Check the current rules before you commit
Tasmania’s duty rates, first home buyer concessions and any temporary exemptions get changed by the state budget from time to time. Confirm what applies on your settlement date with the State Revenue Office Tasmania or your conveyancer before you sign anything.
What is stamp duty in TAS?
Stamp duty, formally called transfer duty, is the tax the Tasmanian government charges when property changes hands. For most buyers it is the biggest single upfront government cost after the deposit itself.
The buyer pays it, not the seller, and it is normally settled at or around settlement as part of completing the transfer. It is calculated on the purchase price (or the property’s value, whichever is higher), and it sits on top of your deposit, so it is real cash you need ready before the keys change hands.
TAS stamp duty: what you’ll actually pay
Here is what transfer duty works out to across a range of Tasmanian purchase prices, alongside what an eligible first home buyer pays once the 50% concession is applied.
| Purchase price | Standard buyer | First home buyer |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $14,000 (effective 3.5%) | $7,000 (saves $7,000 (50%)) |
| $500,000 | $18,250 (effective 3.65%) | $9,125 (saves $9,125 (50%)) |
| $650,000 | $24,625 (effective 3.79%) | $12,313 (saves $12,313 (50%)) |
| $800,000 | $31,188 (effective 3.9%) | $15,594 (saves $15,594 (50%)) |
| $1,000,000 | $40,188 (effective 4.02%) | $20,094 (saves $20,094 (50%)) |
| $1,500,000 | $62,688 (effective 4.18%) | $31,344 (saves $31,344 (50%)) |
These are owner-occupier estimates and exclude any foreign buyer surcharge. For an exact figure on your own price, run it through the full stamp duty calculator.
Quick estimate
Stamp duty calculator
Estimated stamp duty
$26,750
382.00% effective rate on $700,000
This is a simplified estimate using current state brackets. For an exact figure factoring in foreign-buyer surcharges, off-the-plan concessions, or pensioner rebates, use the full calculator
How TAS stamp duty is calculated
Tasmania uses a tiered, marginal scale. Each band has a fixed base amount plus a rate that applies only to the portion of the price inside that band, so duty climbs gradually as the price rises rather than jumping in one hit. There is no duty on the first $3,000.
| Property value | Duty payable |
|---|---|
| $0 to $3,000 | Nil |
| $3,001 to $25,000 | 1.75% of the value above $3,000 |
| $25,001 to $75,000 | $437.50 plus 2.25% of the value above $25,000 |
| $75,001 to $200,000 | $1,562.50 plus 3.5% of the value above $75,000 |
| $200,001 to $375,000 | $5,937.50 plus 4% of the value above $200,000 |
| $375,001 to $725,000 | $12,937.50 plus 4.25% of the value above $375,000 |
| Over $725,000 | $27,812.50 plus 4.5% of the value above $725,000 |
4.5%
The top marginal rate on the value of a TAS home above $725,000.
No duty applies on the first $3,000
Working through a $650,000 home shows how it stacks up: you start with the $12,937.50 base for the $375,001 to $725,000 band, then add 4.25% of the $275,000 above $375,000, which is $11,687.50. Together that is $24,625, matching the table above.
First home buyers in TAS
Tasmania gives eligible first home buyers a 50% concession on the stamp duty payable. That is the saving already reflected in the first home buyer column above, and it roughly halves the bill rather than removing it.
Tasmania has also run a temporary full exemption for first home buyers of established homes up to a value cap. Whether that is in force, and what the cap is, changes with state budgets, so check the current settings with the State Revenue Office Tasmania before you rely on the 50% figure being the best you can get.
For the full grant and scheme detail, including eligibility and how to apply, read our TAS first home buyer guide.
Foreign buyers and surcharges
Tasmania charges an 8% foreign investor duty surcharge on residential property bought by foreign persons. It applies on top of the standard transfer duty, so a foreign buyer pays the usual scaled duty plus 8% of the property value again. The worked examples above do not include this surcharge, since they assume an owner-occupier buyer.
When do you pay stamp duty in TAS?
Transfer duty is generally due within about three months of the transaction, and in practice it is paid at or around settlement. Your conveyancer or solicitor usually arranges the payment as part of completing the transfer, so it comes out of the funds at settlement rather than something you lodge yourself.
The practical point is cash flow: the duty is money you need available on settlement day, separate from your deposit. Factor it into your savings target from the start so it does not catch you out late in the purchase.
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Common questions
How much is stamp duty in TAS?
It depends on the purchase price, because Tasmania uses a tiered rate scale. On a $650,000 home a standard buyer pays $24,625, which works out to an effective rate of about 3.79%. On a $500,000 home it's $18,250, and on an $800,000 home it's $31,188. An eligible first home buyer pays half of those figures. Use the calculator on this page for your exact price.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in TAS?
Most do, but at a reduced rate. Tasmania gives eligible first home buyers a 50% concession on the duty payable, so the bill is roughly halved rather than wiped out. On a $650,000 home that takes the duty from $24,625 down to $12,313. Tasmania has also run a temporary full exemption for first home buyers of established homes up to a value cap at various points, so check the current settings with the State Revenue Office Tasmania before you rely on the 50% figure.
When do you pay stamp duty in TAS?
Generally within about three months of the transaction, and in practice it's settled at or around settlement day. Your conveyancer or solicitor usually arranges the payment as part of completing the transfer, so you rarely deal with the State Revenue Office directly. Budget for it as cash you need available at settlement, on top of your deposit.
Can you avoid or reduce stamp duty in TAS?
You can't avoid it on a standard residential purchase, but eligible first home buyers reduce it through the 50% concession on the duty payable. Tasmania has also offered a temporary full exemption for first home buyers of established homes up to a value cap, so it's worth checking the current State Revenue Office Tasmania settings before you assume the 50% figure is the best you can do. Beyond that, the main lever is buying within a price tier that keeps your duty lower.
Is stamp duty the same across Tasmania?
Yes. Tasmania sets transfer duty at the state level, so the same rate scale applies whether you buy in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport or a rural part of the state. The figure is driven by the purchase price and your eligibility for the first home buyer concession, not by where in Tasmania the property sits.
Keep reading
Stamp Duty Calculator
Estimate your TAS stamp duty in seconds.
ReadFirst Home Buyer Guide TAS
Grants, schemes and the TAS buying process.
ReadBuying Property in Australia
The complete step-by-step buying process.
ReadHow Much Deposit Do You Need?
Deposit, LMI and the schemes that waive it.
ReadConveyancing in Australia
What conveyancers do and what they cost.
Read