Stamp duty

What is stamp duty?

Stamp duty is a general purpose tax that is imposed on various types of documents and transactions relating to property acquisitions such as land, mining tenements, exploration licences, business property and interests in land holding corporations and unit trusts.

It is also imposed on leases of land where valuable consideration is given for the lease (in addition to or without rent), policies of general insurance, deeds relating to trusts and the transfer and issue of motor vehicle certificates of registration.

View an overview of these documents and transactions, including rates, concessions and exemptions.

View further information on the general administration of stamp duty including the period for lodgement of documents and payment of duty, interest and penalties, objection rights and refunds.

Recent changes to stamp duty

Abolition of stamp duty on a conveyance of non-land property

Stamp duty was previously imposed on conveyances of non-land business property such as:

• goodwill
• intellectual property
• statutory licences.

On 9 May 2023, stamp duty on transfers and other conveyances of non-land property was abolished.

In addition, a stamp duty exemption applies to chattels (i.e. goods) conveyed with a lease where the lease has nil or nominal value, which often occurs when a small business is acquired.

Stamp duty will continue to apply to conveyances of:

• land and buildings
• mining and petroleum interests
• goods such as plant and equipment when conveyed with an interest in land.

You must continue to lodge instruments evidencing these transactions with the Territory Revenue Office (TRO) or through your conveyancer or solicitor in accordance with the conveyance-by-return scheme arrangements they have with the TRO.

Contracts signed before 9 May 2023

If your contract was signed before 9 May 2023, the laws in force at the relevant time will apply. Anti-avoidance rules are in place to ensure the laws can’t be circumvented by replacing an existing contract with a new contract.

House and land package stamp duty exemption

A House and Land Package stamp duty exemption is in place for certain contracts to purchase a house and land package, signed between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2027.

See Stamp duty exemption on nt.gov.au for more information.

Electric vehicle stamp duty concession

From 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2027, a stamp duty concession for eligible plug‑in electric vehicles is available.

See Get registration and stamp duty concessions for electric vehicles on nt.gov.au for more information.

Contact

For more information contact TRO.