Glossary
Transfer duty (stamp duty)
Also called: stamp duty, conveyance duty, land transfer duty
Transfer duty is a state or territory tax payable on the transfer of land and some other property, usually by the buyer. Each jurisdiction sets its own rates, thresholds, concessions and surcharges, and the tax goes by different names around Australia.
An example
A buyer of an investment property works out the duty payable using the published schedule for that state, then adds it to legal and inspection costs to see how much cash they need at settlement.
Why it matters
Duty is often one of the largest purchase costs and is usually not funded by lenders, so it affects how much equity a buyer needs. Privet's stamp duty estimator uses only schedules it has checked against each official source.
Points to check
Duty is usually payable at or before settlement, so include it in the funds you need. Check the rules in the state where the property is located, including concessions, exemptions and surcharges that may apply to you. Privet's estimator shows duty from each state's published schedule where verified, with the source and date. Confirm the final figure with the state revenue office.
Try it: stamp duty estimator