Stamp Duty in Queensland 2025-26: Rates, Thresholds & Exemptions

Queensland transfer duty is calculated on the higher of the buy price or market value of the property. The rates are progressive, starting at 1% on the first $5,000 and increasing through several brackets up to 5.75% on values above $1 million.

In plain English: For properties valued above $5 million, an additional premium rate of 7.175% applies. On a median Brisbane house price of approximately $850,000, stamp duty comes to about $28,850. Queensland's rates are generally more competitive than NSW and Victoria for mid-range properties, making it one of the reasons the state has attracted significant interstate migration in recent years.

The rates apply to all residential property purchases unless a concession or exemption is available.

Queensland offers a transfer duty concession for first home buyers purchasing a home valued up to $700,000, with the concession gradually reducing for properties valued between $700,001 and $800,000. First home buyers purchasing a new home valued up to $750,000 are also eligible for the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant — one of the most generous FHOGs in Australia.

To qualify for the duty concession, you must be at least 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and not have previously owned property in Australia. You must move into the home within one year and live there for at least one year. The combination of the FHOG and stamp duty concession can save Queensland first home buyers up to $50,000 or more on eligible purchases.

Foreign buyers purchasing residential property in Queensland are subject to an additional foreign acquirer duty (AFAD) surcharge of 8% on top of the standard transfer duty. This applies to foreign individuals, foreign corporations, and trustees of foreign trusts.

The short version: For a $600,000 property, the surcharge alone is $48,000, bringing the total duty to approximately $63,500. Queensland also applies additional land tax surcharges to foreign-owned residential land. These surcharges were introduced to ensure foreign buyers contribute fairly to the Queensland economy and to address concerns about housing affordability for local residents.

Foreign buyers should factor these significant additional costs into their property buy budget.

Queensland provides a home concession rate for owner-occupiers that reduces the transfer duty payable compared to the general (investor) rate. To qualify, the property must be your principal place of residence and you must move in within one year of settlement.

The concession provides a flat reduction of approximately $7,175 for properties valued over $350,000. This means owner-occupiers consistently pay less duty than investors on the same property. For a $600,000 home, an owner-occupier pays approximately $11,425 while an investor pays approximately $18,600.

This concession applies automatically when you declare the property will be your home on the transfer documents, and the saving is significant enough that owner-occupiers should always ensure they claim it. Not complicated — just easy to miss.

Real talk — Buying vacant land in Queensland to build your own home attracts transfer duty at the standard rates based on the land buy price. First home buyers purchasing vacant land valued up to $400,000 may be eligible for a concession on the duty, with a sliding scale for land valued between $400,001 and $500,000.

Off-the-plan apartment buyers can claim a duty concession that excludes the value of incomplete construction from the dutiable amount, similar to schemes in other states. This means you pay duty on the land value plus any completed works at the date of the contract, rather than the total buy price. For new apartments in Brisbane, this can save buyers several thousand dollars depending on the stage of construction at the time of signing.

Use our Stamp Duty Calculator to get an instant estimate of your Queensland transfer duty. Select Queensland, enter the property value, and indicate whether you're a first home buyer or owner-occupier to see the applicable concessions.

Queensland transfer duty is payable within 30 days of settlement, and late payment attracts penalty interest and potential fines. Payment is made through the Queensland Revenue Office, usually handled by your conveyancer or solicitor as part of the settlement process. If you're purchasing at auction, keep in mind that the 5% or 10% deposit paid on auction day doesn't cover stamp duty — this is an additional cost due at settlement.

Budget for stamp duty on top of your deposit, legal fees, and other buy costs.