Are you thinking about buying property in Queensland? One of the major upfront expenses you’ll need to budget for – other than your deposit – is stamp duty.
Stamp duty is dependent on the value of the property you’re buying, but some buyers may be eligible for concessions.
Here we’ll explain what stamp duty is, how it’s calculated and the range of concessions and exemptions available to eligible buyers in Queensland.
Latest QLD stamp duty updates:
Starting May 2025, first home buyers purchasing vacant land to build their first home will also be exempt from paying stamp duty, regardless of the land’s price.
Previously, full concessions were capped at $350,000 (with a sliding scale to $500,000), but under the new rules, there’s no upper price limit, provided you’re buying land to build your first home.
What is stamp duty?
Also known as transfer duty, stamp duty is a fee you pay to the government when purchasing land, property and some other assets. It’s a fee you pay to transfer ownership of the asset into your name.
Stamp duty is like a tax. The money it generates is put back into the economy by funding public sectors (e.g. education, roads and transport, healthcare, emergency services).
For properties, the rate of stamp duty varies between states and territories across Australia. It’s important to refer to information specific to the state where you will be purchasing property.
How is stamp duty calculated?
While the rates of stamp duty may differ across Australia, several common factors influence it:
The value of the property or sale cost (whichever is higher)
The location of the property (which state/territory it is in)
The type of property (e.g. owner-occupied, investment property, whether the property is a unit or house)
Whether you are a first home buyer
Whether you are classed as a foreign buyer.
To get an idea of how much stamp duty you could be charged, check out Aussie’s Stamp Duty Calculator.
How does stamp duty work in QLD?
Stamp duty is payable to the Office of State Revenue on all properties including transfers of investment and commercial property in QLD.
As with the other states, stamp duty costs are determined largely by the value of your property.
The QLD stamp duty rates can be found on the Queensland Revenue Office's official website. Additionally, there are transfer duty concessions and exemptions in QLD available for eligible buyers.
First home buyers and eligible purchasers may be entitled to various concessions and exemptions, which can result in significant savings.
Here are the standard Queensland stamp duty rates:
Dutiable value | Duty rate |
|---|---|
Not more than $5,000 | Nil |
More than $5,000 up to $75,000 | $1.50 for each $100, or part of $100, over $5,000 |
$75,000 to $540,000 | $1,050 plus $3.50 for each $100, or part of $100, over $75,000 |
$540,000 to $1,000,000 | $17,325 plus $4.50 for each $100, or part of $100, over $540,000 |
More than $1,000,000 | $38,025 plus $5.75 for each $100, or part of $100, over $1,000,000 |
What's changing from May 2025?
The Queensland Government is introducing new stamp duty concessions for first home buyers of newly built homes and vacant land.
First home buyers who purchase a newly built home, or land to build their first home on, will no longer pay any stamp duty, regardless of the price.
This means even if your new home costs more than $800,000, you won’t pay a cent in stamp duty, provided it’s newly built and you meet the eligibility criteria.
Do foreign buyers in QLD have to pay additional duty?
Yes, there is a foreign buyer property stamp duty in QLD and these buyers may have to pay an additional tax amounting to 7% of the property’s value.
What stamp duty concessions and exemptions are available in QLD?
Queensland offers concessional transfer duty rates to some home buyers who intend to be owner-occupiers – provided their property falls under the price caps and they meet the other criteria.
1. Home concession
Owner-occupiers who aren’t first home buyers are potentially eligible for this stamp duty concession in Queensland.
Under this initiative, a discount is applied to the first $350,000 of the property’s value. The remainder of the property’s value is charged stamp duty at the standard rate.
This is specifically a concession for owner-occupiers, so you are required to move into the property within a year of settling.
Here are the home concession rates:
Purchase price/value | Duty rate |
|---|---|
Not more than $350,000 | $1.00 for each $100 or part of $100 |
More than $350,000 to $540,000 | $3,500 + $3.50 for every $100, or part of $100, over $350,000 |
$540,000 to $1,000,000 | $10,150 + $4.50 for every $100, or part of $100, over $540,000 |
More than $1,000,000 | $30,850 + $5.75 for every $100, or part of $100, over $1,000,000 |
Here are some other eligibility criteria for the home concession in Queensland:
To be able to claim the home concession, you must move into the home and reside there as an owner-occupier within a year of settlement
You must not ‘dispose’ (I.e. sell, lease, transfer or grant possession) of all or part of the property before you move in
You don’t have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to claim the concession but you have to comply with the eligibility criteria. You may also be charged foreign buyer duty.
2. First home concession
QLD stamp duty for first home buyers was reduced on 9 June 2024, with thresholds for exemptions increasing from $500,000 to $700,000.
