Surcharge purchaser duty

Surcharge purchaser duty 

If you’re classified as a foreign person, you must pay an eight per cent surcharge on the value of any residential land you buy. 

This is known as surcharge purchaser duty, and it's in addition to any transfer duty. 

You may also have to pay surcharge purchaser duty on other types of transactions, such as declaring a trust or transferring a lease. 

Foreign corporations and trusts may also have to pay the surcharge. 

Foreign person 

You’re generally considered a foreign person, unless: 

you're an Australian citizen 

you've lived in Australia for more than 200 days in the 12 months before the purchase date, and you're: 

a New Zealand Citizen, who holds a subclass 444 visa or 

a permanent resident of Australia. 

Declaring your status 

When you buy residential property, you must complete a purchaser/transferee declaration and provide supporting documents so we can determine whether you must pay surcharge purchaser duty. 

If there are multiple purchasers/transferees, everyone must complete a declaration. 

Declaration for individuals 

Declaration for companies and trusts 

Other supporting outlined in the explanatory notes must be provided upon request.