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Our free ACT calculator applies the current rates and concessions for you.
How conveyance duty is calculated in the ACT
Duty is charged on the dutiable value of the property: the purchase price or market value, whichever is greater. The 2026-27 scale is:
| Property value | Duty |
|---|
| $0 to $260,000 | $0.28 per $100 (owner-occupier rate) |
| $260,001 to $300,000 | $728 plus $2.20 per $100 over $260,000 |
| $300,001 to $500,000 | $1,608 plus $3.40 per $100 over $300,000 |
| $500,001 to $750,000 | $8,408 plus $4.32 per $100 over $500,000 |
| $750,001 to $1,000,000 | $19,208 plus $5.90 per $100 over $750,000 |
| $1,000,001 to $1,455,000 | $33,958 plus $6.40 per $100 over $1,000,000 |
| Over $1,455,000 | Flat $4.54 per $100 on the total value |
What you might pay
Estimates for an owner-occupier under current ACT rates. Figures exclude title registration and other fees.
| Price | Owner-occupier
(established) | First home buyer
(established) | First home buyer
(new home) |
|---|
| $500,000 | $8,408 | $0 | $0 |
| $650,000 | $14,888 | $0 | $0 |
| $750,000 | $19,208 | $0 | $0 |
| $850,000 | $25,108 | $0 | $0 |
| $1,000,000 | $33,958 | $0 | $0 |
Your circumstances change the numbers. Run your own figures in the ACT calculator.
Concessions and exemptions
Home Buyer Concession Scheme
From 1 July 2026, eligible buyers pay no conveyance duty at all, with the income test and property price cap both removed. All buyers (and partners) must be 18 or over and must not have owned property in the past 5 years, and at least one buyer must live in the home for 12 months starting within a year of settlement.
Off-the-plan unit duty exemption
From 1 July 2026, owner-occupiers buying off-the-plan units or townhouses pay no duty, with the price cap removed. A 12 month residence requirement applies.
Owner-occupier rates
Eligible owner-occupiers pay lower rates than investors across most price brackets, provided they live in the home for 12 continuous months.
Pensioner Duty Concession
Eligible pensioners downsizing pay no duty, with the price cap removed from 1 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in the ACT?
From 1 July 2026, eligible buyers under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme pay no conveyance duty at all, with the income test and property value cap both removed. All buyers and their partners must not have owned property in the past five years, and at least one buyer must live in the home for at least 12 months starting within a year of settlement.
When is stamp duty payable in the ACT?
The ACT uses a barrier-free model: you do not pay duty at exchange or settlement. You lodge your title documents within 14 days of settlement, and after the title is registered you receive a notice of assessment, with payment due within 14 days of that notice.
How much is stamp duty in the ACT?
Conveyance duty is charged on a sliding scale that the ACT Government has been steadily cutting, with owner-occupiers paying lower rates than investors. A $700,000 owner-occupied home attracts $17,048 under 2026-27 rates. Rates change each 1 July, so use our calculator above for your figure.
Is stamp duty being abolished in the ACT?
It is being phased down, not yet abolished. Since 2012 the ACT has been gradually cutting conveyance duty and replacing the revenue through general rates. The 2026-27 Budget removed duty entirely for eligible home buyers who have not owned property in five years, but general buyers still pay duty.
Do pensioners get a stamp duty concession in the ACT?
Yes. The Pensioner Duty Concession Scheme lets eligible pensioners who are downsizing pay no duty, and from 1 July 2026 the property price cap was removed. You must sell your former home and live in the new one.
Is there a stamp duty exemption for off-the-plan apartments in the ACT?
Yes. The off-the-plan unit duty exemption gives owner-occupiers, not just first home buyers, a full duty exemption on off-the-plan units and townhouses, with the price cap removed from 1 July 2026. You must live in the property for at least a year.
Who pays stamp duty, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer pays conveyance duty in the ACT. Because of the barrier-free model, buyers do not need the cash at settlement itself; the bill arrives after the title is registered, with 14 days to pay.
Do foreign buyers pay a stamp duty surcharge in the ACT?
No. The ACT has no foreign purchaser surcharge on conveyance duty, making it unusual among Australian jurisdictions. Foreign owners may instead pay a land tax surcharge, and Commonwealth FIRB approval and fees still apply.
How we check these ACT rates
Rates apply to transactions on or after 1 July 2026 (the ACT re-rates each 1 July under its tax reform program). Verified against official government sources, current as at 11 July 2026.
Compare with other states in our Australia-wide stamp duty FAQ, or jump straight to the ACT stamp duty calculator.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Duty is assessed by the relevant state revenue office; confirm your figure with your licensed conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor.
