First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Concession Perth, WA, The 2026 Guide
If you're buying your first home in Perth, WA, one of the biggest costs you can reduce before you even get to settlement is stamp duty. The WA Government updated its first home owner rate of duty in May 2026, lifting the exemption and concession thresholds significantly, and first-time buyers are in a stronger position now than they've been in years.
The change means you pay no transfer duty at all on homes up to $600,000, and a reduced concessional rate on homes up to $800,000. For a buyer stretching toward the upper end of that range, the saving runs to tens of thousands of dollars compared with paying the standard rate.
Our team helps first home buyers across Perth, WA understand exactly what they're entitled to and how it fits alongside the other schemes on offer. The first home loan side of it, including how the concession affects your deposit and borrowing position, is where most of the difference is made.
Key takeaways
- No stamp duty on first homes priced at or under $600,000 in WA.
- A concessional rate applies on first homes from $600,001 to $800,000.
- Vacant land carries its own lower thresholds: nil to $450,000, concession to $550,000.
What is the first home buyer stamp duty concession in Perth, WA?
The first home owner rate of duty is a WA Government concession that reduces or eliminates the transfer duty payable when you buy your first home. From 7 May 2026, the thresholds were lifted as part of the 2026-27 Housing Taxation Package, giving first home buyers in Perth, WA meaningfully more breathing room on purchase price before duty kicks in.
Source: RevenueWA (wa.gov.au 2026-27 Housing Taxation Package).
How does the WA first home duty concession actually work?
Transfer duty is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. Without the first home owner rate, even a modest Perth purchase attracts a material duty bill at the standard rate. The concession replaces that calculation with a more favourable one for eligible first home buyers, and at the lower end of the market it removes the duty charge entirely.
The thresholds that apply from 7 May 2026 are different for homes and for vacant land, and it's worth knowing which applies to your purchase before you budget.
The most common thing I see is buyers budgeting for full stamp duty when they don't need to. Once we work through the concession thresholds, there's often a meaningful difference in what they need to bring to settlement, which changes the whole deposit conversation.
Joe Del Borrello · Director, Launch Finance · Chat to the Launch team →
What are the duty thresholds first home buyers in Perth, WA need to know?
The concession applies to both new and established homes, which is a meaningful difference from the First Home Owner Grant (which is restricted to new builds). Whether you're buying an established house in Morley or a new apartment in Ellenbrook, the concession is available on the same terms.
Homes and residential properties:
- › Up to $600,000: nil duty. You pay nothing in transfer duty on the purchase.
- › $600,001 to $800,000: a concessional rate applies. The saving tapers as the price approaches the upper threshold. Use the RevenueWA calculator for the exact figure on your purchase price.
- › Above $800,000: the full general rate of duty applies, as though no concession exists.
Vacant land:
- › Up to $450,000: nil duty on vacant land purchases.
- › $450,001 to $550,000: concessional rate, tapering toward the top of the band.
- › Above $550,000: full standard duty applies.
From 7 May 2026, duty eligibility is also now separate from the First Home Owner Grant cap, so a buyer can receive the concession on a home above the $800,000 FHOG cap, and can receive the FHOG on a new home even if the property sits within the duty concession band. The two entitlements are assessed independently.
Source: RevenueWA (wa.gov.au 2026-27 Housing Taxation Package).
What government schemes can first home buyers in Perth, WA use alongside the concession?
The duty concession doesn't stand alone. Most first home buyers in Perth combine it with one or more federal or state schemes, and understanding which ones stack matters before you make an offer.
The key pathways to consider:
- › WA First Home Owner Grant:$10,000 for new homes only, capped at $800,000 in Perth. Established homes don't qualify. This combines with the duty concession on a new build.
- › First Home Guarantee (5% Deposit Scheme): buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI, with the government guaranteeing the gap. No income test applies from October 2025. Perth cap is $850,000.
- › Help to Buy: the federal shared-equity scheme where the government co-buys up to 30% of an established home or 40% of a new build. Income caps apply: $103,000 for singles, $165,000 for couples and single parents. Perth price cap is $850,000. Cannot be combined with the Keystart Urban Connect Shared Equity scheme.
- › Keystart Urban Connect Shared Equity: the WA Government's own shared-equity pathway for new apartments, townhouses, villas, units and small-lot new builds to $800,000. Government equity share up to 35%. Income caps $128,000 singles, $197,000 couples and families. Confirm places remain in the 1,000-loan allocation before relying on this.
