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What is the Pensioner Stamp Duty Concession?

By Courtney Robinson | July 24, 2024 |

As a pensioner in Victoria, you may be eligible for a discount on stamp duty when purchasing your next home. This scheme is available to pensioners who hold an eligible concession card, such as the Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or Low-Income Health Card. You can find a list of eligible cards here.

At least one pensioner or concession cardholder involved in the transaction must own 25% or more of the property. In the common case of a couple purchasing a home jointly, only one of you will need to hold an eligible concession card at the time of purchase.

A full exemption applies if the home value is less than $600,000, and a discount is offered on a sliding scale for homes valued between $600,001 and $750,000. No concession is available for home values above $750,000. It’s important to note these thresholds apply to homes purchased from 1 July 2024. Different rules apply to homes purchased before this time.

The exemption or concession thresholds apply to the total value of the property, not your share. For example, the threshold is the same whether you purchase as a couple or a single person. There is no added benefit for you both to hold a concession card.

Some key criteria for the pensioner stamp duty concession include:

  • You must use the home as your principal residence. The concession does not apply to investment properties or holiday homes.
  • The home can be an existing dwelling, purchased off the plan, or built within 3 years of acquiring the land.
  • The exemption or concession applies to the greater of the price paid or its market value.
  • The exemption or concession is a one off benefit.

You can determine your exemption or concession using the State Revenue Office website calculator.

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss your eligibility in more detail, please contact our office.

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Posted in Centrelink, Mortgage, Retirement Planning

29 Comments

  1. Mrs Irena Drew on July 30, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    Hello
    I have a question as to the sliding scale re purchasing a home in Victoria? We are both pensioners and both hold a pensioner card. As we are going to buy and live in the home what would the concession on the stamp duty be say on a purchase of our first home in Victoria e.g……$800,000.00 to $900,000.00 ?
    I appreciate your help as we are moving from Sydney to be with our son when he returns from London. Thank you for your time.
    Kind Regards
    Irena and Rhett Drew

    Reply
  2. Jane C cole on October 12, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    I’m on a disability pension am I eligible for the stamp duty concession?

    Reply
  3. Gana on December 7, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    How does concession work on low-income healthcare cardholders

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on December 9, 2020 at 11:53 am

      Hi Gana

      I’m not sure I understand your question

      Could you please rephrase.

      Thanks

      Courtney

      Reply
  4. Peter and Alex Myers on December 16, 2021 at 1:22 pm

    I am a pensioner in Victoria, my wife won’t be until next November. My pension is based on the rate for a couple, even though she is not eligible. Does that mean we get the full discount on a house worth $660k,or does the government want it both ways and treat me as a single in this case?
    TIA,
    Peter.

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on January 17, 2022 at 8:39 am

      Hi Peter,

      Unfortunately you are correct, both partners are required to be holders of an appropriate concession card. By the sounds of it, you will receive a discount, your wife will not.

      All the best

      Courtney Robinson

      Reply
  5. oz on February 2, 2022 at 5:41 pm

    hi i bought a house in victoria for $990,000 my husband is pensioner and i am his career, and its my first house do i get any stamp duty back?
    thanks
    oz

    Reply
  6. Maureen on March 19, 2022 at 7:32 am

    I am a single person with a pension card. If I buy a property for $900,000 as a home to live in as I’m down sizing am I eligible for a concession on stamp duty
    Thank you
    Maureen

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on March 24, 2022 at 1:18 pm

      Hi Maureen,

      In Victoria, to receive any stamp duty discount, the value of your new home will need to be under $750,000.

      I suggest you use the pensioner stamp duty calculator on the State Revenue Office website.

      All the best

      Courtney Robinson

      Reply
  7. Brenda Maree Farey on April 6, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    Iam a single person who owns a house with my brother he is how in a nursing home and I wish to down size but still keep the new house in both our names, l will be at retiring age in Feb next year, is there any concessions we are eligible for,
    Thankyou Brenda

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on May 5, 2022 at 9:33 am

      Hi Brenda,

      Zac from our office specialises in both Aged Care and Centrelink matters and is best positioned to answer your questions.

      Please call our office on 03 5224 2700 and I’m sure he would be happy to help.

