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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.

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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
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Split Loan FacilityYes
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Minimum Loan Amount$10,000
Maximum Loan Amount $10,000,000
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Maximum LVR 90%
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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

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337 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    barbaraJune 19, 2017

    will I have to pay stamp duty. I am intending to buy a property worth between $4000,000 and $5000,000 to live in. I have just become widow and I will be down sizing. I am a pensioner and I am 80 years old.

      Default Gravatar
      danielle.valino@findercrew.comJune 20, 2017

      Hi Barbara,

      Thank you for contacting finder.com.au. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.

      If you currently receive Government benefits, or is a pensioner, or a health card holder, you may be eligible for a concession or exemption. Check your local Office of State Revenue to find out if any apply to you.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Danielle

    Default Gravatar
    GDJJune 19, 2017

    If I purchase my first home in QLD and get stamp duty rebate but only live in the property for 6 months rather than 12 also keep it as an investment property, do I have to pay back stamp duty in full or just a portion or is it case by case?

      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 20, 2017

      Hi GDJ!

      Thanks for the comment.

      Usually, it is case by case basis as some rules may need to be considered. It is recommended to contact your local tax revenue office about your concern. Call 1300 300 734 (or +61 7 3227 6044 from outside Australia) during office hours.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    VivJune 6, 2017

    I bought an apartment with my GF , and I want to know what is the easy way to get the Sole ownership of the property. We are not married or de-facto and I don’t want to include myself in a situation where if we do go different ways then it will cost me my apartment.

    Is there an way where I can just look for refinancing without paying an extra cost towards Stamp duty

      Default Gravatar
      danielle.valino@findercrew.comJune 7, 2017

      Hi Viv,

      Thanks for your question.

      The first thing you need to do is talk to your GF and ensure that she’s okay with your plan.

      If that’s okay, then you may proceed to changing property ownership. This process can be a little daunting. So, aside from reading our guide, you may also speak to a financial expert for advice.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Danielle

    Default Gravatar
    GailMay 25, 2017

    Our family Trust which expires in 2 months owns a property in Victoria. Do we have to pay stamp duty to transfer the property to a new family Trust?

      Default Gravatar
      danielle.valino@findercrew.comMay 26, 2017

      Hi Gail,

      Welcome to http://www.finder.com.au – We are a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers make better decisions. Please note that we are not affiliated with any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer a general advice

      Generally, stamp duty is also payable when a property is transferred from one person to another (even to a family member on a Trust). You’d be best to visit your local state revenue office to get the possible amount of the stamp duty payable.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Danielle

    Default Gravatar
    JenniMay 12, 2017

    Hi, my daughter purchased an apartment under construction a year ago from purchasers who had bought off the plan. The apartment block was only at foundation level when she paid the deposit. Does she qualify for any stamp duty concessions at all?
    Thank you very much

      AvatarFinder
      DeeMay 14, 2017Finder

      Hi Jenni,

      Thanks for your question.

      There are different factors that will allow you to get stamp duty exemptions:

      The value of your house. If you pay less than the threshold amount for your state you may find that the amount of stamp duty that you pay will be quite low or even nil.
      First home owner. If your daughter qualifies for FHOG, she may also get stamp duty exemptions, but depending on where the property is located.
      Pensioners and health card holders. If your daughter is currently receiving Government benefits, she may be eligible for a concession or exemption. You can get in touch with the local Office of State Revenue in your area to find out if you are eligible.

      If your daughter qualifies under the above criteria, the type of home that qualifies for the purpose of stamp duty exemption is a new or established house, home unit, flat or other type of self contained fixed dwelling that meets local planning standards. The exact specifications will depend on your state, so you may have to call the office of the State Revenue in your area to confirm your eligibility.

      Cheers,
      Anndy

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