- › Home Buyers Assistance Account: up to $2,000 toward incidental purchase costs on homes priced at $500,000 or less, for buyers using a licensed WA real estate agent and financing through a lender. No approved suburb currently has a house or unit median under $500,000, so this applies to very specific situations in Perth.
The duty concession and the FHOG are both available alongside the federal guarantee schemes and Help to Buy. The one combination that is not available is Help to Buy combined with any other state shared-equity scheme.
Source: RevenueWA and Housing Australia.
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What does the concession mean for your deposit and borrowing power in Perth?
Understanding the duty saving in dollar terms matters because it directly affects how much cash you need at settlement, which in turn affects your deposit strategy and your LVR.
On a home at the $600,000 mark, a first home buyer pays no duty at all under the 2026 thresholds. At the standard general rate, that same purchase would attract a material duty bill. The saving stays in your pocket and can be directed toward your deposit, your upfront costs, or your cash buffer after settlement.
Where your purchase sits in the $600,001 to $800,000 band, you'll pay something, but less than the standard rate. The exact figure depends on your purchase price, and the RevenueWA calculator gives you the precise number. What matters for your borrowing position is that the concession reduces the cash you need to bring to settlement, which can mean the difference between reaching a 10% deposit and needing LMI, or stretching to 20% without it.
REIWA data shows that house medians in outer growth corridors such as Midland ($710,000), Armadale ($700,000), Maddington ($767,550), Gosnells ($760,000) and Cannington ($800,000) sit within or close to the concession band. Unit medians across most of Perth's middle and outer suburbs also sit comfortably under the $800,000 threshold, meaning the concession is genuinely relevant across a wide part of the market, not just the very bottom end.
Source: REIWA (Landgate data, August 2026).
What do first home buyers in Perth need to qualify for the duty concession?
The first home owner rate of duty is administered by RevenueWA. Eligibility is assessed at the time of the transaction, not at application, so it's worth confirming your position with a settlement agent before you sign a contract.
What lenders and RevenueWA typically look for:
- › First home buyer status: you (and any co-buyer) must not previously have held a relevant interest in residential property in Australia.
- › Occupancy intention: you must intend to use the property as your principal place of residence. Confirm the full residency and occupancy period with RevenueWA, as the rules carry their own conditions.
- › Purchase price within the threshold: the concession applies only at or under $800,000 for homes, and at or under $550,000 for vacant land. Above those figures, standard duty applies in full.
- › Transaction date: the updated thresholds apply to transactions entered into on or after 7 May 2026. Earlier contracts use the previous thresholds.
- › Foreign buyers: foreign persons pay a 7% foreign transfer duty surcharge on their share of a WA residential property, on top of any standard duty. The first home owner rate may still reduce the base amount, but the surcharge applies separately.
The duty concession is now also separate from the FHOG cap. You can qualify for the duty concession on a home priced above $800,000 if it satisfies the standard duty threshold conditions, and you can receive the FHOG on a new home below $800,000 independently of whether you also receive a duty concession. Confirm the interaction for your specific purchase with RevenueWA or your settlement agent.
When does the stamp duty concession not make sense to rely on alone?
For most first home buyers in Perth, the duty concession is worth taking, and the new 2026 thresholds make it relevant across a much wider price range than before. But there are situations where buyers over-focus on it and underplan elsewhere.
If your purchase price sits just above $600,000, the concession is valuable but it doesn't eliminate duty entirely. A buyer who budgets as though the saving is zero will be pleasantly surprised; a buyer who budgets as though the saving removes all settlement costs may be caught short on cash.
The concession also does nothing for buyers whose purchase price exceeds $800,000. Most Perth house medians sit well above that level, which means a large share of the market, particularly in the inner and middle ring suburbs, attracts full standard duty regardless. In those situations, the better levers are usually deposit size, loan structure and lender selection, not the duty position.
For buyers using the Home Buyers Assistance Account, the $500,000 price limit means it is effectively unavailable across almost all of Perth's current market. It's worth knowing it exists, but it should not drive your suburb or property choice.
Where I'd focus, if I were in a first home buyer's position right now, is on understanding which savings stay in the deposit and which ones just reduce the settlement bill. The duty concession reduces what you owe at settlement, but it doesn't automatically improve your LVR. Working out how to direct that saving is usually the more useful conversation.
