Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Queensland?

Queensland calls it transfer duty; most people still call it stamp duty. It's a state tax on the transfer of property, paid by the buyer at settlement, and for a first home buyer it is the single largest cost after the deposit — or, increasingly, no cost at all. Which of those applies comes down to one question: is the property new, or established?

New homes and vacant land: no duty

From 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers purchasing a brand-new home or vacant land on which they'll build pay no transfer duty in Queensland, and there is no upper price cap on that exemption. This is a substantial change from the previous capped concessions and it is why building or buying off-the-plan is worth costing properly against an established purchase — the duty saving alone can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Established homes: the first home concession

Buy an established home as a first home buyer and you get the first home concession instead. It applies in full up to $700,000, then the rebate steps down by $1,735 for each $10,000 of value above that until it reaches nil at $800,000. From $800,000 the ordinary home concession applies, which is still better than the general rate: $1 per $100 on the first $350,000, with general rates on the balance.

The general rates, for comparison

Where no concession applies, Queensland's general transfer duty rates run from nil up to $5,000, then $1.50 per $100 to $75,000, then $1,050 plus $3.50 per $100 to $540,000, then $17,325 plus $4.50 per $100 to $1,000,000, and $38,025 plus $5.75 per $100 above that. Seeing the general figure next to your concessional figure is the quickest way to understand what the concession is worth — our transfer duty calculator shows both side by side.

The conditions attached

The concessions carry occupancy and ownership conditions. You must not have held an interest in residential property in Australia before, you must move in within the period the Queensland Revenue Office specifies, and you must live there as your principal residence for at least the required continuous period. If you rent out part or all of the home too early, QRO can reassess the duty and you'll pay the difference. Transferring or disposing of the property inside that window has the same effect.

Costs that remain either way

Removing duty doesn't make settlement free. You'll still pay transfer registration and mortgage registration fees, conveyancing, a building and pest inspection on an established purchase, lender fees, and rates and water adjustments. Foreign buyers additionally pay the Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty surcharge of 8% of the price, which no first home concession removes.

How to claim it

The concession is claimed on the transfer documents your solicitor or conveyancer lodges, using a QRO claim form, not applied for separately afterwards. Which means the decision point is before you sign the contract: get the duty position confirmed for the exact property type and price you're buying. Run the numbers on our calculator, then let us check them against the current QRO rules and your lender's funds-to-complete statement.

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and normal lending criteria apply. Rates are subject to change.