Stamp duty — officially known as Transfer duty — can be one of the largest upfront costs when purchasing property. Fortunately, Queensland Government offers a range of exemptions and concessions that can save buyers tens of thousands of dollars. In this guide, we’ll break down the key stamp duty exemptions and eligibility requirements.
General Stamp Duty Rates – What You Pay Without Any Exemptions
Before looking at exemptions, it’s helpful to understand how much stamp duty would buyers normally pay to purchase property in Queensland without any exemptions.
The payable Stamp duty amount is calculated on the dutiable value of the property to be transferred – usually the higher of the purchase price or the market value – using a tiered rate system (see the table below for current rates as at January 2026)
| Dutiable Value | General Duty Rate |
|---|---|
|
Not more than $5,000 |
Nil |
|
$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 |
When paying full rates, Queensland buyers often need to budget tens of thousands of dollars in upfront costs. As a general guide, stamp duty payable at full general rates can look like this:
$700,000 purchase → $24,525 in stamp duty
$1.4 million purchase → $61,025 in stamp duty
$2.0 million purchase → $95,525 in stamp duty
- $3.0 million purchase → $153,025 in stamp duty
These figures illustrate why understanding exemptions and concessions is so important for Queensland buyers
Queensland’s Major Stamp Duty Exemptions
1. First Time Buyers purchasing New Home or Vacant Land.
One of the most significant recent changes in Queensland is the introduction of an uncapped full exemption for eligible First Time Buyers purchasing a New Home or Vacant Land, meaning no stamp duty is payable regardless of the property’s dutiable value.
- New Homes — If you are a first home buyer purchasing a new home (one that has never been occupied or sold as a residence), you can now receive a full exemption from stamp duty, no matter the purchase price.
- Vacant Land for a First Home — First home buyers purchasing vacant land to build their first home can also receive a full exemption from stamp duty regardless of the land value.
2. First Time Buyers purchasing an Established Home.
If you’re a First Time Buyer purchasing an established property, you may still be eligible for a significant stamp duty concession, depending on the property’s dutiable value.
-
Full Exemption — Properties with a dutiable value up to $700,000 qualify for a full stamp duty exemption for eligible First Time Buyers.
-
Partial Concession — If the property dutiable value is between $700,001 and $800,000, you may receive a reduced stamp duty amount based on a sliding scale. The exemption tapers off gradually until the full duty rate applies at $800,000 and above, according to the table below, that shows the amount to be deducted to the Home Concession rate.
| Dutiable Value | Concession (deduct from 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 |
3. Home Concession (not just First Time Buyers)
Since 30th June 2012, Queensland Government also offers a Home Concession available to buyers purchasing a property to use as their Principal Place of Residence (PPR) — not limited to first time buyers – with the condition of moving into the property within 12 months of settlement and occupy it as your PPR for at least 12 months.
| Dutiable Value | Home Concession 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 |
This Home Concession is often overlooked, yet it can deliver substantial savings (up to $7,175 of total savings) for buyers upgrading, relocating within Queensland, or first home buyers purchasing an established property above the $800,000 threshold.
4. Other concessions
Queensland Government also provides stamp duty exemptions in other particular circumstances, such as property transfers between spouses or de facto partners, transfers following death or intestacy, or family business restructuring events, provided the eligibility criteria are met.
Understanding Queensland’s stamp duty rules and planning strategically around them can accelerate your Real Estate success. For personalized advice tailored to your situation, reach out to our team.