Stamp duty in South Australia: a plain-English guide

Stamp duty (officially conveyance duty) is a state tax you pay when you buy property in South Australia. First home buyers pay no stamp duty on a new home, an off-the-plan home or vacant land to build on, with no price cap. Established homes don't get first home buyer relief. Figures checked November 2026.

Concessions that can reduce your duty

First home buyers: new homes

Full stamp duty relief on a new home, an off-the-plan apartment or a house-and-land package, with no value cap. You need to live in the home for at least six months.

Vacant land to build on

Full stamp duty relief on vacant land you'll build your first home on, also with no value cap.

First Home Owner Grant

A $15,000 grant for buying or building a new home, with no price cap. You can usually claim it as well as stamp duty relief, but you apply for each separately.

Established homes pay full duty

First home buyers of established homes pay standard duty. Foreign buyers generally also pay a 7% foreign ownership surcharge.

Who pays, and when

The buyer pays stamp duty. Your conveyancer or solicitor usually arranges payment as part of settlement, so you need the funds ready by then.

Duty is calculated on the price you pay, or the property's market value if that's higher. Because relief only applies to new homes and land, buying new rather than established can save a first home buyer tens of thousands of dollars.

Relief isn't automatic. Your conveyancer or solicitor usually lodges the application with RevenueSA as part of settlement.

Planning for stamp duty

1

Set your price range

Duty rises with the price, so it changes your real budget.

2

Check your concessions

Buying new unlocks stamp duty relief and the $15,000 grant.

3

Run the numbers

Use our stamp duty calculator for an estimate on a specific price.

4

Build it into your loan plan

We'll factor duty and other costs into your pre-approval so there are no surprises.

Stamp duty questions

Can I add stamp duty to my home loan?

Usually it's paid from your savings. Some lenders will lend enough to cover costs if you have a strong deposit or equity, often with lenders mortgage insurance. We'll tell you what's possible.

Do I pay stamp duty on vacant land?

Yes, but first home buyers get full relief on vacant land they'll build their first home on, with no value cap.

Do investors get stamp duty concessions?

First home buyer relief requires you to live in the home. Investors generally pay standard duty.

Where can I check the official rates?

RevenueSA publishes current rates and eligibility rules. We check our figures against them, and our calculator uses current rates.

This information is general in nature and is based on South Australian rules as at November 2026. It doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Duty rates, thresholds and eligibility are set by RevenueSA and can change; check your situation with RevenueSA or your conveyancer.

Get your full buying costs worked out

We'll include stamp duty, fees and any concessions in your pre-approval plan.

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