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New calls for stamp duty reforms. Are you paying too much?

There are renewed calls for state governments to standardise car stamp duties across Australia, as some buyers pay substantially more than others.


The car industry has renewed calls for states and territories to standardise motor vehicle stamp duties across Australia – as figures show the cost varies from $360 to $1500 on an identical $35,000 family car.

Stamp duty is a state tax and one of the many charges that is bundled within on-road costs for both new and used cars.

On cars that cost $100,000, the stamp duty can vary from $3400 in one jurisdiction to $7900 in another.

Research conducted by CarAdvice shows each state and territory structures stamp duty differently, penalising motorists in some states while providing others with a significant cost saving. The table can be found at the end of this article.

Most states charge a flat rate on the cost of the vehicle, or a rising rate as the price increases. Some jurisdictions base stamp duty rates on emissions, engine size, or fuel type.

For example, in NSW stamp duty is charged at 3 per cent up to $45,000 and 5 per cent beyond that threshold, plus a nominal $1350.

In Victoria, from 1 July 2020 stamp duty will be calculated at approximately 4.2 per cent for vehicles that cost less than $68,740 ($8.40 for every $200 or part thereof).

From 1 July 2020, for vehicles between $68,741 and $100,000 sold in Victoria, stamp duty is equivalent to approximately 5.2 per cent ($10.40 for every $200 or part thereof).

From $100,001 to $150,000, the stamp duty on vehicles sold in Victoria are calculated at approximately 7 per cent (or $14 for every $200 or part thereof), and cars above $150,000 are calculated at approximately 9 per cent ($18.00 for every $200 of part thereof).

In Victoria, motor vehicle stamp duty is calculated on the entire price of the car, rather than a stepped system that only charges a percentage above each threshold, as is often done in other states. All low emission vehicles in Victoria are charged at the lowest stamp duty amount.

Queensland has a sliding scale approach, from 2 per cent for electric and hybrid vehicles, to 4 per cent for cars with eight cylinders or more.

The ACT also has a sliding scale, but calculates its stamp duty based on CO2 emissions. Vehicles producing less than 130g of CO2 per kilometre are not charged any stamp duty, rising to 6 per cent for cars over $45,000 that produce more than 220g of CO2.

Western Australia charges 2.75 per cent stamp duty for cars that cost less than $25,000, 6.5 per cent on every dollar for cars that cost more than $50,000. For vehicles valued between those two amounts the stamp duty is calculated as: [2.75 per cent + (dutiable value - 25,000)/6,666.66)].

In South Australia, passenger vehicles over $3000 are charged at a flat-rate of 4 per cent over that amount, plus $60. Stamp duty for new motor vehicles excludes the value of dealership accessories.

Tasmania charges a flat 3 per cent for vehicles valued up to $34,999, 11 per cent plus $1050 from $35,000 to $39,999, and a flat 4 per cent above that threshold.

The Northern Territory charges a flat rate of 3 per cent, no matter the value of the car, but many buyers are exempt. If you are transacting with a family member or someone you work with, this is considered a 'non-arm's length transaction' and you pay no stamp duty.

As you can see from the examples shown above, the cost for identical cars varies greatly depending on where they are registered – and the different calculations make it difficult for car companies to offer national drive-away deals, especially on dearer models.

James Voortman, the CEO of the Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) – an organisation representing 3500 showrooms nationwide – told CarAdvice: “The differing rates of stamp duty in the various states and territories is ridiculous, especially at the premium end of the market. It certainly adds to the difficulty of doing businesses.”

Mr Voortman said it has become “a lottery for consumers who are advantaged or disadvantaged simply because of where they reside”.

“There is no reason why the federal, state and territory governments cannot work together to introduce uniformity in these charges,” he said.

The boss of Mercedes-Benz Australia, Horst von Sanden, called stamp duty "a tax, upon a tax, upon a tax".

He says if stamp duty is overhauled, it should be streamlined to encourage safer and more environmentally-friendly cars.

“In many cases, [stamp duty] imposes significant extra taxes on cars fitted with the highest levels of safety, innovation, technology and fuel efficiency measures," said Mr von Sanden.

