The Victorian Budget 2026-27: A Property Buyer and Seller’s Breakdown

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes handed down the 2026-27 Victorian Budget on 5 May 2026. This article covers every change in the Budget Papers that touches a property transaction. Conveyancing does not have to be a daunting, complicated process, and a Budget summary should not be either. We have stuck to what the Budget actually says, with citations so you can verify each fact.

Quick summary: every property change in the 2026-27 Victorian Budget

One new tax, one extended concession, two announced reforms, and a list of items that continue unchanged. The off-the-plan stamp duty concession is extended six months to 20 April 2027 (BP3 p.100). A new Infrastructure Contributions charge applies in Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres from 1 January 2027 (BP5 p.169). Sellers will pay for building and pest inspections, and agents will publish actual sale prices, both subject to legislation later in 2026 (Budget Overview p.16).

Off-the-plan stamp duty concession: extended six months

The temporary land transfer duty concession for off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses now applies to contracts signed before 21 April 2027 (BP3 p.100; BP5 p.193). It is available to owner-occupiers and investors. The Budget describes the purpose as to “reduce upfront costs for purchasers, speed up construction, and make it more affordable to buy off-the-plan”. See our off-the-plan concession explainer.

Stamp duty rates: no changes

The Budget did not announce changes to stamp duty rates, brackets or thresholds. Land transfer duty revenue is forecast at $10.0 billion in 2026-27 (BP5 p.169). See our stamp duty 2026 guide.

First home buyer concessions: no changes

The Budget Overview confirms continuation of the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant and “stamp duty exemptions and reductions for eligible first home buyers” for properties up to $750,000 (Budget Overview p.16). No new measures, no threshold changes. Forgone revenue is $740 million in 2026-27 (BP5 p.196). See our first home buyer guide.

Land tax and the COVID Debt Levy: no changes

Land tax rates and thresholds are unchanged (BP5 p.169). The COVID Debt Levy on landholdings continues, forecast to raise $1.2 billion in 2026-27 and legislated to apply until 30 June 2033 (BP5 p.175). See our land tax 2026-27 guide and COVID Debt Levy explainer.

Vacant Residential Land Tax: no changes

The Budget did not announce changes to Vacant Residential Land Tax. The 2025 statewide expansion is an existing measure. Forgone revenue from the holiday home exemption was revised up to $567 million in 2026-27 (BP5 p.196). See our VRLT guide.

Foreign Purchaser Additional Duty and Absentee Owner Surcharge: no changes

The Budget did not announce changes to Foreign Purchaser Additional Duty or the Absentee Owner Surcharge. Existing exemptions, including build-to-rent, continue. Combined forgone revenue is $386 million in 2026-27 (BP5 p.196). The Federal Court class action against these duties has been narrowed to pre-2018 revenue only (BP5 p.205). See our Foreign Purchaser Additional Duty guide.

Windfall Gains Tax: no changes

The Budget did not announce changes to Windfall Gains Tax, which applies to certain land rezonings. Forecast revenue is $97 million in 2026-27, rising to $116 million in 2029-30 (BP5 p.169). The 2025-26 revised estimate of $54 million is almost double the $38 million original (Appendix A p.212).

Commercial and Industrial Property Tax: transition continues

The CIPT reform commenced 1 July 2024. Properties enter the system at their next sale, paying duty one final time. After 10 years, an annual CIPT applies (BP5 p.171 to 172). More than 12,000 properties have entered the reform, and businesses are expected to pay $714 million less in land transfer duty across the next four years. See our CIPT explainer or commercial conveyancing service.

New Infrastructure Contributions in Activity Centres (from 2027)

This is the only new property revenue measure. From 1 January 2027 a new Infrastructure Contributions charge applies to development in 10 pilot Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres, expanding to 48 more from 1 July 2027 (BP5 p.169; BP3 p.86). Forecast revenue rises from $7 million in 2026-27 to $140 million in 2029-30. Funds are ring-fenced for infrastructure within those centres. See our Infrastructure Contributions guide.

Building and pest inspections: sellers will soon pay

The Budget Overview announces legislation to shift the cost of pre-purchase building and pest inspections from buyers to sellers, “saving potential buyers the cost of multiple inspections” (Budget Overview p.16). No commencement date is specified, so until the legislation passes the existing position continues. See our inspections guide.

Sale price disclosure: agents to publish actual prices

Legislation requiring real estate agents to publish actual sale prices after settlement will be introduced “later this year” (Budget Overview p.16). This sits alongside the existing rule that agents publish the seller’s reserve before auction. No commencement date is specified. See our sale price disclosure guide.

Housing supply: the bigger picture

The Budget commits $860 million extra to the Social Housing Growth Fund for more than 7,000 homes over 10 years (Budget Overview p.18 to 19; BP3 p.95). It also commits $207 million for affordable housing and a $37 million land package covering greenfields, planning systems and the Development Facilitation Program (BP3 p.83 to 86). Suburban Rail Loop tunnelling starts in 2026, targeted to deliver “around 70,000 new homes over the next 30 years” (Budget Overview p.19).

Bushfire-affected property tax relief

The Treasurer has approved tax relief for owners affected by 2026 bushfires, including land transfer duty and land tax relief in specific circumstances (BP3 p.2 note (b)). The relief is not yet in budget estimates. If you are transacting on bushfire-affected land, contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Did the Victorian Budget 2026-27 change stamp duty? No. The Budget did not change stamp duty rates, brackets or thresholds. The only change is the six-month extension of the off-the-plan concession to contracts signed before 21 April 2027 (BP3 p.100). All other concessions continue unchanged.

When does the off-the-plan stamp duty concession end? It applies to contracts signed on or after 21 October 2024 and before 21 April 2027 (BP3 p.100). The Budget extended the original end date by six months from 20 October 2026.

Is the COVID Debt Levy on land ending soon? No. The Levy is legislated until 30 June 2033 (BP5 p.175). The Budget did not announce an early end date.

Are there new property taxes in the Victorian Budget 2026? Yes, one. The new Infrastructure Contributions charge applies in 10 pilot Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres from 1 January 2027, expanding to 48 more from 1 July 2027 (BP5 p.169). No other new property taxes were announced.

If you want to know how the Budget applies to your transaction, Tick Box Conveyancing can walk you through it. Your journey, our expertise. Get a fixed-fee quote through our instant quote tool or contact us. We also handle house conveyancing and off-the-plan conveyancing across Victoria.

This article summarises the Victorian Budget 2026-27 as published on 5 May 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. For matters specific to your transaction, contact Tick Box Conveyancing.