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, though 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.
Also called
transfer duty · stamp duty land tax · property transfer tax
Related
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- Settlement: Settlement is the day the property legally changes hands: the lender releases the loan amount, the buyer pays the balanc…
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General information only, not personal financial advice. Verified against https://ratesniffers.com.au/glossary on 2026-06-01.