How Queensland stamp duty is worked out
Queensland charges transfer duty (stamp duty) when you buy property. The amount depends on three things: the price you pay (or the market value, if that's higher), whether you'll live in the property, and whether you're buying your first home.
Duty is calculated in brackets. Each slice of the price is charged at its own rate, so a higher price only pays the higher rate on the part above each threshold. The rate ladder under the result above shows which brackets your price reaches.
There are three main ways to pay less:
- Home concession: a lower rate for anyone buying a home to live in.
- First home concession: a further discount for first home buyers purchasing an established home under $800,000.
- First home (new home) and vacant land concessions: no duty at all for eligible first home buyers buying a brand-new home or land to build on, for contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025.
Current Queensland transfer duty rates
General rates
These apply to investment properties, holiday homes and anything you won't live in.
| Dutiable value | Duty |
|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | Nil |
| $5,000 – $75,000 | $1.50 for each $100 over $5,000 |
| $75,000 – $540,000 | $1,050 plus $3.50 for each $100 over $75,000 |
| $540,000 – $1,000,000 | $17,325 plus $4.50 for each $100 over $540,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $38,025 plus $5.75 for each $100 over $1,000,000 |
Home concession rates
If you'll move into the property within a year of settlement, you can usually use these lower rates instead. Compared with the general rate, the home concession saves up to $7,175.
| Purchase price | Duty |
|---|---|
| Up to $350,000 | $1.00 for each $100 |
| $350,000 – $540,000 | $3,500 plus $3.50 for each $100 over $350,000 |
| $540,000 – $1,000,000 | $10,150 plus $4.50 for each $100 over $540,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $30,850 plus $5.75 for each $100 over $1,000,000 |
To keep the home concession, you need to move in within 1 year of settlement and not rent out the whole property before you do.
Stamp duty for first home buyers in Queensland
Brand-new homes: no duty
For contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a brand-new home. There's no price cap. A new home is one that hasn't been lived in or sold as a residence before, which usually includes off-the-plan apartments, house-and-land packages and substantially renovated homes.
Vacant land: no duty
The same applies to residential vacant land you'll build your first home on, again with no price cap, for contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025. You must build and move in within 2 years of settlement.
Established homes: discount under $800,000
For an established home, first home buyers get the home concession plus a first home concession. At $700,000 or less, the two together cancel the duty completely. Between $700,000 and $800,000 the extra discount shrinks in $10,000 steps, and from $800,000 only the home concession applies.
| Home value | First home concession |
|---|---|
| Under $710,000 | $17,350 |
| $710,000 – $719,999 | $15,615 |
| $720,000 – $729,999 | $13,880 |
| $730,000 – $739,999 | $12,145 |
| $740,000 – $749,999 | $10,410 |
| $750,000 – $759,999 | $8,675 |
| $760,000 – $769,999 | $6,940 |
| $770,000 – $779,999 | $5,205 |
| $780,000 – $789,999 | $3,470 |
| $790,000 – $799,999 | $1,735 |
| $800,000 or more | Nil |
These amounts apply to contracts signed on or after 9 June 2024. The concession is taken off the home concession duty, never below zero.
Who counts as a first home buyer
- You're buying as an individual and are at least 18.
- You've never owned an interest in a home anywhere in the world.
- For contracts from 1 August 2026, you're an Australian citizen, permanent resident or specified foreign retiree.
- You'll move in within 1 year of settlement (2 years for vacant land) and pay market value.
Buying a brand-new home? You may also qualify for Queensland's First Home Owner Grant, which is separate from stamp duty. Check the grant rules with the Queensland Revenue Office before you sign.
Foreign buyers
If a buyer is a foreign person, including some companies and trusts, Queensland adds an additional foreign acquirer duty of 8% of the value of residential land. It's charged on top of normal transfer duty. For contracts from 1 August 2026, first home concessions also require Australian citizenship or permanent residency, so the calculator turns those options off when you tick the foreign buyer box.
Worked examples
Investor buying a $650,000 unit. The general rate applies: $17,325 plus $4.50 for each $100 over $540,000 (1,100 × $4.50 = $4,950). Stamp duty is $22,275.
Family upgrading to a $650,000 home they'll live in. The home concession rate applies: $10,150 plus $4,950. Stamp duty is $15,100, which is $7,175 less than an investor would pay.
First home buyer, $750,000 established house. Home concession duty is $10,150 plus $4.50 × 2,100 = $19,600. The first home concession for $750,000 is $8,675, leaving $10,925 to pay.
First home buyer, $950,000 new apartment, contract signed in 2026. The first home (new home) concession removes the duty entirely. Stamp duty is $0, a saving of $35,775 over the general rate.
Common questions
Is stamp duty the same as transfer duty in Queensland?
Yes. Queensland's official name for stamp duty on property is transfer duty. Most people still call it stamp duty, and the two terms mean the same tax.
Who pays stamp duty in Queensland, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer pays. It's one of the biggest upfront costs of buying, so it's worth knowing the figure before you make an offer.
When do I have to pay it?
Your solicitor or conveyancer normally lodges the transaction with the Queensland Revenue Office and arranges payment as part of settlement. The Queensland Revenue Office sets the exact deadlines, so confirm the timing with your conveyancer early.
Does this calculator include registration fees?
No. It covers transfer duty and, if you tick it, the additional foreign acquirer duty. Titles Queensland charges separate fees to register the transfer and any mortgage, and your lender and conveyancer will charge their own fees too.
I'm buying with someone who isn't a first home buyer. Do we still get the concession?
Concessions are generally assessed against each buyer's share, so a mixed purchase may receive a reduced concession. The rules depend on who will live in the home and each person's history, so check your situation with the Queensland Revenue Office or your conveyancer.
Does the new home concession cover off-the-plan apartments?
It covers homes that have never been lived in or sold as a residence, which normally includes off-the-plan apartments and newly built houses. A substantially renovated home can also qualify. The contract must be signed on or after 1 May 2025.
What does 'per $100 or part of $100' mean?
Duty is charged on every $100 of the price, and a part-$100 counts as a whole one. For example, $540,050 is treated as $540,100 for the slice above $540,000. The calculator does this rounding for you.
Can I get the concession if I rent the home out?
Not if you rent out the whole property before moving in, or within a year of moving in. You must move in within 1 year of settlement (2 years for vacant land you build on). If your plans change, you may need to tell the Queensland Revenue Office so the duty can be reassessed.
Sources
- Queensland Revenue Office: transfer duty rates
- Queensland Revenue Office: concession rates
- Queensland Revenue Office: first home concession
- Queensland Revenue Office: first home (new home) concession
- Queensland Revenue Office: first home vacant land concession
This calculator gives an estimate for general information. It doesn't cover every situation, such as partial ownership, mixed-use land or business purchases. For a binding figure, use the Queensland Revenue Office's own estimator or ask your conveyancer.