FACTS
FOREIGN LANDHOLDER DUTY
Foreign buyers in Western Australia face a strict 7% Foreign Buyer Duty surcharge on top of standard transfer duty. Additionally, foreign persons are temporarily banned from purchasing established dwellings in Australia, requiring them to focus only on newly built properties or vacant land (subject to FIRB Approval).
https://www.wa.gov.au/service/financial-management/taxation-and-duty/about-foreign-buyers-duty
FIRST HOME BUYERS GRANT
First home buyers of vacant land with a building contract or newly built homes not lived in may be entitled to the First Home Owners Grant and rebate on Stamp duty.
No stamp duty is payable for newly built or established homes valued up to $600,000.00 with a concessional rate applied to those homes valued up to $800,000.00
No duty is payable for vacant land valued up to $450,000.00 with a concessional rate applied to vacant land valued up to $550,000.00
This applies to any contracts entered into on or after 7 May 2026
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/about-the-first-home-owner-grant
DUTY CHARGES (STAMP DUTY)
Use the link to calculate the stamp duty payable on your purchase.
https://www.wa.gov.au/service/financial-management/taxation-and-duty/calculate-your-transfer-duty
FIRST HOME BUYERS FEE ASSISTANCE
The scheme provides a grant of up to $2,000 for the settlement, mortgage premium and lending costs of first home buyers when they purchase an established or partially built home through a licensed Real Estate Agent for the purchase price of $500,000 or less.
If you do not purchase the property through a licensed Real Estate Agent you do not qualify for this assistance as it is funded by interest on Real Estate Agents trust accounts.
An Application can be downloaded by clicking on the link below :
https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/home-buyers-assistance-account
5% DEPOSIT SCHEME AND HELP TO BUY SCHEME
The first home owner grant is different to the Australian Government’s 5% Deposit Scheme and the Help to Buy Scheme.
https://firsthomebuyers.gov.au/australian-goernment-5-percent-deposit-sc
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-treasury-and-finance/help-buy-scheme-revenuewa
ATO TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
Under the new Australian Taxation Law when a property is sold f you as an owner are required to provide a Foreign Residential Capital Gains Withholding Clearance Certificate.
The certificate must be in the name of each person shown on the title so if more than one party owns the property then all parties must make the application and provide a clearance certificate in each name as shown on the Certificate of Title. If the property is in the name of a Trust, then we recommend you seek advice from your accountant immediately.
The Certificate must be provided prior to settlement to this office to pass onto the Buyer on settlement. If the Certificate is not provided, the Buyer must withhold 15% of the Purchase Price from you at settlement and send to the Australian Taxation Office.
You can either :
- Complete the application form online at the following link https://www.ato.gov.au/single-page-applications/frwt-certificate
or - contact your Accountant and arrange for them to carry out the Application on your behalf
INFORMATION ON MOVING
When do I have to move out if I have sold the property I reside in?
You must vacate your property by 12 noon the day following settlement unless there is an agreed arrangement between all parties to the Contract.
We are so excited to move into our new house when can we have access?
If the property is vacant on settlement you can collect your keys direct from your Real Estate Agent and access the property on completion of settlement. If the property is occupied then the Seller or Tenant has until 12 noon the day following settlement to move out and then you can access the property.
Who to contact when you move?
- Doctors / Specialist Office
- Bank
- Paper delivery
- Insurance and Superannuation companies
- Phone Company
- Loan Companies
- Electricity Company
- Gas Company
NO MORE PAPER TITLES
Landgate are not issuing Duplicate Certificate of titles from August 2023. Want to know more about what the change to the use of Duplicate Certificates of Title from August 2023 will mean for you? Find more info here:
https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/siteassets/documents/land-and-property/tla-fact-sheet.pdf
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2021
Whether you are a current land owner or prospective buyer you will be expected to carry out your own due diligence to determine the proximity to an Aboriginal heritage site before undertaking certain activities relating to moderate to high ground disturbing activities on properties of 1,100sqm or larger under new laws with respects to Aboriginal Heritage Act 2021 across WA. Read more here:
https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2022-11/ACH-Act-2021-ACH-Management-Code.pdf