Stamp duty (officially “transfer duty” in Queensland) is the tax the state collects when property changes hands. It’s usually the biggest upfront cost after your deposit, so it pays to know roughly what you’re up for before you sign.
The rate you pay depends on three main things: the purchase price, whether you’ll live there, and whether it’s your first home. Here’s how each bucket works – or if you want the full version, read our complete QLD stamp duty explainer.
General rate (investors and non-residents)
If you’re buying an investment property or buying as a company or trust, you pay the general rate. It’s a sliding scale – the more expensive the property, the higher the rate on the top slice. At $750,000, you’d pay around $26,775 in duty.
Buying multiple adjacent lots? You may get hit with aggregate duty – worth reading our guide to aggregate transfer duty in QLD before you sign.
Home concession (owner-occupiers)
Buying to live in it yourself? You qualify for the home concession rate, which is significantly cheaper than the general rate – especially on properties under $350,000. You have to move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 months. Skip out early and you’ll have to pay back the difference – here’s our breakdown of what happens if you dispose of your owner-occupier property too soon.
First home concession (owner-occupiers who are first home buyers)
If it’s your first home anywhere in the world, and you meet the eligibility criteria, the first home concession can knock your duty to zero:
- Established homes up to $700,000 – full exemption (pay nothing)
- Established homes $700,000-$800,000 – partial concession on a sliding scale
- Brand new homes (contract dated 1 May 2025 or later) – full exemption, no price cap
- Vacant land to build your first home – full exemption, no price cap
You have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, over 18, and move in within 12 months. For the full breakdown, see our updated guide to the QLD first home concession.
Foreign buyers
If you’re not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) adds 8% of the property value on top of the standard duty. So on a $750,000 home, that’s an extra $60,000. Rules around companies and trusts with foreign interests are complex – AFAD and FIRB explained covers the detail, and foreign owners should also check the annual vacancy fee that can apply.
What our calculator does (and doesn’t) cover
The calculator above handles the four most common scenarios – owner-occupier, first home buyer, investor, and foreign buyer. It uses the rates current as of April 2026.
What it doesn’t model: off-the-plan concessions, mixed-use properties, partial interest transfers (like buying a 50% share from a parent or partner), related-party discounts, deceased estate transfers, trust structures, or the “previously owned a home overseas” edge cases. If your situation involves any of those, the QLD Revenue Office has a full transfer duty estimator that handles partial interests – or get in touch and we’ll run the exact number on your contract before you sign.
When stamp duty is due
Transfer duty in Queensland is payable within 30 days of the contract going unconditional – not at settlement. Most buyers pay it at settlement through their solicitor, but if there’s a delay, interest and penalties can stack up fast. This is one of the things we handle for you as part of a standard conveyance.
Transfer duty calculator, stamp duty calculator – same thing
Queensland officially calls it transfer duty, so a “transfer duty calculator” and a stamp duty calculator QLD are working out the same tax. The calculator above handles it either way – enter your figures and you will get the duty on your purchase.
Looking for car or vehicle stamp duty?
This calculator covers property transfer duty only. Vehicle registration duty in Queensland is a separate tax with its own rates set by the Queensland Revenue Office – work it out on the QRO website before you buy the car.
