How Stamp Duty Works in Australia
Stamp (transfer) duty is set by each state and territory, not nationally. Most use sliding bands: a fixed amount plus a rate per $100 above a threshold. First home buyers often pay less or nothing, and foreign buyers usually pay an extra surcharge.
Example: a $1,350,000 home in NSW costs $52,237 + $5.50 per $100 over $1,290,000 = $55,537, the Revenue NSW example.
Transfer duty, still widely called stamp duty, is paid by the buyer when property changes hands. Rates below were checked against each revenue office on 23 October 2026.
How the bands work
A typical band reads "$11,602 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $387,000". You find the band your price falls in, take the fixed amount, then add the rate on the part above the threshold. Victoria is the main exception above $960,000, where 5.5% applies to the whole value.
Worked examples (general rate)
| State | Price | Working | Duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $1,350,000 | $52,237 + 5.5% × $60,000 | $55,537 |
| VIC | $1,000,000 | 5.5% × $1,000,000 | $55,000 |
| QLD | $850,000 | $17,325 + $4.50 × 3,100 | $31,275 |
| SA | $600,000 | $21,330 + $5.50 × 1,000 | $26,830 |
| NT | $600,000 | 4.95% × $600,000 | $29,700 |
First home concessions differ a lot
- NSW: no duty on homes up to $800,000; a sliding concession to just under $1,000,000.
- VIC: no duty up to $600,000; a sliding concession to $750,000, including vacant land for a first home.
- QLD: a concession on existing homes that phases out at $800,000; new homes and vacant land can be fully exempt.
- SA: no duty for eligible first buyers of a new home or land to build on, with no cap; nothing for established homes.
- NT: no general first home duty concession.
Foreign buyer surcharges
On top of normal duty: NSW 9%, VIC 8%, QLD 8%, WA 7% and SA 7% of the value. The NT has no foreign buyer surcharge. Exemptions exist in some states.
Check your figure
The Talreon Australia stamp duty calculator applies these rules for all eight states and territories. Confirm the final amount with your conveyancer or the revenue office before settlement.
Frequently asked questions
Is stamp duty the same in every Australian state?
No. Each state and territory sets its own rates, concessions and surcharges.
How much stamp duty on a $600,000 home in SA?
$26,830 at the general rate: $21,330 plus $5.50 per $100 over $500,000.
Do foreign buyers pay more stamp duty in Australia?
Usually yes: 9% extra in NSW, 8% in VIC and QLD, and 7% in WA and SA. The NT has no surcharge.
Sources
- Revenue NSW: current thresholds and rates
- SRO Victoria: first home buyer exemption
- RevenueSA: rate of stamp duty
- QRO: transfer duty rates
- NT Territory Revenue Office
Related calculators
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