Queensland Transfer Duty Explained. Rates Concessions and How to Calculate It

Queensland calls it transfer duty, not stamp duty, and operates a parallel concession schedule that delivers materially lower duty for buyers who will occupy their property as a home. A 2025 expansion of the first home buyer concessions removed the value cap on new builds and vacant land, which is the most generous first home buyer treatment of any Australian state. This guide walks through the 2026 schedule, the home concession, the expanded first home buyer concessions and how the calculation actually works.

AgentBridge publishes this for buyers and developers active in Queensland who want to model the duty cost accurately before signing. Figures are sourced directly from Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) and current as at 22 May 2026.

What Transfer Duty Is in Queensland

Transfer duty is a state tax on the dutiable value of a property transfer in Queensland. The dutiable value is the higher of the consideration paid or the unencumbered market value of the property. QRO administers the tax under the Duties Act 2001.

The buyer pays the duty. It falls due within 30 days of the contract becoming unconditional, or within 30 days of any later trigger event such as nomination of a substitute purchaser. Late payment attracts unpaid tax interest and penalty tax.

Queensland operates 2 main rate schedules. A standard rate applies to investment, commercial and non-PPR purchases. A separate home concession rate applies to buyers who will occupy the property as their principal place of residence. Two further concessions sit on top of the home concession for first home buyers.

The 2026 Queensland Transfer Duty Rate Schedule

Two schedules apply. Both are current for contracts entered into in 2026.

Standard Rate. Applies to investment property, commercial property and any purchase that does not qualify for the home concession.

Property Value Bracket	Duty Rate
$0 to $5,000	Nil
$5,001 to $75,000	$1.50 per $100 over $5,000
$75,001 to $540,000	$1,050 plus $3.50 per $100 over $75,000
$540,001 to $1,000,000	$17,325 plus $4.50 per $100 over $540,000
Over $1,000,000	$38,025 plus $5.75 per $100 over $1,000,000

Home Concession Rate. Applies to buyers acquiring the property as their principal place of residence (regardless of first home buyer status).

Property Value Bracket	Duty Rate
$0 to $350,000	$1.00 per $100
$350,001 to $540,000	$3,500 plus $3.50 per $100 over $350,000
$540,001 to $1,000,000	$10,150 plus $4.50 per $100 over $540,000
Over $1,000,000	$30,850 plus $5.75 per $100 over $1,000,000

The home concession has no upper price cap. Even a $5M owner-occupier home benefits from the lower rate up to $350,000, delivering a small saving regardless of price.

Worked Example. Calculating Duty on a $750k and $1.5M Purchase

Two worked examples show how the bracket method works in practice.

Example 1. $750,000 owner-occupied home in Brisbane.

Using the home concession rate, the $750,000 purchase sits in the $540,001 to $1,000,000 bracket. Duty is $10,150 plus $4.50 per $100 over $540,000.

The amount over $540,000 is $210,000. At $4.50 per $100 the variable component is $9,450. Total duty payable is $10,150 plus $9,450, or $19,600.

A first home buyer purchasing this same property would pay $0 under the first home concession (new home) or first home vacant land concession, both of which deliver a full exemption regardless of price for contracts dated on or after 1 May 2025. An existing home at $750,000 sits in the first home concession sliding scale, calculated below.

Example 2. $1,500,000 investment apartment on the Gold Coast.

Using the standard rate, the $1,500,000 purchase sits in the over $1,000,000 bracket. Duty is $38,025 plus $5.75 per $100 over $1,000,000.

The amount over $1,000,000 is $500,000. At $5.75 per $100 the variable component is $28,750. Total duty payable is $38,025 plus $28,750, or $66,775.

Foreign purchasers add 8% additional foreign acquirer duty (AFAD) on top, set out below. An owner-occupier purchasing the same apartment at $1.5M would use the home concession schedule, reducing duty to around $59,600.

First Home Buyer Concession or Exemption. Who Qualifies and What You Get

Queensland operates 3 separate first home buyer concessions, all sitting on top of the home concession rate. Eligibility is restricted to buyers who have never previously owned residential property anywhere in Australia (or any other country), are aged 18 or over, and will occupy the property as their principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months commencing within 1 year of settlement.

First home (new home) concession. Full duty exemption for first home buyers purchasing a brand new home (one that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence). No price cap applies. Available for contracts dated on or after 1 May 2025.

First home vacant land concession. Full duty exemption for first home buyers purchasing residential vacant land on which they will build their first home. No price cap applies. Available for contracts dated on or after 1 May 2025.

First home concession (existing home). Sliding-scale concession on top of the home concession rate for first home buyers purchasing an established (previously occupied) home. The concession deducts from the standard home concession duty calculation. Available for contracts dated on or after 9 June 2024.

