Western Australia first home owner grant and stamp duty
Last checked
As at Next checkWestern Australia helps first home buyers with a grant for new homes and a lower rate of transfer duty, called the first home owner rate.
Changed in 2026: for transactions from 7 May 2026, the grant cap south of the 26th parallel rose to $800,000.[1] New first home owner duty thresholds also apply.[2]
- Grant: up to $10,000, new homes only
- New home value cap: $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, $1,000,000 north
- Transfer duty on a home: none up to $600,000, reduced up to $800,000
- The lower duty rate also covers established homes
The WA grant now
The first home owner grant is up to $10,000 for people buying or building their first new home. It also covers a home that has had substantial renovations. Established homes do not qualify.[1]
For transactions starting on or after 7 May 2026, the value cap is $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, which includes Perth. North of the 26th parallel the cap is $1,000,000. Before 7 May 2026 the southern cap was $750,000.[1]
You must be 18 or over when you apply, and at least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. There is no income or assets test.[1] Each applicant must live in the home as their main home for a continuous period of at least six months. That period must start within 12 months of completion.[1]
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First home owner grant # | Up to $10,000, new homes only (including substantially renovated homes) | [1] |
| Grant value cap # | $800,000 south of the 26th parallel; $1,000,000 north (transactions from 7 May 2026) | [1] |
| Transfer duty: new or established home # | No duty up to $600,000; then $16.15 for every $100 (or part) above $600,000. The value must not exceed $800,000 | [2][3] |
| Transfer duty: vacant land # | No duty up to $450,000; then $20.14 for every $100 (or part) above $450,000. The value must not exceed $550,000 | [2][3] |
| Living in the home # | Each applicant, for at least six months in a row, starting within 12 months of completion | [1] |
| Who can claim # | 18 or over; at least one applicant an Australian citizen or permanent resident; no income or assets test | [1] |
WA transfer duty for first home buyers
Eligible first home buyers pay transfer duty at the first home owner rate. It covers new and established homes, and vacant land you will build your first home on.[3]
For agreements from 7 May 2026, a home valued up to $600,000 pays no duty. From $600,001 to $800,000, duty is $16.15 for every $100, or part of $100, above $600,000. Above $800,000 the first home owner rate does not apply.[2] Vacant land pays no duty up to $450,000, then $20.14 for every $100 above that, up to $550,000.[2]
Eligibility follows the grant rules. An established home qualifies where you would have qualified for the grant except that the home is not new. You must still meet the grant's conditions, even though no grant is paid.[3] If you are not approved before settlement, duty is charged at the general rate. You can then apply for a reassessment and a refund.[3]
To estimate the duty on a particular price, use RevenueWA's official Transfer duty calculator.[4] We do not run our own duty calculator: the official one is maintained by the office that sets the rules.
Worked examples at $560,000 and $700,000
Take first home buyers in Perth who meet the rules, with an agreement made on or after 7 May 2026.
- A new home at $560,000: the grant of up to $10,000 may apply, because the value is under $800,000. There is no transfer duty, because it is under $600,000.[1][2] It is under both federal caps anywhere in WA, including the $600,000 rest-of-state cap.[5][6] A 5% deposit is $28,000; Help to Buy's minimum 2% deposit is $11,200.
- An established home at $700,000: no grant, because it is not new. At the first home owner rate, duty is $16.15 for each $100 above $600,000, which comes to $16,150.[2] RevenueWA's calculator confirms the figure for a real purchase. The price is under the $850,000 federal cap for Perth, but over the $600,000 cap elsewhere in WA.[5][6] A 5% deposit is $35,000.
This applies the published rules to stated prices. It is not a prediction of your result: eligibility depends on your circumstances and is decided by RevenueWA and the lender.
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How Western Australian support sits beside the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy
The federal 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy each set a property price cap by location. In Western Australia the higher cap covers Perth. Housing Australia lists no regional centres in Western Australia. The rest of the state has a lower cap.[5][6] Housing Australia says Help to Buy can be used together with state stamp duty concessions and grants.[7]
In Western Australia both federal schemes set the same caps: $850,000 for Perth and $600,000 for the rest of the state. The rest-of-state cap is the same figure as the $600,000 limit for paying no duty in WA. Outside Perth, south of the 26th parallel, a new home between $600,000 and $800,000 can still get the grant and the lower duty rate. But it is over both federal caps.
Help to Buy in WA
The Help to Buy price cap in WA is $850,000 for Perth, and $600,000 elsewhere in the state.[5]
5% Deposit Scheme in WA
The 5% Deposit Scheme price cap in WA is $850,000 for Perth, and $600,000 elsewhere in the state. These are the same as the Help to Buy caps. The minimum deposit is 5%, or 2% for eligible single parents.[6]
Caps apply by suburb and postcode; Housing Australia's postcode search confirms the cap for a particular address.[5]
How to apply, and who pays it
You apply for the grant and the first home owner rate on one form. Lodge Form F-FHOG1 with an approved financial institution or with RevenueWA.[3] You must apply for the grant within 12 months of the completion date.[1] If you have paid duty at the general rate, you can ask RevenueWA for a reassessment, generally within 12 months of settlement.[3]
Check before you rely on it. Grant and duty rules are administered by RevenueWA and change from time to time. General information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not a recommendation to enter into any credit contract. Eligibility is decided by the scheme administrator and the lender.
Compare Western Australia with every other state and territory in our first home buyer tracker. Or read how Help to Buy and the 5% Deposit Scheme work.
What changed
- : Grant value cap south of the 26th parallel raised to $800,000. It was $750,000.[1]
- : New duty thresholds: no duty up to $600,000, with the lower rate up to $800,000.[2]
Page history: every figure re-checked against the official pages listed below on .
Buying in Western Australia?
Zafar works with clients Australia-wide by phone and video call. He can check the Western Australia and federal rules against your situation and how they fit with a loan from his lender panel.
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Sources
- Government of Western Australia, About the first home owner grant. Retrieved .
- Government of Western Australia, Duties Fact Sheet: First Home Owner Rate. Retrieved .
- RevenueWA, First Home Owner Rate of Duty fact sheet (as at 28 July 2026). Retrieved .
- RevenueWA, Transfer duty calculator. Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Help to Buy property price caps. Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme fact sheet (headed 1 July 2026). Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Help to Buy: frequently asked questions. Retrieved .
Common questions
How much is the first home owner grant in WA?
Up to $10,000, for a new home or a substantially renovated one. For transactions from 7 May 2026, the value cap is $800,000 south of the 26th parallel and $1,000,000 north.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in WA?
Not on a home valued up to $600,000, for agreements from 7 May 2026. From $600,001 to $800,000, duty is charged at the lower first home owner rate. Above $800,000 that rate does not apply.
Does the WA first home owner rate cover established homes?
Yes. You can get it on an established home if you would have qualified for the grant except that the home is not new. The grant itself is for new homes only.
Is there an income test for the WA grant?
No. The WA Government's grant page says there are no income or assets tests. You must be 18 or over, and one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
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