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Legislation to increase stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers has passed through the Western Australian Parliament.
The Western Australian Labor government has passed a law to increase stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers in an effort to improve housing affordability.
The Duties Amendment Bill 2025 is aimed at assisting first home buyers and people buying eligible properties off-the-plan.
The new legislation, first announced in March, passed on Tuesday (17 June) and increases transfer duty exemptions for first home buyers and extends the off-the-plan duty concession to 30 June 2026.
For purchases made after 21 March 2025, the stamp duty exemption threshold for house purchases in Perth and Peel has increased from $450,000 to $500,000.
The state government said the move means that Western Australians buying their first home under $500,000 could save nearly $18,000.
Meanwhile, the concession threshold for first home buyers increased from $600,000 to $700,000.
For house purchases in regions outside Perth and Peel, the stamp duty exemption threshold has increased from $450,000 to $500,000 and the concession threshold for first home buyers has increased from $600,000 to $750,000.
The stamp duty exemption threshold for statewide vacant land purchases has increased from $300,000 to $350,000, while the stamp duty concession threshold for first home buyers has increased from $400,000 to $450,000.
Off-the-plan changes
The off-the-plan duty concession has also been extended until 30 June 2026 with the new legislation, raising thresholds for the concession by $100,000.
As such, there will be a 100 per cent concession, capped at $50,000, for eligible properties valued up to $750,000 that are purchased before construction commences.
The concession phases down to a 50 per cent concession for properties valued above $850,000, capped at $50,000.
Similarly, a 75 per cent concession, capped at $50,000, is available for eligible properties valued up to $750,000, purchased while under construction.
This phases down to 37.5 per cent for properties valued above $850,000.
The changes to the first home buyers and off-the-plan duty concessions applied to purchases from 21 March 2025.
According to the Western Australian government, the new laws mean that about 22,000 first home buyers over the next four years will be assisted, with about 8,000 buyers no longer paying any transfer duty when buying their first home or vacant land to build their first home.
Western Australian Finance Minister David Michael said: “I’m proud to see this legislation pass through the WA Parliament last night, delivering on our election commitment to help more Western Australians achieve their dream of home ownership.
“It is significant legislation aimed at assisting first homebuyers but beyond that it will help those people looking at off-the-plan purchases.
“Other benefits include boosting housing density and choice and providing options when downsizing by buying off the plan.”
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