Stamp duty is a tax on written documents and certain transactions imposed by state and territory governments. It can vary depending on the state or territory and, according to the Australian Government website, may be called stamp duty, transfer duty or general duty.
As well as a tax on leases, mortgages and the transfer of property (including businesses, real estate and some shares), stamp duty also applies to motor vehicle registration and transfers; insurance policies; and hire purchase agreements. Essentially, stamp duty covers the cost of switching the title of the property and changing ownership details.
Most state revenue websites have a stamp duty calculator that calculates the rates home buyers will have to pay.
For example, the current rates and thresholds for NSW are outlined in the table below:
uno’s calculator enables users in any state to work out stamp duty by entering a number of variables.
Stamp duty is a British term, although the duty itself is thought to have originated in Spain. Historically, legal documents such as cheques, receipts, marriage licences and land transactions were impressed with an actual stamp to show that duty had been paid and the document was legally effective.
Stamp duty is prevalent around the world, although its name differs depending on where you are. In China and Denmark it’s also called stamp duty, for example. While in the United States it’s more commonly referred to as Closing Costs, which is actually an umbrella term for all the costs paid at the time of transaction, including government taxes.
Stamp duties are levied on every property purchase in Australia. How much you pay varies depending on the property’s location, whether you’re a first home buyer, the property value and whether you intend to live in the house or use it for investment purposes. The property being a new or established home can also affect the amount of stamp duty you pay.
A stamp duty calculator relies on a sliding scale of taxation and different variables, including the value of the property, to come up with a final figure. You’ll be asked to enter information such as the cost of the property you are purchasing, its location, the type of property (e.g. house or unit), what it will be used for (occupancy or investment) and other variables.
A general rule is that the more expensive the property, the higher the tax on it. But it’s not always this simple. Stamp duty varies greatly depending on the state in which you are buying a property. Most states separate the tax you pay into value categories, such as $300,000–$1m, for example, then charge a lump sum plus an extra fee for every $100 spent over the lower end of the category.
In NSW, for example, for a property in the $300,000–$1m bracket, a home buyer will be charged $8,990 plus $4.50 for every $100 that the value of the property exceeds $300,000.
Many states have first home buyer concessions and grants. These are subject to change so it’s a good idea to check the revenue site in your state for updates and amendments. We’ve listed the contact details in a table below.
Remember to specify whether you’re planning to buy an owner-occupied or an investment property, as this will affect the stamp duty rate you are charged.
In June, 2017, the NSW government passed a bill that made first home buyers in that state exempt from paying stamp duty on both new and existing homes worth up to $650,000. Stamp duty discounts may also apply to properties worth up to $800,000 as part of a major housing affordability package announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, to help first home buyers get a foot in the market.
In order to qualify for the first home buyer’s grant, at least one purchaser must occupy the home within 12 months of purchasing and they need to live in the home for a continuous period of at least 6 months.
Eligible purchasers buying a vacant block of residential land to build their home are also exempt from paying duty on vacant land in NSW valued up to $350,000, and receive concessions for vacant land valued between $350,000 and $450,000.
If you are buying or building a new home valued up to $750,000 in Victoria, you may be eligible for a First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). If you are eligible for the FHOG and the home you are buying is in regional Victoria, you will receive $20,000. If the home is not in regional Victoria, the grant is $10,000.
You may be eligible for – and receive – more than one exemption, concession or reduction from stamp duty, otherwise known as land transfer duty, for your property in Victoria.
The first home buyer duty exemption or concession is a one-off duty exemption for a principle place of residence (PPR) valued up to $600,000, or a concession for a PPR with a dutiable value from $600,001 to $750,000. Victoria also has an off-the-plan concession, a pensioner concession for a new or established home valued up to $750,000, and a young farmer’s exemption/concession – a one-off duty exemption/concession for young farmers buying their first farmland property.
The Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS) is an ACT Government initiative to help people purchase a home or residential land by charging stamp duty or conveyancing duty at a concessional rate. To claim the HBCS, the value of a new home must be more than $470,000 but less than $607,000. To be eligible, vacant land must be purchased for more than $280,000 but less than $323,300. For more values, see the tables here.
