Quick answer: the ACT stopped paying the First Home Owner Grant in 2019. Instead, from 1 July 2026, eligible buyers under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme pay $0 stamp duty on any home or vacant residential land, with no income test and no price cap. You (and your partner) can’t have owned property anywhere in the last 5 years, and you must live in the home for at least a year.
Because ACT stamp duty is high, the concession is worth far more than a typical grant. And unlike most states, it isn’t limited to strict first home buyers.
Who qualifies
- All buyers are individuals aged 18 or over, not buying through a company, trust or business partnership.
- No buyer or domestic partner has owned or held an interest in property, in Australia or overseas, in the 5 years before the contract date. Limited exemptions apply, for example after separation or family violence.
- From 1 July 2026 there’s no income test.
- At least one buyer moves in within a year of settlement (or of the occupancy certificate for land) and lives there continuously for at least one year.
What it covers
New homes, established homes and vacant residential land. For transactions from 1 July 2026 the property value limit has been removed, so eligible buyers pay $0 duty on any price. The scheme is self-assessed and the ACT Revenue Office checks claims later, so make sure you meet every rule before claiming.
How it stacks with other help
- 5% Deposit Scheme: eligible first home buyers can buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI, with an ACT price cap of $1,000,000. How it works.
- Duty deferral: if any duty is payable under another scheme, the ACT may let you defer it.
The ACT has no foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge; foreign owners pay a land tax surcharge instead.
First home grants by state: NSW · VIC · QLD · WA · SA · TAS · ACT · NT
Common questions
Is there a First Home Owner Grant in the ACT?
No. First Home Owner Grant payments in the ACT ended on 1 July 2019. The main help now is the Home Buyer Concession Scheme.
Who can get the ACT Home Buyer Concession?
Individuals 18 or over who, with their domestic partners, haven’t owned property anywhere in the last 5 years, and who live in the home for at least a year. From 1 July 2026 there’s no income test.
How much stamp duty do I pay with the concession?
For transactions from 1 July 2026, $0 on a home or vacant residential land, with no property value limit.
Does it apply to established homes?
Yes. It covers new homes, established homes and vacant residential land.
Can I use the 5% Deposit Scheme in the ACT?
Yes, if you’re eligible. The ACT price cap is $1,000,000.
Sources: ACT Revenue Office, Home Buyer Concession Scheme; 5% Deposit Scheme price caps. Checked 6 October 2026. General information only; the concession is self-assessed, so confirm your eligibility before claiming.
