Published on

Stamp Duty Guide Australia (2026–27): State Rates & First Home Buyer Concessions

Authors

Stamp Duty Guide Australia (2026–27): State Rates & Exemptions

When purchasing residential property in Australia, Transfer Duty—commonly known as Stamp Duty—is typically the largest upfront transaction cost after your home deposit.

Because stamp duty is levied by individual state and territory governments rather than the federal government, the amount of duty payable, tiered tax brackets, and eligibility thresholds for First Home Buyer exemptions vary dramatically depending on where you buy.

This guide provides a comprehensive state-by-state comparison of Australian stamp duty rates, first home buyer concessions, and key calculation rules for 2026–27.

1. How Property Stamp Duty Is Calculated

Stamp duty is a progressive state tax calculated as a percentage of the property's purchase price or market value (whichever is higher).

  • Duty brackets scale upwards with property value.
  • Stamp duty must be paid at or before settlement (typically within 30 to 90 days of exchanging contracts).
  • Foreign purchasers are subject to an additional Foreign Buyer Surcharge (typically 7% to 9% extra duty on top of standard rates).

2. State-by-State Stamp Duty Comparison on an $800,000 Property

To illustrate how state formulas differ, here is the standard stamp duty payable on an $800,000 established home (Owner-Occupier, non-first home buyer):

State / TerritoryRevenue AuthorityEstimated Duty on $800,000 HomeGeneral Formula Profile
New South Wales (NSW)Revenue NSW~$30,400Progressive tiers from 1.25% to 5.5%
Victoria (VIC)State Revenue Office (SRO)~$43,070Higher rates (up to 5.5%–6.5%)
Queensland (QLD)Queensland Revenue Office~$21,850Concessional home transfer rates
Western Australia (WA)RevenueWA~$32,300Scaled tiers (up to 5.15%)
South Australia (SA)RevenueSA~$37,080Progressive tiers (up to 5.5%)
Tasmania (TAS)State Revenue Office TAS~$31,300Scaled tiers (up to 4.5%)
ACTACT Revenue Office~$18,800Progressive duty transition
Northern Territory (NT)Territory Revenue Office~$39,900Percentage formula scale

3. First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Exemptions & Concessions

Every Australian state offers special concessions or complete duty waivers to help first-home buyers enter the property market:

1. New South Wales (NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme - FHBAS)

  • Full Exemption (Zero Duty): Properties valued up to $800,000.
  • Concessional Duty: Properties valued between $800,000 and $1,000,000.

2. Victoria (VIC First Home Buyer Duty Exemption)

  • Full Exemption (Zero Duty): Properties valued up to $600,000.
  • Concessional Duty: Properties valued between $600,001 and $750,000.

3. Queensland (QLD First Home Concession)

  • Full Exemption (Zero Duty): Properties valued up to $700,000.
  • Concessional Duty: Properties valued up to $800,000.

4. Western Australia (WA First Home Owner Rate of Duty)

  • Full Exemption (Zero Duty): Properties valued up to $450,000 (vacant land up to $300,000).
  • Concessional Duty: Properties valued between $450,000 and $600,000.

5. South Australia (SA First Home Buyer Relief)

  • Complete stamp duty exemptions on new homes and vacant land for eligible first-home buyers with no property value cap!

4. How Stamp Duty Affects Your Upfront Cash Requirements

When saving for a property, you must save enough cash for both the deposit and government buying costs:

  • Property Purchase Price: $800,000
  • 10% Cash Deposit: $80,000
  • Stamp Duty (NSW Non-FHB): $30,400
  • Conveyancing & Registration Fees: ~$2,000
  • Total Cash Required at Settlement: $112,400.

5. Calculate Exact Stamp Duty for Your State

Accurately calculate your state transfer duty, concessions, and government grants with our free tools:

share