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Transfer duty

When you buy a property or someone transfers ownership of a property to you in NSW, you generally must pay transfer duty (stamp duty).

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Introduction to transfer duty

You must pay transfer duty – once known as stamp duty – in NSW when you buy:

  • property, including your home or holiday home
  • an investment property
  • vacant land or a farming property
  • commercial or industrial properties, or
  • a business, which includes land.

You must also pay transfer duty when you acquire land, or an interest in land, without buying it. For example:

  • a declaration of trust
  • a gift, or
  • a transaction effecting a change in the beneficial ownership of a property.

In some circumstances, you may be eligible for a concession or exemption from transfer duty, such as:

Surcharge purchaser duty

From 21 June 2016, if you are considered a foreign person and are acquiring residential-related property NSW, you must pay surcharge purchaser duty.

Surcharge purchaser duty is calculated on the dutiable value and is paid in addition to the transfer duty payable on the acquisition of residential-related property.

Refer to Surcharge purchaser duty for more information.

When to pay transfer duty

You must pay transfer duty within three months of signing the contract for sale, or transfer if there is no contract.

However, settlement cannot take place if transfer duty has not been paid. This means that if settlement is earlier, duty must be paid on or before the date of settlement.

If you buy off-the-plan and you intend to live in the property, you may be able to defer the payment of your transfer duty for up to 12 months.

Calculating transfer duty

Use our online calculator to work out how much transfer duty you’ll need to pay.

Transfer duty calculator

You must pay transfer duty based on the property’s sale price or its current market value, whichever is higher.

  • We charge a standard transfer duty rate, as well as a premium duty rate, for residential properties worth more than $3 million.
  • Under Chapter 2, Part 3, Division 3 of the Duties Act 1997 the threshold amounts for standard transfer duty and premium duty rates are adjusted annually in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index (All Groups Index) for Sydney.
  • Adjusted base amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar (and an amount of 50 cents is rounded down)
  • Due to updated threshold amounts, the 2021/22 year has two sets of transfer duty calculations (news and media release).
  • If the buyer and seller are related or associated, or you’re not transferring the whole property, the property must be valued by a suitably qualified person.

If you are buying a residential property in NSW, use the residential property buyer tool to find out the taxes and duties you may need to pay, as well as exemptions and grants that you are entitled to receive.

Standard transfer duty calculations

From 1 July 2024
Property value Transfer duty rate
$0 to $17,000

$1.25 for every $100 (minimum $20)

$17,000 to $36,000 $212 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $17,000
$36,000 to $97,000 $497 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $36,000
$97,000 to $364,000 $1,564 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $97,000
$364,000 to $1,212,000 $10,909 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $364,000
Over $1,212,000

$49,069 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,212,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 July 2023
Property value Transfer duty rate
$0 to $16,000

$1.25 for every $100 (minimum $20) minimum duty $10, prior to 1 February 2024

$16,000 to $35,000 $200 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $16,000
$35,000 to $93,000 $485 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $35,000
$93,000 to $351,000 $1,500 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $93,000
$351,000 to $1,168,000 $10,530 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $351,000
Over $1,168,000

$47,295 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,168,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 July 2022
Property value Transfer duty rate
$0 to $15,000

$1.25 for every $100 (minimum $10)

$15,000 to $32,000 $187 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $15,000
$32,000 to $87,000 $442 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $32,000
$87,000 to $327,000 $1,405 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $87,000
$327,000 to $1,089,000 $9,805 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $327,000
Over $1,089,000

$44,095 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,089,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 February 2022
Property valueTransfer duty rate
$0 to $14,000 $1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)
$14,000 to $31,000 $175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000
$31,000 to $83,000 $430 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $31,000
$83,000 to $313,000 $1,340 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $83,000
$313,000 to $1,043,000 $9,390 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $313,000
Over $1,043,000 $42,240 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,043,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 July 2021
Property valueTransfer duty rate
$0 to $14,000 $1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)
$14,000 to $32,000 $175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000
$32,000 to $85,000 $445 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $32,000
$85,000 to $319,000 $1,372 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $85,000
$319,000 to $1,064,000 $9,562 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $319,000
Over $1,064,000 $43,087 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,064,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 July 2020
Property valueTransfer duty rate
$0 to $14,000 $1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)
$14,000 to $31,000 $175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000
$31,000 to $83,000 $430 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $31,000
$83,000 to $310,000 $1,340 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $83,000
$310,000 to $1,033,000 $9,285 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $310,000
Over $1,033,000  $41,820 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,033,000