Joe Del Borrello · Director, Launch Finance · Chat to the Launch team →
How do you claim the concession and buy your first home in Perth, step by step?
Step 1: Talk to us
We work through your deposit position, your borrowing capacity and which schemes you're eligible for, including how the duty concession affects the cash you need at settlement.
Step 2: Confirm your eligibility and get pre-approved
We assess your income, deposit and first home buyer status across our lender panel, then secure your pre-approval so you can make an offer with confidence.
Step 3: Match you to the right lender and submit
We select the lender whose policy best fits your income type and purchase price, prepare the application, and submit it with all supporting documents.
Step 4: Manage approval through to settlement
We handle lender queries and coordinate with your settlement agent, who lodges the duty concession claim with RevenueWA on your behalf at settlement.
What approval challenges do first home buyers face when claiming the concession?
The duty concession itself is administered by RevenueWA and is generally straightforward once your settlement agent lodges the claim. The challenges that affect first home buyers most often sit in the loan application, not the duty form.
Where buyers lose ground:
- › Misjudging total settlement costs: the duty saving reduces one line item, but buyers who count it as a deposit reduction before settlement can arrive short on other costs, including the mortgage registration fee, settlement agent fees and the cash buffer most lenders want to see post-settlement.
- › Purchasing above the threshold without realising: a buyer who makes an offer at $810,000 on a home they assumed sat inside the concession band pays full duty on the whole amount. The $800,000 ceiling is a hard cutoff, not a gradual fade.
- › Prior property ownership disqualifying a co-buyer: where one applicant has previously held a relevant interest in Australian residential property, neither buyer qualifies for the first home owner rate, even if the other applicant is genuinely a first home buyer. This is the eligibility rule that surprises couples most often.
- › Applying for schemes that don't stack: Help to Buy cannot be combined with the Keystart Urban Connect Shared Equity scheme. Buyers who apply for both without knowing this will have one declined. A broker maps the combination before you apply, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the first home stamp duty concession apply to established homes in Perth?
Yes, the WA first home owner rate of duty applies to both new and established homes. The First Home Owner Grant does not apply to established homes, but the duty concession does, making it a broader entitlement than the grant.
What is the exact duty saving on a $650,000 first home purchase in Perth, WA?
The concessional rate in the $600,001 to $800,000 band reduces your duty below the standard rate, but the exact saving depends on your purchase price. Use the RevenueWA online calculator for the precise figure, as no flat rate is held here.
Can I claim the duty concession and the First Home Owner Grant on the same purchase?
Yes, if your purchase qualifies for both. The FHOG applies only to new homes up to $800,000 in Perth, while the duty concession applies to new and established homes up to the same ceiling. Both can apply to an eligible new home purchase simultaneously.
Does using the 5% Deposit Scheme affect my stamp duty concession eligibility?
No, the First Home Guarantee and the stamp duty concession are separate entitlements assessed independently. Using a 5% deposit under the guarantee scheme does not affect your duty position, provided you otherwise qualify for the first home owner rate.
What happens to stamp duty if my purchase price is exactly $800,000?
A purchase price of exactly $800,000 sits at the top of the concession band for homes and attracts the concessional rate rather than full standard duty. At $800,001, full standard duty applies to the whole amount. Confirm the precise position for your transaction with RevenueWA.
Should I use a mortgage broker or go directly to a lender for my first home loan?
A mortgage broker, every time. A broker compares your options across a wide lender panel, knows which lenders' policies suit first home buyers with a concessional deposit, and co-ordinates the pre-approval timing with your scheme eligibility, all of which a single lender cannot do.
Your Next Steps
Getting the stamp duty concession right as a first home buyer in Perth, WA is only one part of the picture. Your lender, your loan structure and how you direct the duty saving all shape what you can genuinely afford and how quickly you can get into the market.
Ready to find out which lenders will work best for your first home purchase? Contact the Launch Finance team or call 08 9367 4222. We'll canvas our 60+ lender panel and find the most suitable options for your circumstances.
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External Resources
Launch Finance · Perth, WA · Launch Finance Pty Ltd (ABN 17 163 528 701), Corporate Credit Representative 454041 of BLSSA Pty Ltd (ABN 69 117 651 760), Australian Credit Licence 391237 · General information only - this article does not constitute financial advice. Please consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.
