Tasmania Stamp Duty — How Much Will You Pay?

What is stamp duty in Tasmania?

Stamp duty in Tasmania (formally “duty” under the Duties Act 2001) is a state tax charged on the transfer of property. It is a one-off cost payable at settlement, calculated as a percentage of the purchase price on a progressive bracket scale administered by the State Revenue Office of Tasmania.

Unlike most states, Tasmania does not offer a separate rate for owner-occupiers. The same table applies regardless of whether you intend to live in the property or rent it out. The only relief from full duty is the first home buyer exemption — and that comes with a significant cliff at the $750,000 threshold for established homes.

All transfers attract a minimum duty of $50, even if the dutiable value is below $3,000.

Tasmania stamp duty rates

The following rates apply to all buyers — owner-occupiers, investors, and first home buyers who do not qualify for an exemption.

The first bracket ($50 minimum) means any transfer under $3,000 attracts a flat $50 duty regardless of value. Above $3,000, duty is calculated progressively — you only pay the higher rate on the portion of the price that falls within each bracket.

Source: State Revenue Office of Tasmania — Rates of duty.

First home buyer stamp duty relief in Tasmania

Tasmania runs two distinct first home buyer (FHB) duty relief tracks. Which one applies depends entirely on whether you are buying a new or established property.

New and substantially renovated homes — permanent full exemption

First home buyers purchasing a new or substantially renovated home pay $0 stamp duty, regardless of the purchase price. This exemption is permanent — it has no expiry date and no price cap.

Eligible first home buyers purchasing a new home also qualify for the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) — a separate $30,000 cash grant paid by the Tasmanian government at settlement. The FHOG is independent of the stamp duty exemption: you can receive both on the same new-home purchase. Note that the $30k amount is date-bounded in legislation — confirm the current grant window on the SRO page before relying on it.

Established homes — full exemption up to $750,000 (expires 30 June 2026)

First home buyers purchasing an established home pay $0 duty on purchases up to $750,000. Above that, full general duty applies immediately — there is no sliding scale or gradual phase-out.

• At $749,999: $0 duty.
• At $750,001: approximately $28,935 in full duty — a cliff of that entire amount on a single extra dollar.

This scheme is scheduled to expire on 30 June 2026. It has been extended in prior Tasmanian budgets, but there is no guarantee of further renewal. Confirm current status with the SRO established-home duty relief page before exchanging contracts.

To be eligible for either FHB exemption, you must not have previously held an interest in residential property anywhere in Australia. You must also occupy the property as your principal residence for at least 6 consecutive months within 12 months of completion.

The FHB duty exemption stacks with the federal 5% Deposit Scheme — if you qualify for both on the same purchase, you could avoid LMI costs entirely and pay zero stamp duty on a new build.

Buying interstate? Compare TAS to Victoria stamp duty (FHB exemption up to $600,000), NSW stamp duty (FHB exemption up to $800,000 with a taper to $1,000,000), and SA stamp duty (FHB exemption on new builds only, no price cap).

Worked examples

These figures are computed from the bracket tables above — the same method the State Revenue Office uses. All values are indicative; your final duty depends on the contract date, buyer eligibility, and settlement date relative to scheme expiry.

When and how do you pay Tasmania stamp duty?

Tasmania stamp duty is payable at or before settlement. In practice, your conveyancer or solicitor lodges the duty assessment with the State Revenue Office of Tasmania and processes payment as part of the standard settlement package — you do not generally interact with the SRO directly.

Duty is calculated on the dutiable valueof the property, which is the greater of the purchase price and the unencumbered value. For most arm's-length sales, this is simply the contract price. Transfers between related parties or at below-market prices may be assessed on market value.

Late payments attract interest and penalty duty under the Taxation Administration Act 1997 (Tas). If you are buying off the plan, duty is generally assessed on the contract price at the time of exchange — confirm the timing with your conveyancer, as off-the-plan treatment can vary.

Foreign investor duty surcharge

Foreign buyers acquiring residential property in Tasmania pay an 8% foreign investor duty surchargeon top of standard duty. This applies to agreements entered into on or after 1 April 2020 (the rate was 3% before that). The surcharge also applies to primary production land and vacant land zoned for residential use. Tasmania's 8% rate matches Victoria and Queensland; NSW is higher at 9% (raised from 8% on 1 January 2025); Western Australia and South Australia charge 7%. Source: SRO — Foreign investor duty surcharge rates.

Frequently asked questions