WA Transfer Duty Explained: Rates Concessions and How to Calculate It

Western Australia lifted its first home owner duty thresholds significantly in the 2026-27 housing taxation package announced on 7 May 2026. The new thresholds apply to transactions entered into on or after 7 May 2026, with one threshold statewide. This guide walks through the current schedule, the first home owner rate and how the calculation works on a typical Perth purchase.

AgentBridge publishes this for buyers and developers active in WA who need an accurate duty figure for budgeting. Figures are sourced directly from RevenueWA and the Department of Treasury and Finance, and current as at 22 May 2026. Confirm the live position with RevenueWA before settlement.

What Transfer Duty Is in WA

Transfer duty is a state tax on the dutiable value of a property transfer in Western Australia. The dutiable value is the higher of the consideration paid or the unencumbered market value of the property. RevenueWA (part of the Department of Treasury and Finance) administers the tax under the Duties Act 2008.

The buyer pays the duty. It falls due within 2 months of the dutiable transaction date. Late payment attracts penalty tax.

WA operates 3 rate schedules. A general rate applies to commercial and investment property. A concessional rate applies to principal place of residence purchases (and small WA business assets) up to $200,000. A first home owner rate (FHOR) delivers a full exemption or concession for eligible first home buyers within set thresholds.

The 2026 WA Transfer Duty Rate Schedule

Three schedules apply. All are current for contracts entered into in 2026.

General Rate. Applies to investment property, commercial property and PPR purchases over $200,000 that do not qualify for the FHOR.

Concessional Rate. Applies to principal place of residence purchases (or WA business assets) with a dutiable value of $200,000 or less.

The concessional rate phases out at $200,000. Above this threshold, the general rate applies even to a principal place of residence purchase. The first home owner rate (set out below) provides materially better relief for eligible first home buyers.

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 Perth.

The PPR concessional rate phases out at $200,000, so this purchase falls under the general rate. The $750,000 value sits in the over $725,000 bracket. Duty is $28,453 plus $5.15 per $100 over $725,000.

The amount over $725,000 is $25,000. At $5.15 per $100 the variable component is $1,287.50. Total duty payable is $28,453 plus $1,287.50, or $29,740.50 (rounded to $29,741).

An eligible first home buyer purchasing this same property under a contract entered into on or after 7 May 2026 pays the first home owner rate instead. The amount over $600,000 is $150,000. At $16.15 per $100 the duty is $24,225. Under the thresholds that applied before 7 May 2026, a Perth or Peel buyer at $750,000 would not have qualified for the FHOR (which capped at $700,000 metro / $750,000 regional).

Example 2. $1,500,000 luxury home in Cottesloe.

The $1,500,000 purchase sits in the over $725,000 bracket. Duty is $28,453 plus $5.15 per $100 over $725,000.

The amount over $725,000 is $775,000. At $5.15 per $100 the variable component is $39,912.50. Total duty payable is $28,453 plus $39,912.50, or $68,365.50 (rounded to $68,366).

Foreign purchasers add 7% additional foreign transfer duty on top, set out below.

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

The WA First Home Owner Rate of duty (FHOR) changed on 7 May 2026. The rates turn on the date the agreement is entered into, not the settlement date.

Current FHOR thresholds (transactions on or after 7 May 2026).

Established or new home (one threshold statewide):

• No duty for properties up to $600,000.
• Duty of $16.15 per $100 over $600,000 for properties between $600,001 and $800,000.
• No FHOR concession above $800,000.

Vacant land:

• No duty for vacant land up to $450,000.
• Duty of $20.14 per $100 over $450,000 for vacant land between $450,001 and $550,000.
• No FHOR concession above $550,000.

Earlier FHOR thresholds (transactions from 21 March 2025 to 6 May 2026).

Established or new home:

• No duty for properties up to $500,000.
• Concessional duty for properties between $500,001 and $700,000 (metro / Peel, $13.63 per $100 over $500,000) or $500,001 and $750,000 (regional, $11.89 per $100 over $500,000).
• No FHOR concession above the upper bracket.

Vacant land:

• No duty for vacant land up to $350,000.
• Concessional duty for vacant land between $350,001 and $450,000 ($15.39 per $100 over $350,000).
• No FHOR concession above $450,000.

Buyers who entered into an eligible transaction on or after 7 May 2026 and paid duty at the earlier rates can apply to RevenueWA for a reassessment and refund.

