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First home buyer stamp duty exemptions by state (2026-27)

By admin. Updated .

Quick answer: in 2026-27, eligible first home buyers pay no stamp duty on homes up to $800,000 in NSW, $600,000 in Victoria and WA, and $700,000 for established homes in Queensland. The ACT has no price cap at all from 1 July 2026. SA and Queensland exempt new homes at any price, while Tasmania’s exemption ended on 30 June 2026.

Stamp duty (also called transfer duty) is often a first home buyer’s biggest cost after the deposit. Every state handles it differently, and four of them changed their rules in 2026. Here is the full picture, with real figures from our stamp duty calculator.

First home buyer stamp duty rules by state

State or territory No duty up to Concession up to New homes
New South Wales $800,000 $1,000,000 Same as established
Victoria $600,000 $750,000 Same as established
Queensland $700,000 (established) $800,000 No duty at any price
Western Australia $600,000 $800,000 Same as established
South Australia No relief for established homes None No duty at any price
Tasmania None (ended 30 June 2026) None Standard duty
ACT Any price Not needed No duty at any price
Northern Territory None for established homes None Qualifying house and land packages exempt
Contracts from 1 July 2026. Eligibility conditions apply in every state, including living in the home.

What first home buyers pay at common prices

State or territory $600,000 $750,000 $900,000
New South Wales $0 $0 $19,594
Victoria $0 $40,070 $49,070
Queensland (established) $0 $10,925 $26,350
Western Australia $0 $24,225 $37,466
South Australia (established) $26,830 $35,080 $43,330
Tasmania $22,498 $28,935 $35,685
ACT $0 $0 $0
Northern Territory (established) $29,700 $37,125 $44,550
Eligible first home buyer, established home. NSW and Queensland concessions are our estimates of each state’s sliding scale. Victoria’s concession ends at exactly $750,000.

What changed in 2026

  • ACT: stamp duty abolished for eligible first home buyers from 1 July 2026, with no price or income cap. Read what changed in the ACT.
  • Tasmania: the exemption for established homes up to $750,000 ended on 30 June 2026 and was not extended. See what Tasmanian buyers pay now.
  • Western Australia: from 7 May 2026 the duty-free threshold rose from $500,000 to $600,000, with a concession up to $800,000. See the WA changes.
  • Queensland: from 1 August 2026, only citizens, permanent residents and specified foreign retirees can claim home concessions. See the Queensland changes.

Who counts as a first home buyer?

Rules differ by state, but you generally need to:

  • be an individual (not a company or trust) aged 18 or over
  • never have owned residential property in Australia, and often your spouse or partner too
  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one buyer in most states)
  • move into the home within a set time, usually 12 months, and live there for a minimum period, often 6 or 12 months

The ACT is broader: its scheme also covers people who have not owned property in the past 5 years.

Stamp duty concessions and grants are separate

The First Home Owner Grant is a cash payment for buying or building a new home, and it is separate from duty relief. In 2026-27 it is $30,000 in Queensland, $20,000 in Tasmania, $15,000 in South Australia, and $10,000 in Victoria and WA. The NT offers a $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant for new homes. The ACT has no grant.

Many first home buyers can combine duty relief, a grant and the 5% Deposit Scheme, which removes LMI. Work out your full upfront cost with the LMI and upfront costs calculator, and check your exact duty in the stamp duty calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in NSW?

Not on new or established homes up to $800,000. Between $800,000 and $1,000,000 a reduced amount applies, and above $1,000,000 full duty is payable.

Which state has the best stamp duty deal for first home buyers?

The ACT, where eligible first home buyers pay no duty at any price from 1 July 2026. For new homes, Queensland and South Australia also charge no duty at any price.

Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Tasmania?

Yes. The exemption for established homes ended on 30 June 2026, so first home buyers now pay standard duty, for example $22,498 on a $600,000 home.

Can I get the stamp duty exemption and the First Home Owner Grant?

Usually yes, if you buy or build an eligible new home. The grant and duty relief are separate schemes with their own conditions.

Do I lose the exemption if I rent the home out?

Usually yes, if you don’t meet the residence requirement. You may have to repay the concession, so check your state’s rules before renting it out.

Sources

  • Revenue NSW, First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme
  • State Revenue Office Victoria, first home buyer duty exemption and concession
  • Queensland Revenue Office, first home concessions and changes from 1 August 2026
  • RevenueWA, first home owner rate of duty from 7 May 2026
  • RevenueSA, first home buyer relief
  • State Revenue Office Tasmania, first home buyer duty relief and First Home Owner Grant
  • ACT Revenue Office, Home Buyer Concession Scheme from 1 July 2026
  • Territory Revenue Office, House and Land Package Exemption and HomeGrown Territory Grant
  • Figures calculated with our stamp duty calculator. Updated 17 October 2026.