Use our stamp duty calculator for an estimate. See the first home buyer guide and VIC conveyancing fees, or get a fixed-fee quote.
General land transfer duty rates
| Dutiable value | Duty payable |
|---|---|
| $0 to $25,000 | 1.4 per cent of the dutiable value |
| $25,001 to $130,000 | $350 plus 2.4 per cent of the value over $25,000 |
| $130,001 to $960,000 | $2,870 plus 6 per cent of the value over $130,000 |
| $960,001 to $2,000,000 | 5.5 per cent of the dutiable value |
| Over $2,000,000 | $110,000 plus 6.5 per cent of the value over $2,000,000 |
Foreign purchasers pay additional duty on top of these rates.
Principal place of residence rates
If you will live in the home as your principal place of residence and the dutiable value is $550,000 or less, a lower scale applies.
| Dutiable value | Duty payable |
|---|---|
| $0 to $25,000 | 1.4 per cent of the dutiable value |
| $25,001 to $130,000 | $350 plus 2.4 per cent of the value over $25,000 |
| $130,001 to $440,000 | $2,870 plus 5 per cent of the value over $130,000 |
| $440,001 to $550,000 | $18,370 plus 6 per cent of the value over $440,000 |
| Over $550,000 | The general rates apply |
You must move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 continuous months.
Worked examples
A home bought for $500,000 to live in: $18,370 plus 6 per cent of the $60,000 over $440,000, which is $3,600, so $21,970. The same home bought by an eligible first home buyer: nothing, because it is under $600,000. A home bought for $750,000 to live in: the general rates apply above $550,000, so $2,870 plus 6 per cent of the $620,000 over $130,000, which is $37,200, so $40,070; an eligible first home buyer pays a reduced amount on a sliding scale because the price is between $600,001 and $750,000.
First home buyers
An eligible first home buyer pays no duty on a home with a dutiable value of $600,000 or less, and a reduced amount on a home valued from $600,001 to $750,000. At least one buyer must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for 12 continuous months starting within 12 months of settlement; for vacant land, within 12 months of the occupancy certificate or 36 months of settlement, whichever is earlier. Buyers must be individuals, at least one an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and none may have owned residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000 or lived in a home they owned for six months or more after that date. We lodge the exemption or concession with the transfer.
When duty is paid
Duty is payable at settlement and must be paid within 30 days of the transfer. For an electronic settlement on PEXA the duty is assessed through Duties Online beforehand and paid on the day from your funds.
Other concessions
An off-the-plan concession reduces the dutiable value by the cost of construction not yet carried out at the contract date; its eligibility rules have changed several times, so we confirm what applies on the day you sign. Pensioners and concession card holders may be entitled to an exemption or concession on a home up to $750,000. Transfers between spouses and domestic partners of the home they live in, and transfers following a relationship breakdown, can be exempt. Each has its own conditions and we assess them when preparing the transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is stamp duty included in my conveyancing fee?
No. Duty is a government charge paid to the State Revenue Office. Settle Easy's fixed professional fee covers the legal work; we calculate the duty, lodge any exemption and pay it through settlement.
Do I get the first home buyer exemption on an investment property?
No. At least one buyer must live in the home for 12 continuous months within 12 months of settlement.
What if the price is just over $750,000?
The first home buyer concession stops at $750,000, and the principal place of residence rate stops at $550,000, so a $760,000 home is assessed at the general rates.