NSW slashes stamp duty to encourage construction

Aside from spurring new home construction, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the boost is expected to create jobs as part of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan.

“Thousands of people will see their bank balances benefit from this change – it will help get more keys into more front doors of more new homes,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“It will also boost housing construction across NSW and support jobs in the building industry at a time when we need them more than ever before.”

Under the changes, the threshold above which stamp duty will be charged on new homes for first home buyers will increase from the current $650,000 to $800,000, with the concession reducing on higher values before phasing out at $1 million.

The government forecasts that more than 6,000 first home buyers will benefit from the changes, saving eligible first home buyers thousands of dollars.

Moreover, under the changes, the stamp duty threshold on vacant land will rise from $350,000 to $400,000 and will phase out at $500,000.

The change to the thresholds will only apply to newly-built homes and vacant land, not to existing homes, and will last for a 12-month period commencing on 1 August 2020. 

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the changes would save first home buyers stamp duty of up to $31,335 on a new $800,000 home. 

“The current scheme has already helped over 93,000 first home buyers since July 2017 and this will give the construction industry extra support as we face the challenges of COVID-19,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“We need to ensure our building sites keep ringing with hammers and saws as that means more people working, and first home owners will save money in the process.” 

The NSW government will also continue to offer a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant, which is available to people buying a new first home worth no more than $600,000, or buying land and building a new first home worth no more than $750,000 in total. 

This means the maximum amount of benefit a home owner could be entitled to is $32,335 if purchasing a new home and accessing the grant.