Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Australia?

It depends on the state and the price. Some states give a full exemption below a threshold (NSW to $800,000, Victoria to $600,000, WA to $500,000), some exempt new builds with no cap (Queensland, South Australia), and from 1 July 2026 the ACT charges eligible buyers no duty at any price. The table below shows what applies where.

Which state is best for first home buyers?

From 1 July 2026 the ACT is the standout: no duty at any price for eligible buyers, with no income test. For a new build elsewhere, Queensland and South Australia exempt first home buyers with no value cap. For established homes, NSW and Victoria have the most generous price thresholds. Check your state page for the exact outcome at your price.

First home buyer stamp duty, state by state

First-home duty concessions are where the biggest savings — and the most frequent changes — happen. Here is what each state and territory offers, and what a first home buyer actually pays at common prices.

First home buyer duty at $600,000 and $700,000

State	Scheme	FHB duty at $600,000	FHB duty at $700,000
New South Wales	First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS)	$0	$0	NSW
Victoria	First home buyer duty exemption or concession	$0	$24,713.33	VIC
Queensland	First home concession (established) and first home (new home) concession	$0	$0	QLD
Western Australia	First Home Owner Rate (FHOR) of duty	$13,630	$27,260	WA
South Australia	Stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers	$26,830	$32,330	SA
Tasmania	First home buyer duty relief (established homes)	$22,497.50	$26,747.50	TAS
Australian Capital Territory	Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS)	$0	$0	ACT
Northern Territory	Territory home owner incentives	—	—	NT

A dash means the concession is income-tested or being revised — see the state page for detail. Established vs new-build rules differ; the calculator on each state page has a new-build toggle.

Explore your state

Common questions

Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Australia?: It depends on the state and the price. Some states give a full exemption below a threshold (NSW to $800,000, Victoria to $600,000, WA to $500,000), some exempt new builds with no cap (Queensland, South Australia), and from 1 July 2026 the ACT charges eligible buyers no duty at any price. The table below shows what applies where.
Which state is best for first home buyers?: From 1 July 2026 the ACT is the standout: no duty at any price for eligible buyers, with no income test. For a new build elsewhere, Queensland and South Australia exempt first home buyers with no value cap. For established homes, NSW and Victoria have the most generous price thresholds. Check your state page for the exact outcome at your price.