Stamp duty calculator WA
A guide to using our WA stamp duty calculator
Updated 30 April 2024
Stamp duty and how it works
Don’t quite understand stamp duty? You might want to watch this explainer from Selling Houses Australia host, Andrew Winter.
Andrew Winter
Home Loans
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Andrew Winter, host of Selling Houses Australia.
As someone who’s no stranger to the homebuying process, I’m well aware of what kinds of costs
I’ll have to deal with if I buy a property. But there are plenty of homebuying costs that
can catch first home buyers unawares, and the largest of these will typically be your transfer
duty – or ‘stamp duty’ as it’s often called. Stamp duty is a government tax that’s charged
whenever legal ownership of a property is transferred between two parties as part of a sale.
It’ll often cost the buyer – that’s you! – thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars,
so it’s definitely a cost worth keeping in mind, and budgeting generously for.
Now, each state and territory charges different amounts of stamp duty on
different property value thresholds. So, you’ll need to make sure you’ve
looked at the specific rates and thresholds for where you live, to get an accurate idea
of what your stamp duty bill could look like. When it comes time to pay your stamp duty
which will usually be at settlement – you’ll typically be paying it completely out of pocket. Ouch.
The only exceptions I’d point out would be first home buyers, who are often eligible
for some sort of stamp duty discount or exemption. But even those aren’t guaranteed – you’ll need to
check what’s on offer in your state or territory, as well as with your conveyancer in order to
figure out the applicable government fees. Luckily, Compare the Market can help you
both understand how stamp duty is charged where you live, and then calculate your
payable stamp duty once you’re ready to buy. Their home loan comparison tool lets you specify
the property you’d like to buy, along with what you’re planning on using it for and your
particular buying circumstances, and then tells you how much stamp duty you’d pay on the purchase.
So, whether you’re a first home buyer or a seasoned property expert, Compare the Market
can help you with your next property journey – they make it as easy as comparing home loans.
Our WA stamp duty calculator
Expert tips for stamp duty in WA
Knowing your costs is crucial when buying a home, especially when it comes to stamp duty which may be the biggest cost you pay aside from the property itself. With that in mind, our General Manager of Money, Stephen Zeller has the following tips for property-buyers in WA:
Stephen Zeller
General Manager – Money
Calculate your stamp duty correctly
Stamp duty costs differ depending on where you’re looking to purchase a property in Australia. When calculating how much stamp duty you’d pay on the transfer of a home you’re looking to purchase, make sure you have selected the correct state or territory, as you may be underestimating or even overestimating your payable amount of stamp duty.
Factor stamp duty into your homebuying costs
Stamp duty can sometimes be forgotten about when looking at properties to purchase and calculating your total property-buying costs. When you’re figuring out how much you’ll need in savings, don’t forget to include the stamp duty fees as well.
We’re here to help!
Our experienced Home Loan Specialist team helps customers all over Australia, and they can assist you with any stamp duty questions you may be wondering about. Speak to the team via phone or email and they’ll be happy to help you find the answers you’re after.
How does stamp duty work in WA?
How is stamp duty calculated in WA?
The table below displays the general rates of duty and transfer fees imposed on property and land transfers in Western Australia.¹ These stamp duty rates are based on the dutiable value of the property, which either refers to the property’s purchase price or its total value (in situations where it has not been conventionally sold or the property is worth more than what was paid for it).
| Dutiable value of the property | Stamp duty payable |
|---|---|
| $0-$120,000 | $1.90 per every whole or part $100 |
| $120,001-$150,000 | $2,280, plus $2.85 per every whole or part $100 above $120,000 |
| $150,001-$360,000 | $3,135, plus $3.80 per every whole or part $100 above $150,000 |
| $360,001-$725,000 | $11,115, plus $4.75 per every whole or part $100 above $360,000 |
| $725,001+ | $28,453, plus $5.15 per every whole or part $100 above $725,000 |
So, say you buy a home in WA for $400,000. All else being equal, you’d pay $11,115 and then $4.75 for every $100 or part of $100 between $360,000 and $400,000.
