Stamp Duty explained

If you’ve never bought property before, you may not understand what stamp duty is. In a nutshell, stamp duty is a tax. It’s not very sexy, but it’s one of those things that goes hand in hand with purchasing a property.

Navigating stamp duty can be tricky.

In this article, we explain what stamp duty is, how much it costs, recent changes and why you may have to pay it.

What is stamp duty?

Stamp duty is a charge applied by state governments on transactions relating to the transfer of land or property.

When you buy a property, it’s usually paid upfront as a one-off fee, so you need to budget for it for in addition to your loan deposit.

How much is stamp duty?

Stamp duty is calculated as a percentage of your property’s purchase price. However, the amount also depends on a few factors – which state or territory your property is in, the property type and the type of buyer you are.

If you’re a first home buyer and meet certain requirements, you may be entitled to stamp duty concessions or exemptions on homes up to a certain value (more on this shortly).

Examples of stamp duty by state/territory

There are a few stamp duty calculator online that can help take the guesswork out of budgeting for a property.

Using this calculator as an example, if you bought a $700,000 established home as a primary residence and you were not a first home buyer, you may expect to pay the following in stamp duty:

State/TerritoryEstimated stamp duty
VIC$38,911
SA$38,626
NT$34,954
WA$27,757
TAS$27,105
NSW$27,002
QLD$19,668
ACT$19,571

What are the concessions/exemptions in my state?

Depending on the state or territory, there may be different concessions or exemptions available to certain types of buyers (particularly first home buyers).

As an example, if you’re a first home buyer purchasing a home in Victoria for $600,000 or less, you may be entitled to a full stamp duty exemption. If the property is between $600,001 and $750,000, the stamp duty is tapered.

In NSW, the First Home Buyer Assistance scheme (FHBAS) allows first home buyers to receive a concessional rate on stamp duty if they buy a new home valued at between $800,000 and $1 million or an existing home valued at between $650,000 and $800,000.

First home buyers may be exempt from paying stamp duty altogether if they buy a new home valued at less than $800,000 or an existing home valued at less than $650,000.

Meanwhile, the NSW government looks set to move ahead with reforms that would give eligible first-home buyers the option to either pay stamp duty upfront or opt into an annual property tax. The scheme would be applicable to homes up to the value of $1.5 million and be available from January 16, 2023.

To find out more about the stamp duty concessions or exemptions in your state or territory, speak to us.

Budgeting for stamp duty

When creating your purchasing budget, it’s important to factor in how much stamp duty you’ll need to pay. Stamp duty can be costly, so it can really affect the type of property you may be able to afford.

Keep in mind that lenders may also want to see proof of savings to cover the stamp duty costs in addition to your deposit when applying for a loan.

It’s a good idea to get advice from your accountant about how stamp duty may affect you.

What does stamp duty go towards?

The stamp duty you pay is disbursed back into the economy by state and territory governments. It may go towards health, transport and roads, police, justice and emergency services sectors, for example.

Do you have to pay stamp duty on additional properties?

Yes, stamp duty is applicable to all property title transfers (unless you’re eligible for an exemption).

What if a home is gifted to you?

Even if a property is given to you, you will need to pay stamp duty, as ownership of the property is being transferred from one party to another.

There may be exemptions on stamp duty for properties that are inherited, but in this instance, inheritance tax may apply. Speak to your accountant or conveyancer for clarification.

Still have questions?

If you need further help navigating stamp duty, please get in touch.

As your broker, we can help you create a purchasing budget and find a loan that works for you.

Are you a first homebuyer looking for

Help?

We can help get you into your new home.

We’ve worked with clients across Australia to access the different first home owner grants (FHOG) as well as the various stamp duty and other concessions that may be available depending on which state you are in. We can talk you through your various options as well as helping you compare things like buying vacant land vs. an established home.

Enquire today!

Crunch
your numbers

Use our online calculators to work out how much you can borrow, loan repayments, stamp duty and lots more.

View calculators

With 40+ lenders to choose from, the options are never ending!

A word from our satisfied customers

Maxine Zhong
Maxine Zhong
19 October 2023
Amanda has been such an incredible support throughout our very first time going through the home loan process. Her thoughtfulness to regularly check in to make sure all our questions were answered and that all our documents were in place helped to make the whole daunting process feel seamless and easy. I could not recommend her enough - she made sure to keep us informed every step of the way and made sure all necessary documents/processes were completed well ahead of time so we never had to worry about missing any steps. She went well above and beyond her role, and I know we will definitely be coming back to her in the future, as well as recommending her to all of our networks! Thank you again, Amanda!
Mark Nesbitt
Mark Nesbitt
11 October 2023
Greg and the team provide an outstanding service. Highly recommended
Christine Tran
Christine Tran
23 September 2023
Yuval handled my first ever home loan, he did such an amazing job I asked to him to refinance for me 2 years later. Yuval made everything very easy for me, and will give his best recommendation as if it was his own. Would always recommend Yuval :)
David Petrini
David Petrini
25 August 2023
Yuval Bloomfield was an absolute delight to work with. He made it extremely easy for my clients to discuss about their financial situation. With Yuval's strong connections he was able to get the loan my clients wanted in very quick time. Will definitely refer Yuval again.
Sophie Linehan
Sophie Linehan
24 August 2023
Greg and the team at 1st Street were fantastic all the way through the process of getting our financing sorted and buying a new home. They not only secured us the most competitive mortgage in the market but they also gave advice on a number of mortgage-adjacent questions that came up along the way. Their responsive and thoughtful guidance helped make the nail-biting process clear and calm. We would definitely recommend their services.
Gabrielle Scott-Jones
Gabrielle Scott-Jones
18 August 2023
Greg and his team gave me exceptional advice and support. They were timely and detailed in their responses and dealt patiently with me as a first home buyer and all of my questions. The lender at the bank commented on how well I was being looked after compared with other brokers in the market. I’d highly recommend 1st Street to anyone, including friends and family.
Eli Simic
Eli Simic
15 August 2023
Great communication and fast service
Richard Kuipers
Richard Kuipers
11 August 2023
Jeremy and his team are superb. Negotiated the best deal for us and were an absolure pleasure to work with. Highly recommended, you can't do any better in my opinion.
Jordan Rivkin
Jordan Rivkin
1 August 2023
The team at 1st Street truly are professionals. I can't recommend Jeremy highly enough, he is extremely competent and just a great guy. You're in safe hands with 1st Street!
Yossi Bengida
Yossi Bengida
23 July 2023
Another amazing job by David and Bree. Always available for our questions, helpful and just 10/10 Seriously good work !! See you on the next one :) Yossi and liz