QLD Stamp Duty Calculator

How stamp duty works in Queensland

Stamp duty in Queensland is officially called transfer duty. It is administered by the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) and charged on the dutiable value of any property purchase. The "dutiable value" is normally the purchase price, but QRO can use a higher market valuation if it suspects the contract price has been understated.

Queensland uses a tiered bracket system:

• Up to $5,000 — nil
• $5,000 – $75,000 — 1.5%
• $75,000 – $540,000 — $1,050 + 3.5% over $75,000
• $540,000 – $1,000,000 — $17,325 + 4.5% over $540,000
• Above $1,000,000 — $38,025 + 5.75% over $1,000,000

These are the standard rates charged on investment purchases. Owner-occupiers and first home buyers can apply for concessions that reduce these amounts.

Owner-occupier vs investor rates

The single biggest distinction in Queensland is the home concession. If you intend to live in the property as your principal place of residence, you can claim a reduced rate that saves up to $7,175 in duty compared to the investor rate.

To qualify for the home concession you must:

• Move into the property within 12 months of settlement
• Live there continuously for at least 12 months
• Apply for the concession at the time of stamping (or before)

If you sell, lease, or otherwise vacate the property within the qualifying period, QRO can claw back the concession. Investors and buyers of holiday homes do not qualify and pay the full standard rate.

First home buyer concessions

Queensland's first home concession stacks on top of the home concession. Eligible first home buyers buying an established dwelling pay:

• $0 transfer duty on purchases up to $500,000
• A sliding partial concession on purchases between $500,000 and $550,000
• The standard home concession rate above $550,000

For vacant land, the first home vacant land concession applies:

• Full exemption on land up to $250,000
• Partial concession on land between $250,000 and $400,000
• Standard rates above $400,000

To qualify you must be 18 or older, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, never have owned residential property anywhere in the world, and intend to occupy the home as your principal place of residence within 12 months. Queensland also offers a separate $30,000 First Home Owner Grant for buyers of new homes — that is not stamp duty, but a cash grant administered separately by QRO.

When stamp duty is due

Transfer duty is payable within 30 days of the dutiable transaction — usually 30 days after contract date or settlement, whichever is later. In practice, your solicitor or conveyancer pays QRO directly at settlement using funds drawn from the buyer's loan and deposit. Late payment attracts unpaid tax interest at the rate published by QRO each year.

Most buyers should budget stamp duty as part of the upfront purchase costs — it is not financed by your mortgage and must be paid in cash or from your deposit. On a $650,000 owner-occupier purchase, that is roughly $14,000 to $17,000 you need available at settlement.

Stamp duty vs transfer duty — terminology

There is no difference between "stamp duty" and "transfer duty" in Queensland — they are two names for the same tax. Queensland and most other Australian states formally renamed the tax in the 2000s after physical stamps were eliminated, but in everyday speech buyers, mortgage brokers, and solicitors still call it "stamp duty". You will see both terms used interchangeably:

• QRO official terminology: "transfer duty"
• Common usage: "stamp duty"
• Lender quotes: usually "stamp duty"
• Property contracts (REIQ): "transfer duty"

The legal source of truth is the Duties Act 2001 (Qld), which uses "transfer duty" throughout.

Worked examples

Estimates use Queensland Revenue Office 2025–26 transfer duty rates. The home concession reduces duty by up to $7,175. The first home concession provides full exemption up to $500,000 with a sliding partial concession to $550,000. Confirm the exact figure with your solicitor before settlement.

Compare with other Australian states

Need to calculate stamp duty for another state? Use our general Australian stamp duty calculator, which covers NSW, VIC, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, and NT in addition to Queensland. Each state has different rates, thresholds, and concessions — Queensland sits in the middle of the pack on standard rates and is more generous than NSW or VIC for first home buyers under $500,000.