Stamp Duty Calculator

Our stamp duty calculator can help you estimate your costs and find out if you're eligible for an exemption or discount in your state or territory.

Key takeaways

  • Stamp duty is one of the biggest additional costs you'll have to pay when buying property in Australia.
  • It's a form of tax charged by the state government and only applies when you buy property, not sell.
  • First home buyers in most states and territories qualify for one-off exemptions or discounts.

Stamp duty calculator

To use this calculator select your state or territory, enter the value of your property (the full value, not your loan amount), choose the type of purchase (home to live in, investment or land) and select yes or no if you're a first home buyer or not.

What is stamp duty?

Stamp duty in Australia is a state/territory level tax levied on large transactions such as property purchases, cars or other assets. Historically, stamp duty was levied on the signing of various legal documents, hence the word stamp. Stamp duty is sometimes referred to as transfer duty.

Stamp duty rates by state/territory

Your stamp duty cost varies depending on where you live. Governments update these costs every few years, depending on state budgets and tax policy.

Click your state or territory below to find out about stamp duty costs where you live.

How do I pay my stamp duty?

Many buyers pay stamp duty at settlement. Depending on your state or territory, it may be due on settlement day, and in other states you have around 30 days from settlement to organise the payment.

Your lawyer or conveyancer can help you with the logistics of paying stamp duty and will advise you of deadlines. Your conveyancer can also help you organise your paperwork when applying for a concession or exemption.

Can I borrow stamp duty with my loan?

Typically your stamp duty is an upfront cost, not rolled into your home loan. However, if you're not using your full borrowing power to buy the property, you may be able to use your loan to pay stamp duty. This is known as having your stamp duty capitalised into the principal of the loan.

It will depend on your borrowing power and the size of your deposit. But because you're borrowing money to pay for the duty, you'll be paying interest on that amount for 30 years.

Keep in mind that this may increase your loan to value (LVR) ratio, which could require you to pay a higher Lenders Mortgage Insurance premium, if your loan is above 80% of the property's overall value.

Divorce and stamp duty

Stamp duty isn't payable if one of you is transferring the title to a home or land to another. However, you can only save on stamp duty if the transfer is done so you can obey a court order. The court must be able to know what assets are owned by each of the parties. This includes all of your assets like land, bank accounts and superannuation. It may be necessary to hire an expert to value an asset.

It's important to know that parenting is seen as a very important contribution. If the marriage has been a long one, it is often seen as equal to financial contributions. Usually, the court gives the party whose financial future is not as good as the other some extra part of the property owned by the parties.

First home buyer? Learn how to find the right home loan here

More questions about stamp duty

Start comparing mortgages now

5 of 14 results
Finder Score Interest Rate p.a. Comparison Rate p.a. Fees Custom Badges Monthly Payment
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.34%
Comparison Rate
5.60%
Fees
  • Application: $0
  • Ongoing: $248 p.a.
Principal & Interest40% min. equityOwner-occupierOffset account
Monthly Payment
$838
per month
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
loans.com.au logo
Finder score
loans.com.au Variable Bare Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.29%
Comparison Rate
5.33%
Fees
  • Application: $0
  • Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Principal & Interest10% min. equityOwner-occupierLMI
Monthly Payment
$833
per month
View details
Compare product selection
Macquarie Bank logo
Finder score
Macquarie Bank Basic Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.39%
Comparison Rate
5.41%
Fees
  • Application: $0
  • Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Principal & Interest20% min. equityOwner-occupierNo LMI
Monthly Payment
$843
per month
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Unloan logo
Finder score
Unloan Variable Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.34%
Comparison Rate
5.25%
Fees
  • Application: $0
  • Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Principal & Interest20% min. equityInvestmentNo LMI
Monthly Payment
$838
per month
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Macquarie Bank logo
Finder score
Macquarie Bank Basic Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.34%
Comparison Rate
5.36%
Fees
  • Application: $0
  • Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Principal & Interest40% min. equityOwner-occupier
Monthly Payment
$838
per month
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
loading
Showing 5 of 14 results

What is Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 7,000 home loans across 120+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best home loans for cashback, you can see how each home loan stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. We also take into consideration the amount of cashback offered when calculating the Score so you can tell if it's really worth it.

Read the full breakdown

Sources

Richard Whitten's headshot
Senior Money Editor

Richard Whitten is Finder’s Senior Money Editor, with over eight years of experience in home loans, property, credit cards and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard started his career in education and textbook publishing in South Korea. He holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio

Richard's expertise
Richard has written 683 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Home loans
  • Credit cards
  • Personal finance
  • Money-saving tips

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Find a better deal, save on your bills and get a free gift card. Sign up to be the first to hear about new Finder Rewards.

