Stamp Duty & Registration
Also known as: registration fee, property transfer tax
Stamp duty is the government tax payable on registering a property transfer, charged as a percentage of the transaction value.
When a property changes hands, the buyer pays stamp duty and registration fees to legally record the transfer. The charge is a percentage of the declared transaction value (or the government valuation, whichever is higher) and varies by location and property type.
These costs are a significant part of the total acquisition cost and should be budgeted alongside the purchase price, agent fees, and any loan charges.
Estimating stamp duty early helps buyers understand the true cost of a property before committing.