Stamp Duty Calculator SA

South Australia offers a full stamp-duty exemption for eligible first-home buyers purchasing a new home or vacant land to build a home; however, this exemption does not apply to those purchasing an existing home.

Beyond first-home buyers, exemptions may also apply in other specific cases, such as: Transfers from a deceased estate to a beneficiary under a will.

Domestic partnership transfers, including those between spouses or de facto partners. Transfers of farming property between family members, subject to eligibility criteria.

Additional Support For First-Home Buyers

• First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): A one-off payment of up to $15,000 for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home.
• First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS): Now known as the First Home Guarantee, this federal program allows eligible first-home buyers to purchase a home with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Foreign Purchaser Stamp-Duty Surcharge

From 1 January 2018, foreign purchasers are required to pay a 7% foreign ownership surcharge on the value of their interest in residential land.

Stamp duty must be paid on or before settlement in South Australia. In cases where no formal settlement occurs (such as off-the-plan purchases or private agreements), stamp duty is payable within 60 days of signing the contract. Your conveyancer or solicitor will advise you on payment deadlines.

If stamp duty is not paid on time in South Australia, several consequences apply.

First, interest charges accrue on the unpaid amount, as per the Taxation Administration Act 1996 (TAA). The default interest rate is calculated by adding 8% to the market rate. For example, from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, the interest rate on unpaid tax is 12.36% a year.

Second, penalty tax is imposed based on the nature of the non-payment. If the non-payment was unintentional, a 25% penalty tax applies to the unpaid amount. However, if the non-payment was deliberate, the penalty increases to 75% of the unpaid tax.

Additionally, RevenueSA may take enforcement actions to recover the unpaid amount. These actions can include initiating a payment plan or arrangement, pursuing legal proceedings to recover the debt, or issuing garnishee orders on bank accounts or wages.

In certain circumstances, interest and penalties may be reduced or waived. RevenueSA may consider remission if there are valid reasons for late payment, such as financial hardship or administrative errors.

To avoid these penalties and legal actions, it is advisable to pay stamp duty on time. If payment cannot be made by the due date, contacting RevenueSA to arrange a payment plan is recommended.

Beyond stamp duty, several other costs arise when buying a house in South Australia. These include:

• Mortgage registration fee: About $170–$200, a flat fee for registering the mortgage.
• Conveyancing Fees: Typically range from $800 to $2000, covering legal services for the transfer.
• Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI): Required if the deposit is less than 20%, with costs varying by loan amount.
• Building and Pest Inspections: Around $400–$600, to assess the property’s condition.
• LTO Fees: Lands Titles Office fees, comprising lodgement and transaction fees, vary by property value. Exact rates should be checked at Land Services SA, as they may change.

From July 2020, the Land Transfer Fee in SA can be calculated using the table below: