What is stamp duty?
Stamp duty is a state government tax on property transfers, typically 3-5.5% of the purchase price, paid in full at settlement — first home buyers usually get a full or partial exemption.
Stamp duty (now officially called 'transfer duty' in most states) is a state-government tax on the transfer of land. Each state runs its own bracket schedule — typical rates rise from around 1.5% on the first $50,000 to 5-5.5% on the portion above $1,000,000.
First home buyers receive full or partial concessions in every state, capped by the purchase price. NSW exempts FHBs up to $800,000 fully; VIC up to $600,000; QLD up to $700,000. The thresholds change with each state budget, so check the live calculator below for the current rules.
Stamp duty is payable at settlement, in cash — it can't be added to the loan. For a non-FHB purchasing at $800,000 in NSW, that's around $32,000 cash on settlement day, in addition to the deposit, conveyancing and lender fees.
transfer duty · stamp duty land tax · property transfer tax
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General information only — not personal financial advice. Verified against https://ratesniffers.com.au/glossary on 2026-06-01.