For homes priced between $700,000 and $800,000, buyers will now enjoy reduced stamp duty on a sliding scale.
These changes also extend to vacant land, with stamp duty thresholds in QLD increasing. Eligible buyers are exempt from paying stamp duty on land valued up to $350,000 (up from the previous $250,000), with land valued between $350,000 and $500,000 eligible for stamp duty concessions.
Here are the current concessions, as of 9 June 2024, for eligible first home buyers:
Purchase price/value | Concession (deduct this amount from the amount calculated using the home concession rate) |
|---|---|
Not more than $709,999.99 | $17,350 |
$710,000 to $719,999.99 | $15,615 |
$720,000 to $729,999.99 | $13,880 |
$730,000 to $739,999.99 | $12,145 |
$740,000 to $749,999.99 | $10,410 |
$750,000 to $759,999.99 | $8,675 |
$760,000 to $769,999.99 | $6,940 |
$770,000 to $779,999.99 | $5,205 |
$780,000 to $789,999.99 | $3,470 |
$790,000 to $799,999.99 | $1,735 |
$800,000 or more | Nil |
Qualifications for the First Home Concession include:
Buy the property as an individual (not a company)
Move in with your belongings within a year of purchase
Do not sell, lease, or transfer the property before moving in
Have never claimed the first home vacant land concession
Have never owned another property anywhere in Australia or overseas
Be 18 years of age or older
Pay market value if the residence is valued between $700,001 and $799,999.
Here are the first home concession rates:
Purchase price/value | Concession (deduct this amount from the amount calculated using the home concession rate) |
|---|---|
Not more than $709,999.99 | $17,350 |
$710,000 to $719,999.99 | $15,615 |
$720,000 to $729,999.99 | $13,880 |
$730,000 to $739,999.99 | $12,145 |
$740,000 to $749,999.99 | $10,410 |
$750,000 to $759,999.99 | $8,675 |
$760,000 to $769,999.99 | $6,940 |
$770,000 to $779,999.99 | $5,205 |
$780,000 to $789,999.99 | $3,470 |
$790,000 to $799,999.99 | $1,735 |
$800,000 or more | Nil |
Additional boost for first home buyers of new homes
From May 2025, first home buyers purchasing newly built homes will benefit from a complete stamp duty exemption, no matter the property’s price.
This is a major shift, previously, concessions were only available up to $800,000.
Now, as long as it’s a new build and you’re a first home buyer meeting the standard eligibility rules, you’ll pay zero stamp duty.
3. First home vacant land concession
The vacant land concession in QLD works very similarly to the first home concession. However, this concession only applies to land valued below $500,000.
The following table shows the amount that will be deducted from the stamp duty payable for each property price range using the standard duty rate:
Dutiable value of the first home vacant land | Concession (deduct this amount from the transfer duty rate) |
|---|---|
Not more than $359,999.99 | $10,675 |
$360,000 to $369,999.99 | $9,965 |
$370,000 to $379,999.99 | $9,255 |
$380,000 to $389,999.99 | $8,545 |
$390,000 to $399,999.99 | $7,835 |
$400,000 to $409,999.99 | $7,125 |
$410,000 to $419,999.99 | $6,415 |
$420,000 to $429,999.99 | $5,705 |
$430,000 to $439,999.99 | $4,995 |
$440,000 to $449,999.99 | $4,285 |
$450,000 to $459,999.99 | $3,575 |
$460,000 to $469,999.99 | $2,865 |
$470,000 to $479,999.99 | $2,155 |
$480,000 to $489,999.99 | $1,445 |
$490,000 to $499,999.99 | $735 |
$500,000 or more | Nil |
Check if you're eligible for the first home vacant land concession:
The concession only applies to vacant land valued under $400,000
If paying between $350,001 and $499,999, you must be paying market value
In general, you must be at least 18 years old
You must have never owned a property in Australia or overseas
You must have never claimed the first home vacant land concession
To be able to claim the home concession, you must move into the home and reside there as an owner-occupier (on a daily basis) within 2 years of settlement
You must not ‘dispose’ (I.e. sell, lease, transfer or grant possession) of all or part of the property before you move in
You can only build 1 home on the land
There cannot be a building or part of a building on the land when you purchase/acquire it
Eligibility for the new concessions
Be at least 18 years old
Be buying your first home (or land for your first home) in Australia
Live in the home as your principal place of residence for at least 1 year (for homes)
For land buyers: You'll need to build and move in within 2 years
Want to get started on your home buying journey in QLD? Find out what your home loan options could be by booking a free appointment with your local Aussie Broker.
