Where and when you actually pay

Property duty

In practice your conveyancer or solicitor handles this. Duty is normally assessed and paid at or before settlement, and the title cannot transfer until it is. Most states now settle electronically, and the duty is collected as part of that process rather than paid by you directly.

Deadlines differ, and they are usually expressed as a period after the contract date rather than after settlement — which catches people out on long settlements. If you are buying without a conveyancer, check the deadline on your revenue office's page before you sign.

Vehicle duty

Duty on a car is paid when the registration is transferred into your name, or when a new vehicle is first registered. A dealer will usually roll it into the drive-away price. In a private sale it is on you, and there is a deadline — typically 14 days from the date of sale, after which penalties apply.

You pay it to the transport or registration authority at the same time as the transfer, not separately to the revenue office.

Every office, in one place

What is not stamp duty

Two costs get confused with duty and are charged separately. On property, there are title registration and mortgage registration fees — small next to duty, but real. On a vehicle, registration, plates and compulsory third party insurance are all separate from the duty and often far larger than people expect.

Neither is included in our estimates, which cover duty only.