Stamp duty calculator WA
What is stamp duty in Western Australia (WA)?
Stamp duty – also called transfer duty – is a one-off tax paid when you buy or receive property in Western Australia. It’s based on the property’s purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, and is usually paid at settlement.
How does stamp duty work in WA?
Once your contract becomes unconditional, meaning your finance is approved and building and pest inspections and other conditions are met, your conveyancer or solicitor prepares and lodges the transfer documents with the RevenueWA. This triggers a duties assessment, which confirms how much stamp duty you owe. In Western Australia, stamp duty is generally payable within one month of the assessment notice being issued, although the payment timeframe can vary depending on the type of transaction.
Learn more about stamp duty
Keen to learn more about Stamp Duty in WA? 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 buy 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’ve selected the correct state or territory, as you may be underestimating or even overestimating your due amount of stamp duty.
Factor stamp duty into your homebuying costs
Stamp duty can sometimes be forgotten about when looking at properties and calculating your total property-buying costs. When you’re figuring out how much you’ll need in savings, remember to include the stamp duty bill 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 is stamp duty calculated in Western Australia?
Stamp duty is calculated based on the property’s dutiable value, which is the higher of the contract price or the market value. The tax uses a progressive rate structure, meaning higher-value properties attract higher rates, generally ranging from about 1.9% to 5.15%.
How much stamp duty you pay can also change depending on your situation. For example, first home buyers may qualify for concessions, while buying off-the-plan, purchasing vacant land, or being classified as a foreign buyer can affect the final amount. Likewise, if a property is gifted or transferred between family members, stamp duty is usually assessed on its market value rather than the price paid.
However, some transfers may attract only nominal duty (currently $20) in Western Australia (WA), such as those resulting from a deceased estate, provided no money is paid for the property, and property transfers following the breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship.
The table below displays the general rates of duty and transfer fees imposed on property and land transfers in WA.1
| Property value | Stamp duty payable |
|---|---|
| $0-$120,000 | 1.90% of the property’s value |
| $120,001-$150,000 | $2,280 plus 2.85% of each dollar over $120,000 |
| $150,001-$360,000 | $3,135, plus 3.80% of each dollar above $150,000 |
| $360,001-$725,000 | $11,115, plus 4.75% of each dollar above $360,000 |
| $725,001+ | $28,453, plus 5.15% of each dollar above $725,000 |
So, for example, if you buy a home in WA for $400,000. All else being equal, you’d pay the base $11,115 plus 4.75% of the extra $40,000 (the difference between $360,000 and $400,000 is $40,000), which equals $1,900. This brings the total stamp duty to $13,015 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 such as:
- Conveyancing
- Building and pest inspections
- Mortgage application fees
- Lenders 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 Western Australia?
In WA, you’re usually required to pay stamp duty within one month of a duties assessment notice being issued.2 In some cases, the payment timeframe can be longer, such as up to 12 months for certain land or mining-related tenements or up to three years for off-the-plan purchases.
Once duty has been assessed, you must make sure you’ve paid all required obligations, such as any relevant foreign surcharges and late payment penalties, to receive a certificate of duty. Without this certificate, you can’t register the transfer of land or finalise settlement.
Where do I pay stamp duty in WA?
Stamp duty may be paid to the RevenueWA 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 will handle the payment of your stamp duty come settlement time.
Who has to pay stamp duty in WA?
Stamp duty is generally paid by the buyer when a property changes ownership. The obligation usually arises when the document transferring ownership is signed.
Stamp duty may apply in a range of situations, such as buying an established home or apartment (whether owner‑occupied or an investment), purchasing vacant land, or receiving a gifted property, where ownership is transferred without money changing hands.
While the buyer is responsible for paying stamp duty, concessions or exemptions may apply in some cases. These can include eligible first home buyers, as well as certain property types depending on their value and build status, such as off‑the‑plan or under‑construction apartments and townhouses.
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
If you’ve satisfied the eligibility requirements for the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), the only further eligibility requirement you’ll need 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 for homes up to $500,000, while vacant land is exempt from duty up to $350,000. 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-$500,000 | $0 (full exemption) | $0-350,000 | $0 (full exemption) |
|
a. $500,001-
$700,000
b. $500,001- $750,000 |
a. For properties located in the Metropolitan or Peel regions: 13.63% on the portion of the property value above $500,000.
b. For properties located outside the Metropolitan or Peel regions: 11.89% on the portion of property value above $500,000. |
$350,001-$450,000 | 15.39% on the portion that exceeds $350,000 |
For the full list of eligibility requirements, visit the WA Government’s website.
Are there stamp duty concessions or exemptions in WA?
Yes. Western Australia offers several stamp duty concessions, including full or partial exemptions, depending on your situation. These can include full or partial relief for first home buyers, savings when building a new or off‑the‑plan property, and exemptions for certain family, farming and charitable property transfers.
Key stamp duty concessions include:
- First Home Owner Rate (FHOR): Eligible first home buyers may receive a full stamp duty exemption on homes valued up to $500,000 while concessional rates on properties above $500,000, up to $700,000 in metropolitan or Peel regions and up to $750,000 in regional WA (as shown in the table above).
- Building new or buying land first: If you buy vacant land and then build, stamp duty is generally calculated on the land value only, not the full home‑and‑land cost. This can result in significant savings compared to purchasing an established property.
- Off‑the‑plan purchases: As of April 2026, the WA off-the-plan duty concession has been extended until mid-2028.4 Eligible buyers can receive up to 100% stamp duty relief for pre‑construction contracts valued up to $800,000. The concession applies to new apartments and townhouses in strata schemes.
- Full stamp duty exemption may also apply if you are: 5
- 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 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 Western Australia?
Yes. Foreign purchasers must pay an additional 7% foreign transfer duty on top of the standard stamp duty.6 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.
A foreign person generally includes individuals who are not Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens holding a special category visa. A foreign person can also be a foreign individual, foreign corporation or foreign trustee.
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. Data accessed May 2026.
2 WA.gov.au. Pay duty. 2026. Data accessed May 2026
3 WA.gov.au. Duties Fact Sheet – First Home Owner Rate. Data accessed May 2026.
4 WA.gov.au. Stamp duty concessions. 2026. Data accessed May 2026.
5 WA.gov.au. Apply for a transfer duty exemption. 2026. Data accessed May 2026
6 WA.gov.au. Foreign Transfer Duty Fact Sheet. 2025. Data accessed May 2026.