From 1 September 2016, the Northern Territory Government introduced increased stamp duty assistance for first home buyers who purchase an established home in the Northern Territory up to the value of $650,000.
The First Home Owner Discount (FHOD) is a concession on the initial $500,000 value of the home, which equates to stamp duty savings of up to $23,928.60. Until 31 August 2018, recipients of the FHOD are also entitled to a $10,000 Home Renovation Package.
First home buyers that are building or acquiring a new home are not entitled to the FHOD, however may be eligible for the $26,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) and the territory also has what’s called the stamp duty Principal Place of Residence Rebate or the Senior, Pensioner and Carer Concession. (Where an applicant is eligible for more than one home incentive concession or grant, applicants will receive the highest grant or concession.)
In Western Australia, eligible first home buyers who wish to buy or build a new home may apply for a grant of up to $10,000 towards the purchase. The grant has geographically determined caps on the total value of the home; residence requirements; and eligibility criteria for applicants. When a home buyer is eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, a concessional rate of transfer duty will apply if the value of the dutiable property is below certain thresholds.
In South Australia, if you are purchasing a new or substantially refurbished apartment you may be eligible for an off-the-plan stamp duty concession of up to $21,330 (capped at stamp duty payable on a $500,000 apartment), if your contract to purchase was entered into between 31 May 2012 and 30 June 2018. The concession is in addition to the FHOG.
A partial stamp duty concession is available for off-the-plan apartments purchased pursuant to qualifying off-the-plan contracts entered into between 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2018 (both dates inclusive).
In Queensland, no transfer duty is payable when a first home concession is claimed on a home valued $500,000 or less.
Transfers between partners in a marriage, significant relationship, or caring relationship are currently exempt from duty in Tasmania.
uno’s calculator accounts for each state’s concessions and grants. uno customers can rely on uno to update the calculator each time the government announces a new concession or amends a current one. For example, when the NSW state government announced in May 2017 that it was adding a first home buyer’s stamp duty concession on new and existing homes worth up to $650,000, uno updated its calculator so that it was ready to go on July 1, when the changes were implemented.
Let’s look at the stamp duty calculated by uno for a first home buyer looking to purchase a new home valued at $500,000, in each state and territory – and compare owner occupied taxes with the stamp duty an investor will pay.
As well as the stamp duty fee itself, you’ll have to pay a transfer fee and a mortgage registration fee. The transfer fee is usually around $200-$300 and the mortgage registration fee around $100-$150.
Once you’ve bought a house, stamp duty must be paid within three months of the date of exchange of contracts to avoid interest – or within 30 days of the property settlement. Your lawyer will assist you in arranging for it to be paid or you can pay it directly to the office of revenue in the state where you’ve purchased.
If you are purchasing property off the plan, stamp duty must be paid within three months from the date of:
Most states offer a number of ways to pay stamp duty, including BPAY, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Overseas Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Mail and Advance payment options. The NSW Office of State Revenue, for example, accepts payment in person, via BPAY, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), mail or advance payment.
If your sale transfer is rescinded, the transfer is no longer liable for duty. You can apply for a refund by completing a form on the state revenue website where you purchased the property.
Stamp duty is invested into the economy by the state and territory governments which collect it and added into all state government budgets which typically include sectors such as health, transport and roads, police, justice and emergency services.
No you can’t borrow for stamp duty as part of your home loan, however in order to pay stamp duty, you can subtract that amount from your deposit and borrow more from the lender to make up the lost part of your deposit. Keep in mind that in Australia, the majority of lenders require you to have saved 10% of the property’s value in order to be approved.
According to a recent Housing Australia Report released by CEDA, abolishing stamp duties and replacing them with a broad-based land tax would present a unique opportunity to reap multi-generational benefits by removing one of the financial barriers to downsizing and subsequently freeing up more housing space for young families.
However, such a move would impact adversely on state revenue flows so for now it looks like stamp duty is here to stay.
Each state and territory has its own department responsible for administering taxes and duties. For more information contact your local state or territory government authority. If you'd like to work out the exact stamp duty applicable for your scenario please book in a call with UNO using the links on this page so we can model your situation including potential grants and exemptions
UNO Brokers are available night and day for a quick review or your situation and bring expertise that will support better decision making that will save you time and money. Book in a quick call when it suits your busy schedule
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