false,"tooltip":""},{"name":"PERIOD","value":"30","options":"","label":"Period","suffix":"years","useSuffixAsPrefix":true,"useDropDownOption":false,"tooltip":""}]}
Name Finder Score Interest Rate p.a. Comparison Rate p.a. Fees Monthly Payment
Unloan logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositOwner-occupierRefinance Only
Unloan logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositOwner-occupierRefinance Only
Go to site
Product NameUnloan Variable Home Loan
Interest Rate Typevariable rate
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.5.99%
Comp. Rate p.a.5.90%
Minimum Loan Amount$10,000
Maximum Loan Amount $10,000,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityNo
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan PortableNo
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.99%
Comparison Rate
5.90%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$900
Go to site
loans.com.au logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account
loans.com.au logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account
Go to site
Product Nameloans.com.au Variable Home Loan
Interest Rate Typevariable rate
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.6.04%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.06%
Minimum Loan Amount$50,000
Maximum Loan Amount $2,000,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest Option
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.04%
Comparison Rate
6.06%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$905
Go to site
Macquarie Bank logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositOwner-occupier
Macquarie Bank logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositOwner-occupier
Go to site
Product NameMacquarie Bank Basic Home Loan
Interest Rate Typevariable rate
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.6.19%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.21%
Minimum Loan Amount$150,000
Maximum Loan Amount $10,000,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan PortableNo
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.19%
Comparison Rate
6.21%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$919
Go to site
Unloan logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositInvestmentRefinance Only
Unloan logo
Principal & Interest20% min. depositInvestmentRefinance Only
Go to site
Product NameUnloan Variable Home Loan
Interest Rate Typevariable rate
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.6.29%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.20%
Minimum Loan Amount$10,000
Maximum Loan Amount $10,000,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityNo
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan PortableNo
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.29%
Comparison Rate
6.20%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$929
Go to site
loans.com.au logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account
loans.com.au logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account
Go to site
Product Nameloans.com.au Solar Home Loan
Interest Rate TypeVariable rate
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.5.99%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.51%
Minimum Loan Amount$50,000
Maximum Loan Amount $1,500,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest Option
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.99%
Comparison Rate
6.51%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$900
Go to site
loading
Showing 5 of 15 results

What is Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 7,000 home loans across 120+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best home loans for cashback, you can see how each home loan stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. We also take into consideration the amount of cashback offered when calculating the Score so you can tell if it's really worth it.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Richard Whitten's headshot
Editor

Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio

Richard's expertise
Richard has written 553 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Home loans
  • Property
  • Personal finance
  • Money-saving tips
More resources on Finder

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

337 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    ConfusedMay 22, 2014

    my husband has been made bankrupt. I have not worked full time since a back injury in 2008
    therefor my son has offered to pay out the mortgage( 45K and the bankruptcy 75k) the bank wants his name put on the title which i agree with as my husband is financially incompetent and this would stop this situation repeating and leave me homeless. Son would be borrowing $120K which hopefully I can repay. House is valued at approx $380k does he stamp duty on his share ( 120) or all? once debt to him is cleared property would be mine again.

      AvatarFinder
      ShirleyMay 23, 2014Finder

      Hi Confused,

      Thanks for your question.

      If you’re transferring property to a family member, generally the person obtaining the property is required to pay stamp duty. The amount he is required to pay depends on the value of the property, so it’s likely that he’ll need to pay the full amount.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

      Default Gravatar
      ConfusedMay 24, 2014

      So even though were only buying out a share of it , we have to pay stamp duty for the full property price?
      Seems unfair , no win for the ones left with the fall out!
      Doesn’t seem that different a situation than Joes except my son will buy my husbands share of our house!

    Default Gravatar
    CourtneyMay 19, 2014

    Hello, My brother and I have recently inherited a house in Victoria valued at approximately 500,000k, I plan to buy him out for 250,000k. Can you please advise if I have to pay stamp duty when I buy his share of the house? Thanks

      AvatarFinder
      ElizabethMay 20, 2014Finder

      Hi Courtney,

      Thanks for your question.

      This will depend on a few different factors, such as whether this property will be your primary place of residence. Your question may be better directed to the State Revenue Office of Victoria directly.

      Hope this has helped.

      Thanks,

      Elizabeth

    Default Gravatar
    MalcolmMay 17, 2014

    Do you pay stamp duty on rural produce property in WA

      AvatarFinder
      ElizabethMay 19, 2014Finder

      Hi Malcolm,

      Thanks for your question.

      Yes you will need to pay stamp duty on a rural property purchase on WA.

      Hope this has helped.

      Thanks,

      Elizabeth

    Default Gravatar
    RKMay 6, 2014

    Hi We have purchased an off-the-plan property on 4 people’s name in our family.

    nearly 11 months has passed since we booked the property and it is estimated it will take another 6-7 months before it is complete.

    Stamp Duty is not yet paid and we are planning to pay it in couple of months time as off-the-plan stamp Duty needs to be paid before 15 months of the signing of the contract.

    However now we want to remove 2 names in the property as their financials are bit weak and bank told us that it will be easier to finance on only 2 particular names.

    My Question is can we remove 2 names from the purchase contract without any stamp duty implications ? (as mentioned stamp duty is not paid yet)

      AvatarFinder
      ShirleyMay 7, 2014Finder

      Hi RK,

      Thanks for your question.

      To our understanding there won’t be any stamp duty implications, as stamp duty generally depends on the value of the property/land. Please confirm this with your local Office of State Revenue, as it is dependent on which state you in live in.

      There could be some legal fees involved in removing the titles of the property, but your lender will be able to advise on those.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

    Default Gravatar
    PeterMay 5, 2014

    In Victoria, when I buy a new house and land package, what am I paying stamp duty on – the total cost of the house and land or just on the land?

      AvatarFinder
      MarcMay 6, 2014Finder

      Hi Peter,
      thanks for the question.

      Victorian stamp duty is based on the market value of the property or the purchase price – whichever is greater.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc.

      AvatarFinder
      MarcMay 6, 2014Finder

      Hi Peter,
      thanks for the question.

      Victorian stamp duty is based on the market value of the property of the purchase price – whichever is greater.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc.

Go to site