Stamp Duty QLD 2026: Rates, Exemptions & Calculator

Queensland stamp duty (officially called transfer duty) is one of the biggest upfront costs when buying property in the state. For a median-priced Brisbane house, it can easily exceed $15,000. But QLD also offers some of the most generous first home buyer concessions in the country — including a $30,000 First Home Owner Grant.

Here's everything you need to know about stamp duty in Queensland for 2026.

QLD stamp duty rates 2026

Queensland uses a progressive rate structure — the more expensive the property, the higher the rate on each band:

Quick examples

• $500,000 property: ~$8,750 stamp duty
• $700,000 property: ~$15,925 stamp duty
• $900,000 property: ~$24,925 stamp duty
• $1,200,000 property: ~$42,100 stamp duty

Use our QLD Stamp Duty Calculator for an exact figure based on your property price and buyer type.

First home buyer concessions in QLD

Queensland offers two separate benefits for first home buyers — and you can get both:

1. First Home Concession (stamp duty reduction)

For first home buyers purchasing a home to live in, Queensland Revenue Office says the first home concession applies to eligible homes valued under $800,000 and can save up to $24,525. There are separate QRO concessions for first home new homes and for vacant land, so the exact duty outcome depends on the property type.

In other words: don't assume one flat threshold covers every first-home purchase in Queensland. Check the specific QRO concession page that matches the property you're buying, and make sure you meet the residence requirements after settlement.

2. First Home Owner Grant ($30,000)

A cash grant of $30,000 for first home buyers purchasing or building a new home valued up to $750,000. Key requirements:

• Must be a brand new home (never lived in) or substantially renovated
• Property value must not exceed $750,000
• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Must live in the home as your principal residence for at least one continuous year
• Neither you nor your partner can have previously owned property in Australia

Combined, an eligible first home buyer purchasing or building a qualifying new home in QLD may be able to receive the $30,000 grant and also reduce transfer duty under the relevant QRO concession. But the exact transfer duty result depends on whether it is a new home, an existing home or vacant land.

Foreign buyer surcharge

Foreign buyers (non-Australian citizens and non-permanent residents) pay an Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) of 8% on top of standard stamp duty. This is one of the highest foreign buyer surcharges in the country.

On a $750,000 property: standard stamp duty (~$18,000) + AFAD ($60,000) = approximately $78,000 in total transfer duty.

Stamp duty on investment properties

Investors pay the standard stamp duty rates with no concessions. Unlike some states, QLD doesn't have a separate higher rate for investors (beyond what they pay by missing out on owner-occupier concessions).

However, investors can claim stamp duty as a cost base adjustment for capital gains tax purposes — it increases your cost base and reduces CGT when you eventually sell.

When is stamp duty due in QLD?

In Queensland, stamp duty is payable within 30 days of settlement. Your conveyancer or solicitor will usually arrange payment as part of the settlement process. If you're capitalising it into your loan, the lender handles the payment.

QLD vs other states

How does Queensland compare?

• vs NSW: QLD is generally cheaper. NSW charges higher rates on properties over $1M and has a lower first home buyer threshold
• vs VIC: Similar base rates. VIC offers first home buyer exemptions and concessions under the existing duty framework — not a broad annual property tax option.
• vs SA: Very similar rates. SA has a slightly lower first home buyer threshold
• vs WA: WA is generally cheaper for properties under $700,000, but QLD's first home concession is more generous

Use our All-States Stamp Duty Calculator to compare costs across every state and territory.

Tips to reduce your QLD stamp duty bill

1. Match the concession to the property type — QLD has different first-home rules for homes, new homes and vacant land
2. Buy new for the $30,000 grant — combined with the concession, this is an enormous benefit
3. Negotiate the purchase price — every dollar below a threshold saves you money
4. Buy vacant land and build — stamp duty is only on the land value, not the total build cost
5. Consider off-the-plan — some off-the-plan purchases attract stamp duty only on the land component at the time of contract, not the completed value