      Take care

      Muirfield Team

      Reply
  8. Kenneth Hart on June 10, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    Many years ago we received a stamp duty concession as we were buying our first home in Australia. Seeing that we have received a stamp duty concession during our working days are we still able to receive a stamp duty concession again now that we are both retired and on a pension? We are thinking of purchasing a home on the Mornington Peninsula

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on July 4, 2022 at 11:22 am

      Hi Kenneth,

      You may claim the stamp duty concession once using an approved Government concession card.

      However, by the sounds of it your original stamp duty concession fell under a different scheme, possibly the first home buyer scheme.

      If this is the case, you may be eligible to claim it for the first time using your concession card.

      I suggest you contact the State Revenue Office to confirm your specific case.

      All the best

      Courtney Robinson

      Reply
  9. lynda wabbis on August 21, 2022 at 6:53 pm

    I’m retired aged pensioner what’s the concession if I buy a apartment $399,000

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on August 23, 2022 at 11:09 am

      Hi Lynda,

      You can use the online calculator provided by the State Revenue office in your state to calculate your stamp duty concession.

      All the best

      Muirfield

      Reply
  10. dirk peeman on December 14, 2022 at 7:49 pm

    i am a pensioner with a concession. card my wife is on job seek) but has been unable to work due to health issues. she will be on the pension in about 4 weeks. will we be eligible for a stamp duty exemption as we are purchasing another home to liv e in? thank you muirfield team

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on January 10, 2023 at 5:01 pm

      Hi Dirk,

      The stamp duty concession comes with a number of eligibility criteria and considerations.

      Firstly, the home must be your principal residence. Second of all, to receive a full exemption for a couple, the home purchase price must be below $660,000 and it assumes both you and your wife have an applicable concession card.

      If you purchase a home worth more than $660,000, the concession is scaled back. In addition, if your wife does not hold an eligible concession card, the concession will only apply to your ownership stake in the home.

      I suggest you use the online calculator issued by the State Revenue Office, it’s quite intuitive.

      All the best.

      Muirfield

      Reply
  11. Dawn on June 2, 2023 at 2:48 pm

    My husband and I as age pensioners received a discount five years ago, when downsizing our home. Since then, my husband has passed away two years ago and I want to sell and move closer to my daughter. Am I eligible for a discount again? Thanking you, Dawn Dean.

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on July 4, 2023 at 11:51 am

      Hi Dawn, we’re sorry to hear of the passing of your husband.

      Unfortunately, the stamp duty concession can only be applied for once in your lifetime.

      If you require any assistance with your Centrelink benefits, please call us on 03 5224 2700.

      Take care.

      Reply
  12. Sharon dawn on March 24, 2024 at 7:09 pm

    I have the same problem where my husband passed away and we bought a house 17 years ago and claimed the one off pension. If I sell my house now do I have to pay full stamp duty? I am on a age pension.

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on April 2, 2024 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Sharon, unfortunately the pensioner stamp duty concession is a one off benefit.

      good luck with the house hunt.

      Regards

      The Muirfield Team

      Reply
  13. rudy on May 11, 2024 at 11:27 am

    All i find on the net is that stamp duty concession is free up to 330k. This contradicts the state revenue off on line calculator of 600k. I am single and confused.

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on June 27, 2024 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Rudy, thanks for the heads up, this article was written quite a few years ago and is out of date.

      Please refer to the State Revenue Office for up to date information.

      We will release updated figures in a new article in due course.

      Reply
  14. Marie Faye Anderson on August 2, 2024 at 4:30 pm

    when and how do I apply for Stamp Duty concession?

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on August 6, 2024 at 10:57 am

      Hi Marie, your conveyancer can help you determine your eligibility and apply for the concession.

      All the best.

      The Muirfield Team

      Reply
  15. Anna Farrugia on August 12, 2024 at 3:15 pm

    Hello I sold my house 2 years ago for the purpose of putting money in my Super
    And would like to buy a house valued up to $500000 would I have to pay Stamp duty on that.
    I hold a low income card ,but not on a Pension.
    Regards
    Anna Sinclair

    Reply
    • The Muirfield Team on August 15, 2024 at 9:38 am

      Hi Anna, based on the information you have provided you may be eligible for a full exemption.

      Your conveyancer can confirm this when preparing settlement documents.

      All the best with your purchase.

      The Muirfield Team

      Reply

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