Grant Thornton Australia

New South Wales has just undergone a public consultation regarding a swap from stamp duty to land tax over a decades long transition period. If it goes ahead it would be the largest shift in State tax policy since WW2. But is it a good idea and should all the States follow? Stamp duty is one of the most disliked taxes – it’s lumpy and comes at a time when property buyers are already under pressure to make their dollar go further. But perhaps it’s important to think of each State’s target demographic. Baby Boomers may prefer a known one-off stamp duty bill. Millennials could opt-in for a buy-now, pay-later annual land tax.