Highlights

  • Eligible South Australians aged 60 or over may receive stamp duty relief of up to AUD 103,830.
  • Full relief applies to eligible new homes and off-the-plan apartments valued at up to AUD 2 million.
  • The replacement property must have less land than the previous principal residence.
  • Applicants face deadlines for selling their existing home, moving in and reporting changed circumstances.

South Australia introduced stamp duty relief for eligible older homeowners who downsize to a newly built property, off-the-plan apartment or vacant land on which to construct their next principal residence. For contracts signed on or after 25 March 2026, the concession can materially reduce purchasing costs, but eligibility depends on the property type, its value and the buyer’s subsequent actions.

Which Properties Qualify for Relief?

For a newly built home or off-the-plan apartment, full stamp duty relief applies where the dutiable value does not exceed AUD 2 million. Partial relief is available above AUD 2 million but below AUD 2.1 million, after which the concession ends. For vacant land intended for construction of a new principal residence, the corresponding full-relief threshold is AUD 1.2 million, with partial relief below AUD 1.3 million.

The government places the maximum concession at AUD 103,830 for qualifying homes. The maximum relief for qualifying vacant land is AUD 59,830. These amounts reflect the duty otherwise payable at the applicable property thresholds; the actual benefit depends on the transaction.

Age, Residency and Smaller-Land Conditions

At least one applicant must have turned 60 by the contract date. At least one must also satisfy the relevant citizenship or residency requirement: Australian citizenship, permanent residency or an eligible New Zealand citizenship status. The existing home must have been the applicant’s principal place of residence in South Australia, and the new property must occupy a smaller land area.

Deadlines After Signing and Settlement

The previous home must be sold within 12 months before or after settlement of the replacement property. The applicant must begin occupying the new property within 12 months of settlement and reside there for at least six continuous months. Any relevant change in circumstances must be reported to RevenueSA within 14 days. The concession can be claimed only once.

How the Savings Work in Practice

Consider a hypothetical eligible couple where one partner is 63. They purchase a new apartment for AUD 1,146,500 and sell their larger South Australian family home within the required period. On the general conveyance duty scale, the indicative stamp duty is approximately AUD 56,887.50. If all concession requirements are fulfilled, that amount could be eliminated. The figure is illustrative rather than a guarantee of eligibility.

June 2026 figures recorded 483 registrations of interest and 16 approved applications. Registrations of interest have closed, but applications remain available.

Applying for the Concession

Eligible purchasers can arrange an application through their conveyancer or solicitor or deal directly with RevenueSA. Since eligibility can depend on circumstances after settlement, applicants should also confirm the notification and occupation requirements. The concession is distinct from any other stamp duty relief programme and should be assessed on its own terms.

Key Insights

South Australia’s downsizer relief offers a substantial potential reduction in Transaction Costs for residents aged at least 60 who move from an existing principal home to eligible smaller-land housing. The financial benefit is clearest for properties within the full-relief thresholds, while the sale window, occupancy period and one-time-use limit are important practical restrictions.