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The simplified guide to WA stamp duty
When you buy a home or investment property, you'll need to pay stamp duty, unless you qualify for an exemption or discount. Here's how much stamp duty you'll pay when you buy a property in Western Australia.
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If you're buying a property in Western Australia, you'll need to budget to pay stamp duty. Stamp duty is a tax charged by each individual state and territory on the sale of assets including property. It is usually a significant cost for most property buyers, ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Some homebuyers may be exempt, however, such as first home buyers. Find out how much stamp duty you're likely to pay, and see if there are concessions or exemptions available to you.
Find out how much stamp duty you'll pay using the calculator below.
What are the stamp duty rates in Western Australia?
You can find the rates of duty in the table below.
General rates of duty paid in WA. For more information, visit the WA Department of Finance website.
| Dutiable value range | Duty payable |
|---|---|
| Up to $80,000 | $1.90 per $100 or part thereof |
| $80,001 to $100,000 | $1,520 plus $2.85 per $100 or part thereof above $80,000 |
| $100,001 to $250,000 | $2,090 plus $3.80 per $100 or part thereof above $100,000 |
| $250,001 to $500,000 | $7,790 plus $4.75 per $100 or part thereof above $250,000 |
| $500,001 and above | $19,665 plus $5.15 per $100 or part thereof above $500,000 |
Your stamp duty questions answered
- Who pays stamp duty? In WA, the purchaser of the property or the transferee is liable to pay stamp duty when the sale or transfer takes place.
- When is stamp duty paid? You must lodge your documents for assessment of stamp duty within two months of the liability arising when the property is purchased or transferred. After lodging the documents, stamp duty must be paid within one month.
- Am I exempt from paying stamp duty? First home buyers are exempt from having to pay a duty on any home purchase up to $430,000. Concessions are available on homes valued between $430,001 and $530,000. The home purchased must be used as a primary place of residence. The concession is $19.19 per $100 or part thereof above $430,000. Vacant land purchases are exempt from stamp duty for values up to $300,000. Concessions are available for land valued between $300,001 and $400,000.
The concessional rate for vacant land is $13.01 per $100 or part thereof above $300,000.
Exemptions are available for the transfer of family farms. Transfers between spouses or de facto partners of two years are also exempt.
- Can I apply for a refund if the sale transfer is cancelled? If your transaction is cancelled, you must apply for a refund of stamp duty within five years of the original assessment or 12 months after the day on which the agreement was cancelled.
- What other fees are associated with stamp duty? In addition to stamp duty, you may also have to pay mortgage registration and title transfer fees. The WA title transfer fee operates on a sliding scale determined by the value of the property you're purchasing. The mortgage registration fee is $164.
- What other costs are involved in buying a property? They can include a range of expenses including legal fees, building inspection costs and bank fees. Review our guide.
- How do I pay stamp duty? Payment can be made to the WA Office of State Revenue via credit card, BPAY, post or in person using cash or cheque.
How much stamp duty do foreign property buyers pay?
Western Australia currently has the most generous incentives in the country available to non-citizens who purchase a property.
The foreign buyer stamp duty for off-the-plan purchases. However, WA offers a 75 per cent rebate to foreign purchasers known as the Off-the-Plan Duty Rebate Scheme, capped at $50,000.
The rebate is available to owner-occupiers and investors who enter into a pre-construction contract between 23 October 2019 and 23 October 2021 (inclusive), to purchase a new residential unit or apartment or
a contract signed between 4 June 2020 to 31 December 2020. Contracts signed after 31 December 2020 are no longer eligible for this discount.
The rebate applies to the transfer duty and foreign buyers duty surcharge (if applicable) paid on the agreement to purchase the unit or apartment.
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