Preparing financially
Victorian first-home buyer duty exemption and concession
Pay no or reduced Victorian land transfer duty as an eligible first-home buyer — who qualifies, the dutiable-value thresholds, the residency requirement and the 30-day notification rule if your plans change.
- No duty on eligible Victorian first homes up to the exemption threshold, and a reduced rate on a sliding scale up to the concession ceiling — above that, the Victorian benefit doesn't apply.
- Eligibility generally requires never having owned residential property in Australia — and your spouse or partner's ownership history counts too.
- At least one purchaser must live in the home as their principal residence for 12 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement (vacant land has its own 12/36-month rule).
- If your residency plans change, you generally must notify the SRO in writing within 30 days — the SRO then reassesses the duty rather than an automatic clawback.
This guide covers Victoria's own first-home buyer duty exemption and concession in full detail. Every other state and territory runs a genuinely different scheme — see first-home buyer duty concessions outside Victoria for the full NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT comparison.
Exemption and concession thresholds
Eligible first-home buyers pay no Victorian land transfer duty on a home valued up to $600,000 (State Revenue Office Victoria, verified 7 Aug 2026), and a reduced (concessional) rate on a sliding scale up to $750,000 (State Revenue Office Victoria, verified 7 Aug 2026) — above that ceiling, this first-home buyer benefit doesn't apply at all. The figure that matters is the property's dutiable value, generally the higher of the purchase price or market value — for vacant land, the separate building contract isn't included in that figure. Delora doesn't publish exact calculated duty amounts here since they depend on your specific price and circumstances — use the SRO's own calculator for a transaction-specific figure.
Who actually qualifies?
Beyond the value thresholds, purchasers generally need to be natural persons, at least 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, buying at market value, and intending to live there as their principal place of residence. You're generally ineligible if you, your spouse or your partner have previously owned residential property in Australia — this is a stricter test than just checking your own ownership history. Family-violence relief and a disability exception can apply in limited circumstances — ask your conveyancer if either might be relevant.
The residency requirement
At least one purchaser must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for 12 continuous months, generally starting within 12 months of settlement (State Revenue Office Victoria, verified 29 Jul 2026). For vacant land, the clock works differently — you generally need to move in by whichever comes first: 12 months from when you can lawfully occupy it (usually the occupancy certificate) or 36 months from settlement.
If you become aware you won't meet the residency requirement — a job relocation, a relationship change, an early resale — you generally need to notify the SRO in writing within 30 days. Missing this condition doesn't "claw back" the concession automatically; rather, the SRO can reassess the duty payable. If you paid full duty because the concession wasn't claimed at settlement, you can generally seek a refund within five years.
Practical checklist
Before relying on this exemption or concession
- Confirm the property's dutiable value against the current thresholds
- Check every purchaser (and their spouse/partner) meets the ownership-history test
- Plan for the 12-month continuous residency requirement before settlement
- If buying vacant land, check the 12-months-from-occupancy or 36-months-from-settlement rule
- Ask your conveyancer to confirm the exact duty payable at your specific price
Questions for a professional
- What is my exact duty liability at this purchase price, including the concession?
- Does my spouse or partner's ownership history affect my eligibility?
- What happens to the concession if my residency plans change after settlement?
- Do I also qualify for the First Home Owner Grant on this same purchase?
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- First home buyer duty exemption or concession — State Revenue Office Victoria (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.