The difference between $360,000 and $400,000 is $40,000, which divided by $100 gives you 400. Multiple 400 by $4.75 and we get $1,900; adding this to the original $11,115 gives you a total of $13,015 payable in stamp duty on your property purchase.
However, it’s important to note that your house-buying costs don’t end there. You may also have to pay for things like:
- Conveyancing
- Building and pest inspections
- Mortgage application fees
- Lender’s mortgage insurance (if your deposit is less than 20% of the total property value, giving you a loan-to-value ratio of 80 or less)
- Any other applicable costs
When is stamp duty payable in WA?
In WA, you’re required to pay stamp duty within one month of a duties assessment notice being issued.2 You must make sure you’ve paid all required duties in order to receive a certificate of duty and avoid incurring late payment penalty tax.
If you’re buying a home with the help of a solicitor or conveyancer, they will typically handle the payment of your stamp duty come settlement time.
Where do I pay stamp duty in WA?
In WA, stamp duty may be paid to the state’s revenue office (the WA Department of Finance) either by credit card, BPay, post or cheque.2 However, if you’ve engaged a solicitor or conveyancer to help you navigate the homebuying process, they’ll generally handle the payment of any duty you’ve incurred.
Do I have to pay stamp duty in WA?
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in WA?
Yes, first home buyers generally have to pay stamp duty in WA. However, they may be eligible for the state’s First Home Owner Rate (FHOR), which is a concessional rate of duty.3 For the full list of eligibility requirements, visit the WA Government’s website.
If you’ve satisfied the eligibility requirements for the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG), the only further eligibility requirement you’ll need to meet to receive the FHOR relates to the value of the property.
There are two different sets of property value thresholds: one for home and land transactions, and one for vacant land transactions. If the transaction’s value falls under the first threshold, you’ll be eligible for a full exemption; if the transaction’s value falls under the second threshold but above the first one, you’ll be eligible for the concessional rate.
Below are the relevant price caps and thresholds for WA’s FHOR for each property type.
| Home and land | Vacant land | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Value of the transaction | Payable stamp duty | Value of the transaction | Payable stamp duty |
| $0-430,000 | $0 (full exemption) | $0-300,000 | $0 (full exemption) |
| $430,001-530,000 | $19.19 for every whole or part $100 in excess of $430,000 | $300,001-400,000 | $13.01 for every whole or part $100 in excess of $300,000 |
Are there stamp duty concessions or exemptions in WA?
Along with the FHOR concession for first home buyers listed above, you may be eligible for a full stamp duty exemption in WA if you are:⁴
- Transferring a primary residence between you and your spouse/de facto partner
- Transferring a property for charitable or similar public purposes
- Transferring farming land used for the business of primary production to a family member who intends to keep using the land for the same purpose.
Visit the WA Government’s website for a full list of potential exemptions and their eligibility criteria.
Do foreign purchasers pay stamp duty in WA?
Any foreign persons purchasing residential property in WA must pay the relevant stamp duty as well as an additional duty of 7%.2 This applies whether they’re looking to buy a new home or an established home, and whether they plan on using it as a place of residence or an investment property.
Meet our home loans expert, Stephen Zeller
Stephen has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and holds a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking. He’s also a member of both the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
Stephen leads our team of Mortgage Brokers, and reviews and contributes to Compare the Market’s banking-related content to ensure it’s as helpful and empowering as possible for our readers.
1 WA.gov.au. Transfer duty assessment. 2024.
2 WA.gov.au. Pay duty. 2024.
3 WA.gov.au. Duties Fact Sheet – First Home Owner Rate. 2024.
4 WA.gov.au. Apply for a transfer duty exemption. 2024.
5 WA.gov.au. Foreign Transfer Duty Fact Sheet. 2024.