“Not every vehicle attracting the Luxury Car Tax and the highest rate of state-based stamp duty falls within the category of a luxury car.”

In addition to the stamp duty, new cars are subject to a 5 per cent import tariff (from Europe and UK), 10 per cent GST, and 33 per cent Luxury Car Tax (LCT) on every dollar above $68,740 – or $77,565 for fuel-efficient vehicles.

The Australian Tax Office defines a fuel-efficient vehicle as having an official average fuel consumption rate of less than seven litres per 100 kilometres of driving. Both LCT thresholds listed come into effect on 1 July 2020.

NSW and Victorian governments are currently considering changes to stamp duty as it applies to land, prompting the car industry to renew its campaign for motor vehicle stamp duty reform.

Import tariffs were introduced to help to protect the Australian car manufacturing industry. However, the tax remains, despite the end of local car manufacturing in 2017. LCT replaced Wholesale Sales Tax around the same time GST was brought in.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry (FCAI), the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), and the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) have all been vocal critics of inequitable stamp duties and the federal Luxury Car Tax.

CarAdvice has previously reported Toyota buyers pay more in LCT than do buyers of most luxury cars.

The table below provides two examples of the differences in stamp duty applied across Australia.

Mazda CX-5 Maxx AWDToyota LandCruiser VX
Price (MSRP)$35,980$102,590
Luxury Car TaxNA$10,520
NSW Stamp Duty$1080$4760
VIC Stamp Duty$1512$7910
QLD Stamp Duty$1080$6792
SA Stamp Duty$1380$4468
TAS Stamp Duty$1160$4528
WA Stamp Duty$1583$7352
NT Stamp Duty$1080$3396
ACT Stamp Duty$360$5892

Please note that this table has been produced for demonstration purposes and does not take into account all taxes, fees, charges, and other factors that may be applicable when purchasing a new car. Costs listed are indicative only. 

How stamp duty is calculated across Australia

New South Wales

Vehicle ValueStamp Duty Rate
Under $45,0003% per $100
$45,000+5% per $100 + $1350

Victoria

Vehicle ClassificationCO2 per kmNew/UsedVehicle ValueStamp Duty Rate
Passenger vehicleUnder 120 gramsNew or usedAny value$8.40 per $200
Passenger vehicle120+ gramsNew or usedUnder $67,525$8.40 per $200
Passenger vehicle120+ gramsNew or used$67,525 to $100,000$10.40 per $200
Passenger vehicle120+ gramsNew or used$100,000 to $150,000$14 per $200
Passenger vehicle120+ gramsNew or used$150,000+$18 per $200
Solos & commercial vehiclesNANew or usedAny$8.40 per $200

Queensland

Vehicle ClassificationStamp Duty Rate
Hybrid/electric vehicles2% per $100
1-4 cylinders / 2 rotors3% per $100
5-6 cylinders / 3 rotors3.5% per $100
7+ cylinders4% per $100

South Australia

ClassificationVehicle ValueStamp Duty Rate
Commercial & passenger vehiclesUnder $10001% per $100
Commercial & passenger vehicles$1000 to $20002% per $100 plus $10
Commercial$2000+3% per $100 plus $30
Passenger vehicles$2000 to $30003% per $100 plus $30
Passenger vehicles$3000+4% per $100 plus $60

Tasmania

Vehicle ValueStamp Duty Rate
Under $600$20
$600 to $34,9993%
$35,000 to $39,99911% plus $1050
$40,000+4%

Western Australia

Vehicle ValueStamp Duty
Under $25,0002.75%
$25,001 to $50,0002.75% + ((dutiable value - 25,000)/6,666.66)
$50,000+6.5%

Northern Territory

Transaction ClassificationStamp Duty Rate
Arm's length3%
Non-arm's lengthZero

Australian Capital Territory

ClassificationCO2 per kmVehicle ValueStamp Duty
A0-130Under $45,000Zero
A0-130$45,000+Zero
B131-175Under $45,0001%
B131-175$45,000+2% plus $450
C176-220Under $45,0003%
C176-220$45,000+5% plus $1350
D220+Under $45,0004%
D220+$45,000+6% plus $1800

Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.

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