Stamp Duty Exemptions for First Home Buyers in QLD [2026 Guide]

Stamp duty is often the cost that catches first home buyers off guard. You've saved your deposit, you've got your loan sorted, and then someone mentions transfer duty and suddenly there's another $15,000 to $25,000 sitting between you and the settlement. In Queensland, though, most first home buyers won't pay a cent of it.

The most significant change came on 1 May 2025: eligible buyers purchasing a new home or vacant land to build on now receive a full exemption with no price cap. The Queensland Government estimates the average saving for a first home buyer on a median-priced house-and-land package is $9,096.^[1] On established homes, zero duty applies under $700,000 with a sliding scale up to $800,000. Here's how each concession works and what you need to qualify.

Start by identifying the type of property you're buying, because each concession works a little differently.

New Homes: Full Exemption, No Price Cap

From 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers purchasing a new home or a substantially renovated home as their first residence pay zero transfer duty, regardless of the purchase price. Your contract must be dated 1 May 2025 or later. The contract date is the date you sign, not the date of settlement.

A "new home" means a property not previously occupied or sold as a residence. Off-the-plan qualifies. The seller provides a vendor statement confirming this (not required for off-the-plan). This is the first home (new home) concession.

Established Homes: Full Exemption Under $700,000

If you're buying an established home as your first property, the first home concession applies. This saves you up to $24,525 on properties valued under $700,000. Pay zero stamp duty. For properties between $700,001 and $800,000, a sliding scale partial concession applies. Above $800,000, no first home concession is available. The standard home concession (up to $7,175 saving) may still apply.

Vacant Land: Full Exemption, No Price Cap

From 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers purchasing residential vacant land to build their first home pay zero transfer duty with no land price cap. Previously the vacant land concession was capped at $400,000. That cap no longer applies for contracts dated 1 May 2025 or later.

You must intend to build your first home on the land and occupy it as your principal residence. Before May 2025, the full exemption was limited to land valued under $350,000, with a sliding scale up to $500,000.^[2] Both caps are now removed.

The table below shows the stamp duty position for first home buyers in QLD on established home purchases under the current rules (contracts on or after 9 June 2024).

First Home Buyer Stamp Duty QLD: Established Homes (2026)

For new homes and vacant land (contracts dated 1 May 2025 or later): duty is $0 regardless of purchase price.

Use the QLD transfer duty calculator to run your exact numbers, or use the borrowing power calculator to see how the stamp duty saving affects your overall budget.

Case Study: Sarah And Alex (Established Home, $650,000)

Sarah and Alex are buying an established home at $650,000. Under the first home concession, their stamp duty is $0. Without the concession, they'd be paying $13,175. That saving goes straight toward their moving costs and building a buffer in their offset account.

Case Study: Emily (Vacant Land, $480,000)

Emily is buying a $480,000 block of land to build her first home. Her contract is dated June 2025. Under the updated first home vacant land concession, she pays $0 transfer duty regardless of the land price. Previously, the cap was $400,000. Emily would have fallen outside it and faced a partial concession only.

Eligibility differs slightly between the three concessions, but the core requirements are consistent across all of them.

QLD First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Concession: Key Eligibility Requirements

Buying jointly with someone who has owned before? You can still claim the concession on your share. Run your numbers through the transfer duty calculator or ask your solicitor to model it out. For joint purchase finance options, see financing options for family property purchases in QLD.

The good news is that the application process isn’t lodged by you, but is handled almost entirely by your solicitor or conveyancer. 

1. Confirm eligibility before signing. Your broker and solicitor can help.
2. Solicitor prepares Form D2.1 (Claim a home, first home or first home new home transfer duty concession), along with the contract and any required valuation.
3. Documents lodged with the QRO at or after settlement. Duty must be paid within 30 days of settlement or contract signing, whichever is first.
4. QRO assesses the claim and notifies your solicitor. If approved, duty reduces to nil or the applicable partial amount.

Sorting your stamp duty eligibility is part of the pre-purchase work I do with every client at Blackk. If you're not sure which concession applies to your situation, book a free 20-minute call and we'll work it out together.

Claiming the concession comes with obligations after settlement. If you fail to meet them, the QRO can reassess your duty and require you to repay what was conceded, plus interest. Here's what can trigger that: 

• Not moving in within 12 months of settlement voids the concession.
• Selling or transferring before moving in voids it entirely.
• Renting out before moving in is not permitted. If tenants are already in place, rental income must stop within 6 months and you must move in within 12 months.
• Selling within 12 months of moving in may trigger a partial clawback.

In my experience, the most common issue is buyers who intend to move in but get delayed, by construction overruns, work commitments, or simply finding it hard to exit a rental lease. If you think your situation is borderline, talk to your solicitor before you sign anything.