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WA first home owner rate of duty: the May 2026 changes

By admin. Updated .

Quick answer: from 7 May 2026, eligible WA first home buyers pay no transfer duty on homes up to $600,000 (up from $500,000), and a reduced rate of $16.15 per $100 above $600,000 up to $800,000. On a $650,000 home in Perth that cuts duty from $20,445 to $8,075.

The changes came in the 2026-27 WA Budget. They lift the thresholds, apply one set of rules across the whole state, and raise the First Home Owner Grant price cap. Check the duty on any WA home in our stamp duty calculator (choose WA).

The new first home owner rate of duty

Home value From 7 May 2026 21 March 2025 to 6 May 2026
Up to $500,000 No duty No duty
$500,001 to $600,000 No duty $13.63 per $100 above $500,000 (Perth and Peel)
$600,001 to $800,000 $16.15 per $100 above $600,000 Reduced rate to $700,000 (Perth and Peel) or $750,000 (regions), then general rate
Over $800,000 General rate General rate

Vacant land to build a first home also improved: no duty up to $450,000 (was $350,000), and a reduced rate up to $550,000.

How much WA first home buyers save

Home value (Perth) Old rules New rules Saving
$600,000 $13,630 $0 $13,630
$650,000 $20,445 $8,075 $12,370
$700,000 $27,260 $16,150 $11,110
$750,000 $29,741 $24,225 $5,516
Eligible first home buyer in the Perth and Peel regions. Above $800,000 the general rate applies under both sets of rules.

Other WA changes from 7 May 2026

  • Higher grant cap: the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant now applies to new homes valued up to $800,000 south of the 26th parallel.
  • Off-the-plan concession extended: the duty concession for apartments bought off the plan now runs to 30 June 2028.
  • Vacant land link removed: the duty concession on vacant land no longer depends on the combined land and build value fitting under the grant cap.

How to claim it

Apply for the First Home Owner Grant, or pre-approval for the first home owner rate, before settlement. If you are not approved in time, duty is assessed at the general rate and you can apply for a refund afterwards. Your settlement agent usually handles this.

WA first home buyers can also use the 5% Deposit Scheme, which has an $850,000 price cap in Perth. Compare WA with the rest of the country in first home buyer stamp duty by state, and see how Queensland changed its rules the same year.

Frequently asked questions

Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in WA?

Not on homes up to $600,000 from 7 May 2026. Between $600,000 and $800,000 a reduced rate applies, and above $800,000 full duty is payable.

How much is stamp duty on a $700,000 home in WA for a first home buyer?

$16,150 under the rules from 7 May 2026, compared with $27,265 at the general rate.

Is there still a different threshold for regional WA?

No. From 7 May 2026 the same thresholds apply across the state.

How much is the WA First Home Owner Grant?

$10,000 for an eligible new home, now with an $800,000 price cap south of the 26th parallel.

Sources

  • WA Department of Treasury and Finance (RevenueWA), transfer duty assessment and first home owner rate of duty
  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 2026-27 budget update for VIC, NT, WA and TAS
  • Figures calculated with our stamp duty calculator. Updated 17 October 2026.