Transfer duty calculator

From 1 July 2019
Property valueTransfer duty rate
$0 to $14,000 $1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)
$14,001 to $30,000 $175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000
$30,001 to $81,000 $415 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $30,000
$81,001 to $304,000 $1,307 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $81,000
$304,001 to $1,013,000 $9,112 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $304,000
Over $1,013,000 $41,017 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,013,000

Transfer duty calculator

Before 1 July 2019
Property valueTransfer duty rate
$0 to $14,000 $1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)
$14,001 to $30,000 $175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000
$30,001 to $80,000 $415 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $30,000
$80,001 to $300,000 $1,290 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $80,000
$300,001 to $1 million $8,990 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $300,000
Over $1 million $40,490 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1 million

Transfer duty calculator

 

Premium transfer duty calculations

Residential properties over $3 million
Period Property value Premium rate
From 1 July 2024Over $3,636,000$182,389 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,636,000
From 1 July 2023 Over $3,505,000 $175,830 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,505,000
From 1 July 2022 Over $3,268,000 $163,940 plus $7.00 for every $100 over  $3,268,000
From 1 February 2022 Over $3,131,000 $157,080 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,131,000
From 1 July 2021 Over $3,194,000 $160,237 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,194,000
From 1 July 2020 Over $3,101,000 $155,560 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,101,000
From 1 July 2019 Over $3,040,000 $152,502 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,040,000
Before 1 July 2019 Over $3 million $150,490 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3 million

Transfer duty calculator

Residential properties also used for business

The premium rate applies to residential properties only. If your property is worth more than $3 million (as per the premium table above) and part of it is used for business, we’ll only take into account the part that’s used for residential purposes when applying the premium transfer duty threshold.

Transfer duty calculator

Rate for land over two hectares

For large properties, the premium transfer rate is calculated only on the first two hectares of land you own, as a proportion of your overall parcel of land. The remainder of your property will be charged at the standard rate.

For example:

  • your 10 hectare property is worth $20 million
  • two hectares is 20 per cent of the total area
  • 20 per cent of the value is $4 million
  • you’ll pay the premium rate on the dutiable value above $3 million (as per the premium table above)
  • the remaining portion will be charged at the rate for property worth over $1 million.

Transfer duty calculator

Pay your transfer duty

Your solicitor or conveyancer can lodge an application for assessment on a contract for sale or transfer of land on your behalf. They’ll also arrange for duty to be paid. This is typically done as part of the settlement process. They'll also know if you are entitled to any exemptions or concessions.

If you’re not using a solicitor or conveyancer, you must lodge an application and pay duty yourself.

Requesting a refund

You can apply for a refund (PDF, 259 KB) if you’ve paid transfer duty on a contract for sale or transfer that doesn’t go ahead.

You must apply within:

  • five years of the transfer duty assessment being made, or
  • 12 months after the agreement is cancelled.

When applying for a refund, we’ll ask you for:

  • the original contract for sale or transfer
  • evidence the agreement has been cancelled – eg a photocopy of the Deed of Rescission (signed by both parties) or letters from both parties confirming the agreement has been cancelled
  • a copy of the original purchaser declaration.
Late payments

If you don’t pay your transfer duty on time, you’ll be charged interest on the amount you owe. We may also charge additional penalties.

Objections and reviews

You can lodge an objection or request a reassessment if you’re dissatisfied with an assessment or decision we’ve made.

Business transactions

From 1 July 2016, the NSW government abolished transfer duty on the sale of business assets, including intellectual property, goodwill and statutory licences.

However, you still must pay transfer duty on any land the business holds. Duty will be assessed on the value of the land, including leasehold interests, fixtures and goods.

If you're transferring or assigning a lease not connected to any business assets, complete the declaration for urgent stamping of transfers and assignment of leases form (PDF, 243.7 KB).

Other transactions

Other transactions that may require transfer duty include:

  • establishing a trust over property in NSW
  • acknowledging a trust
  • granting of an option
  • transferring an option to purchase land in NSW
  • creation of a life estate
  • foreclosing a mortgage on property in NSW.

Read more about other occasions when transfer duty may apply.