To qualify under the FHOR, the buyer must be a natural person aged 18 or over, at least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and neither the buyer nor their spouse can have previously owned residential property in Australia. The buyer must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of 6 months commencing within 12 months of settlement.

A separate WA First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 is available for first home buyers building or buying a brand new home. Detailed in the companion WA First Home Owner Grant article.

Foreign Purchaser Surcharge. What Applies

Foreign persons acquiring residential property in WA pay foreign transfer duty of 7% of the dutiable value, charged on top of standard transfer duty. The 7% rate has applied to transactions on or after 1 January 2019.

A foreign person includes individuals who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, foreign corporations and foreign trusts. Foreign transfer duty applies only to residential property, with specific exclusions for aged care facilities, commercial residential premises and retirement villages.

On the $1.5M Cottesloe example, foreign transfer duty at 7% adds $105,000 to the duty bill. Total duty for a foreign buyer becomes $68,366 plus $105,000, or $173,366.

Other Concessions Worth Knowing

Several other transfer duty concessions and exemptions exist in WA outside the FHOR.

Concessional rate (small PPR or WA business assets up to $200,000). Detailed above.

Off-the-plan duty concession. An off-the-plan concession applies to new dwellings bought before or during construction. For contracts entered into from 12 March 2026, it runs to 30 June 2028, the full concession applies to purchases valued up to $800,000 and phases down to the base concession above $900,000, and eligibility extends to survey-strata and community titles (land) schemes as well as single-tier and multi-tier strata. Pre-construction purchases receive up to 100% relief and under-construction purchases up to 75%, capped at $50,000. Confirm eligibility with RevenueWA before relying on the concession.

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 conditions.

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

Deceased estate transfers. Transfers to a beneficiary in accordance with a will or under the laws of intestacy attract nominal duty only.

Farm-in agreements. Specific concessions apply to farm-in arrangements for mining and exploration tenements.

No general pensioner concession applies in WA separate from the FHOR.

How and When You Pay

Transfer duty in WA is assessed by RevenueWA based on the executed contract or transfer. The conveyancer or solicitor acting for the buyer lodges the document for assessment through Revenue Online or the manual lodgement process.

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

The strict legal deadline is 2 months from the date of the dutiable transaction. Late payment attracts penalty tax that increases with the length of delay.

Speak to a licensed conveyancer or settlement agent for advice on timing and any concessions that may apply to your specific purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new WA first home owner stamp duty thresholds announced in May 2026? The 2026-27 housing taxation package announced on 7 May 2026 lifted the FHOR thresholds for transactions entered into on or after that date. Eligible first home buyers pay no duty on homes up to $600,000 (previously $500,000), with concessional duty up to $800,000 (previously $700,000 metro / $750,000 regional). Vacant land thresholds rose to $450,000 (no duty) and $550,000 (concession).

Can I get a refund if I paid duty at the old rates on a contract signed on or after 7 May 2026? Yes. Eligible transactions entered into on or after 7 May 2026 that were assessed at the earlier rates can be reassessed, and RevenueWA refunds any overpaid duty. Lodge the reassessment request through RevenueWAConnect. Contracts entered into before 7 May 2026 stay on the earlier thresholds.

Does WA have a foreign buyers stamp duty surcharge? Yes. Foreign transfer duty of 7% applies to residential property purchases by foreign persons, on top of standard transfer duty. The 7% rate has applied since 1 January 2019. Aged care, commercial residential and retirement village properties are excluded.

What stamp duty does a WA first home buyer pay on a $650,000 established home in Perth? For a contract entered into on or after 7 May 2026, $650,000 sits in the FHOR concessional band between $600,001 and $800,000, attracting duty of $16.15 per $100 over $600,000. Duty is $8,075. Under the thresholds that applied before 7 May 2026, the same purchase sat in the metro band between $500,001 and $700,000 at $13.63 per $100 over $500,000, or $20,445.

Is there a WA pensioner concession on stamp duty? No general pensioner concession applies separately to transfer duty in WA. Pensioners may benefit from the concessional rate if they purchase a low-value principal place of residence at $200,000 or less, or from the FHOR if they are eligible first home buyers.

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 Western Australia: the full WA purchase process from offer to settlement.
• WA First Home Owner Grant and Concessions for 2026: companion guide to the FHOG and the wider WA first home buyer support landscape.

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Figures sourced from RevenueWA and the WA Department of Treasury and Finance. This article is general information only and does not constitute financial product advice. Confirm current rates and your eligibility directly with RevenueWA or a licensed settlement agent before signing any contract.