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

339 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    AndrewFebruary 2, 2015

    I have gone through a divorce and am selling my home and dividing 50/50 with my ex. Since the divorce I have met a new partner who is a first home buyer. We plan to build a new house so the stamp duty will be payable to the vacant land purchase price only as I am lead to understand.

    What we are wondering, is it possible to purchase the land in my partner’s name, then transfer me onto the deed at a later date to avoid stamp duty, or will the same stamp duty need to be paid upon putting my name on the title?

    regards

    Andrew

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyFebruary 2, 2015Finder

      Hi Andrew,

      Thanks for your question.

      Generally when sharing titles on a property, stamp duty isn’t payable if the property is to be your matrimonial home. It’s best to check this with your local office of state revenue.

      When transferring to a family member or transfers for other reasons, stamp duty may be payable.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

    Default Gravatar
    SherylJanuary 28, 2015

    Hi. My mum is going to be going into a nursing home. She has a house which was willed to me in 1988 when it was purchased. It is in Victoria. Now we are told that if she was to transfer this house to me before her death we would have to pay stamp duty. Is this true? Also is stamp duty payable for the house upon her death?
    Thanking you,
    Regards, Sheryl.

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyJanuary 28, 2015Finder

      Hi Sheryl,

      Thanks for your question.

      Generally a transfer of property to another family member incurs stamp duty.

      However, if the property is transferred from a deceased estate to a beneficiary it is generally exempt from stamp duty under section 42 of the Duties Act 2000 in Victoria.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

    Default Gravatar
    OliverJanuary 22, 2015

    Hi,

    I have a question. If A and B have a partnership (50/50) split over a house. A wants to sell his 50% interest to B, so B will end up with 100% of the property.

    What is payable on the value of the 50% transferred, does the state revenue office consider that the transfer is from A and B, to B, so that stamp duty would be payable on the full value of the property, and not just the 50%?

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyJanuary 23, 2015Finder

      Hi Oliver,

      Thanks for your question.

      Please note that stamp duty regulations are different from state to state. In NSW, a proportional rate of stamp duty is generally payable if the property is not to be used at your matrimonial home.

      You can see NSW’s taxes, duties, levies, and royalties guide for more information.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

    Default Gravatar
    MaureenJanuary 14, 2015

    My father has just died and now the house which was in his name only is to be left to my mother in the will with the Public Trustee NSW.
    It was to be left to me if she had passed away.
    She is 85 and it is in her will to come to me.
    Now when the house is signed over to her she wants to put it in my name straight away.
    Do I have to pay stamp duty on this.?
    Someone told me I would have to get a valuation and if the house was valued at 700k I would have to pay approx. 27k stamp duty.
    My husband and I have never bought a home as have lived at the same property the last 35 years.
    Can you please advise what would be the best, cheapest option.?

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyJanuary 14, 2015Finder

      Hi Maureen,

      Thanks for your question.

      Please note that we can only provide general advice regarding stamp duty. It’s advisable for you to speak to a solicitor or conveyancer regarding the best or cheapest option for your situation.

      When transferring property to a family member stamp duty generally applies. A property valuation is also required to be conducted. Since the property isn’t new, you might not be eligible for any first home buyer benefits.

      All the best with this,
      Shirley

      Default Gravatar
      MaureenJanuary 15, 2015

      Stamp duty is a lot of money we do not have would we have to pay stamp duty if she gave us the house as gift.

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyJanuary 15, 2015Finder

      Hi Maureen,

      Generally gifts of property still attract a duty, though there are some exemptions or concessions that apply to: pensioners, deceased estates, first home buyers, family farms, young farms, main residences and off-the-plan sales.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

    Default Gravatar
    RayDecember 21, 2014

    I am looking to purchase vacant land (build within 24 months) on my own for the price of the land, roughly $370k (land only) and my name only on the title and mortgage.

    My question is if my partner is to put her name on the title to get the second part of the mortgage (building phase) in terms of a joint mortgage, will we need to pay stamp duty? we are both first home buyers and also would there be additional costs from the banks for adding another mortgage and name onto the title and mortgage?

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyDecember 22, 2014Finder

      Hi Ray,

      Thanks for your question.

      Please note that regulations for stamp duty vary according to which state the property is held. In NSW if you’re purchasing land only then land tax could apply but there are a number of NSW land tax exemptions and concessions.

      If the property is to be your matrimonial home then you may be eligible for an exemption if it is used to finance the purchase of a residence or it is to be your matrimonial home. There are lodgement and land title fees that you’ll need to consider. For more information, please get in touch with your local Office of State Revenue.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

Read more on Home Loans

Go to site