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Calculate transfer duty for any Australian state in 30 seconds

Pick your state for the full calculator with first home buyer logic, foreign surcharge, and registration fees — or compare side-by-side first.

6 dedicated calculators, one set of verified rates

Each state has its own bracket schedule, first home buyer rules, and foreign surcharge. Click your state for the full calculator with worked examples and 5+ FAQ items.

Standard owner-occupier duty across all states

How much does a typical existing-home purchase cost in stamp duty? Figures below are standard owner-occupier rates for an Australian citizen buying an existing home — no first home buyer concession applied. First home buyers and ACT eligible owner-occupiers can pay significantly less (see state cards above).

State / Territory $500,000 purchase$750,000 purchase$1,000,000 purchase
NSW — New South Wales $16,912 $28,162 $39,412
VIC — Victoria $21,970 $40,070 $55,070
QLD — Queensland $8,750 $19,600 $30,850
WA — Western Australia $17,765 $29,741 $42,616
SA — South Australia $21,330 $35,080 $48,830
ACT — Australian Capital Territory $0 $0 $0

How to read this: The lowest-duty cell in each column is highlighted. ACT charges $0 for owner-occupiers up to $1,020,000 under HBCS (income tested, household < $250,000). For first home buyer figures and new-home / vacant-land specific rules, open the state-specific calculator.

FHB exemption thresholds at a glance

Six states, six thresholds. SA, QLD, ACT waive duty entirely for FHBs on new builds. NSW, VIC, WA cap it at a price.

Additional duty on top of standard rates

Foreign persons (including most temporary visa holders) pay an additional surcharge of 7%–9% on top of standard transfer duty. Several states also impose an annual surcharge land tax on foreign owners — recurring every year, not just at purchase.

State Foreign buyer surcharge (upfront) Annual surcharge land tax On a $1M existing-home purchase
NSW 9.0% (from 1 Jan 2025) 5.0% of unimproved land value ~$129,412 upfront
VIC 8.0% 4.0% (absentee owner) ~$135,070 upfront
QLD 8.0% 3.0% above $350k land value ~$110,850 upfront
WA 7.0% None ~$112,616 upfront
SA 7.0% None ~$118,830 upfront
ACT 0% None ~$0 upfront

ACT does not impose a foreign buyer surcharge — the only Australian jurisdiction without one. NSW lifted its surcharge from 8% to 9% on 1 January 2025; the annual surcharge land tax also rose from 4% to 5%.

Stamp duty calculator FAQ

Which Australian state has the cheapest stamp duty in 2025–26?

For owner-occupiers buying an existing home at $750,000, ACT charges $0 under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS) if your household income is below $250,000. For first home buyers: South Australia waives stamp duty entirely on new homes and vacant land at any price (from 13 Feb 2025); Queensland offers no cap on new homes and vacant land (from 1 May 2025); and the ACT pays $0 under HBCS up to $1.02M. For existing homes specifically, only NSW, VIC, and QLD offer first home buyer exemptions — SA does not.

How is stamp duty calculated in Australia?

Stamp duty (called transfer duty in some states) is a tax levied by each state and territory on property purchases. It uses progressive brackets applied to the dutiable value (typically the purchase price). Rates range from 1% in the lowest brackets to 7% in NSW's premium bracket above $3.72M. Each state sets its own schedule, with concessions for first home buyers, owner-occupiers, and — uniquely in the ACT — all eligible owner-occupiers up to $1.02M. Use the state-specific calculator above for your exact figure.

Do all Australian states charge stamp duty on property?

Yes — all six states plus the ACT charge transfer duty on residential property purchases. The Northern Territory also charges duty but is not yet covered by the Velofy calculator suite. The ACT is unique in phasing out conveyance duty over 20 years (replaced by general rates) and offers the most generous owner-occupier concession via HBCS: eligible buyers pay $0 duty on properties up to $1,020,000.

What is the foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge by state?

Foreign buyer surcharge rates for 2025–26: NSW 9% (lifted from 8% on 1 Jan 2025), VIC 8%, QLD 8%, WA 7%, SA 7%, ACT 0% (no surcharge). On a $1,000,000 property, a foreign buyer in NSW pays approximately $130,000+ in total upfront duty (standard duty + 9% surcharge). Foreign owners also pay annual surcharge land tax in NSW (5%), VIC (4%), and QLD (3% above the $350,000 threshold).

Can first home buyers avoid stamp duty entirely?

Yes, in several scenarios: ACT — eligible HBCS applicants pay $0 up to $1,020,000 (income tested). South Australia — first home buyers of new homes or vacant land pay $0 at any price (from 13 Feb 2025). Queensland — first home buyers of new homes or vacant land pay $0 at any price (from 1 May 2025). Victoria — first home buyers pay $0 on existing, new, or vacant land up to $600,000 (concession to $750,000). NSW — first home buyers pay $0 on existing and new homes up to $800,000 (taper to $1,000,000).

When is stamp duty payable after buying a property?

Stamp duty is generally payable on or before settlement. State deadlines: NSW within 3 months of contract date; VIC within 30 days of settlement; QLD within 30 days of settlement; WA within 2 months of contract; SA within 2 months of contract; ACT before lodgement of transfer. Your conveyancer or solicitor arranges payment as part of settlement. Late payment attracts interest and penalty surcharges in every state.