Existing Home Purchase Value	Concession Amount (deducted from duty)
Up to $709,999	$17,350 (typically a full exemption)
$710,000 to $719,999	$15,615
$720,000 to $729,999	$13,880
$730,000 to $739,999	$12,145
$740,000 to $749,999	$10,410
$750,000 to $759,999	$8,675
$760,000 to $769,999	$6,940
$770,000 to $779,999	$5,205
$780,000 to $789,999	$3,470
$790,000 to $799,999	$1,735
$800,000 or more	Nil

For a $750,000 established home, a first home buyer would calculate duty using the home concession rate ($19,600 from the worked example above) then deduct the $8,675 first home concession. Net duty payable would be $10,925.

The combined effect of the home concession plus the new home / vacant land full exemption makes Queensland the most generous Australian state for first home buyers in 2026.

Foreign Purchaser Surcharge. What Applies

Foreign purchasers acquiring residential property in Queensland pay additional foreign acquirer duty (AFAD) of 8% of the dutiable value, charged on top of standard transfer duty.

A foreign acquirer includes individuals who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, foreign corporations and foreign trusts. AFAD applies only to residential property (or land where the buyer intends to construct a residence), not commercial or industrial property.

On the $1.5M Gold Coast example, AFAD of 8% adds $120,000 to the duty bill. Total duty for a foreign buyer becomes $66,775 plus $120,000, or $186,775.

Other Concessions Worth Knowing

Several other transfer duty concessions and exemptions exist in Queensland outside the first home buyer scheme.

Home concession. Detailed above. Available to any buyer (including subsequent home buyers) who will occupy the property as their principal place of residence. No price cap and no income test.

Spousal and de facto transfers. Transfers of an interest in a matrimonial or de facto home between spouses or partners are generally exempt, subject to specific occupation and ownership conditions.

Family Court and binding financial agreement transfers. Transfers ordered by a court or under a binding financial agreement following separation are exempt from duty.

Deceased estate transfers. Transfers to a beneficiary in accordance with a will or under the laws of intestacy attract no duty.

Farm-in / family farm transfers. Transfers of certain primary production property between family members may qualify for a full exemption, subject to occupation, use and relationship conditions.

Mortgage transfers. Transfer of a mortgage attracts a flat $5 nominal duty.

No general pensioner concession applies in Queensland separate from the home concession. Pensioners purchasing a principal place of residence will benefit automatically from the home concession rate.

How and When You Pay

Transfer duty in Queensland is self-assessed by the buyer's solicitor or registered self-assessor at the time the contract becomes liable for duty. A duty endorsement is added to the transfer documents lodged at the Titles Registry.

Duty must be paid before the transfer can be registered with Titles Queensland. In practice, payment is settled through the buyer's solicitor at settlement, drawn from the buyer's settlement funds or loan proceeds.

The strict legal deadline is 30 days after the contract becomes liable for duty (typically when the contract becomes unconditional). Late payment attracts unpaid tax interest at a published rate and penalty tax up to 75% of the unpaid duty in serious cases.

Speak to a licensed solicitor or self-assessor for advice on timing and any concessions that may apply to your specific purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Queensland charge any stamp duty on a brand new home for a first home buyer? No. For contracts dated on or after 1 May 2025, the first home (new home) concession delivers a full duty exemption on a brand new home with no price cap. The buyer must be a genuine first home buyer (never owned residential property anywhere) and must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months commencing within 1 year of settlement.

What is the difference between the home concession and the first home concession in Queensland? The home concession is available to any owner-occupier buyer and uses a lower bracket schedule. The first home concession is an additional deduction on top of the home concession, available only to first home buyers. Two further first home concessions for new homes and vacant land deliver full exemption with no price cap.

Does Queensland charge stamp duty on off-the-plan apartments? Yes, but duty is calculated using the same schedules as completed property. Queensland does not have a separate off-the-plan duty concession equivalent to Victoria's or South Australia's. First home buyers purchasing brand new off-the-plan units qualify for the first home (new home) concession and pay no duty regardless of price.

Is there a stamp duty surcharge for foreign buyers in Queensland? Yes. Additional foreign acquirer duty (AFAD) of 8% applies to residential property purchases by foreign persons, on top of standard transfer duty. AFAD does not apply to commercial or industrial property.

How long do I have to pay transfer duty in Queensland? Duty is due within 30 days of the contract becoming liable for duty (typically when the contract becomes unconditional). In practice, the buyer's solicitor settles duty at settlement. Late payment attracts interest and penalty tax.

Related Resources

• Australian Stamp Duty Explained State by State — AgentBridge national pillar on transfer duty across all 8 states and territories.
• How to Buy Property in Queensland — the full Queensland purchase process from offer to settlement.
• Queensland First Home Concession and Grants for 2026 — companion guide to the FHOG and the wider Queensland first home buyer support landscape.

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Last reviewed: 22 May 2026. Figures sourced from Queensland Revenue Office. This article is general information only and does not constitute financial product advice. Confirm current rates and your eligibility directly with QRO or a licensed solicitor before signing any contract.