‘Formalise stamp duty rebates’, WA government told

According to REIWA president Damian Collins, it’s important that the rebate becomes a permanent feature of Western Australia’s property tax system.

Not only would it secure ongoing construction jobs, it would aid in limiting urban sprawl, he flagged.

“The current 75 per cent stamp duty rebate for off-the-plan construction apartments has been essential in ensuring an ongoing pipeline of projects,” Mr Collins stated.

“We firmly believe that without this ongoing incentive, the demand for WA apartments will soften, impacting the steady supply of diverse housing and the creation of jobs for Western Australians.”

Mr Collins also noted that prior to the rebate’s introduction, off-the-plan apartment buyers were having to pay stamp duty on the combined value of the land and build.

This was at odds with tax payable house and land packages, where the purchaser has consistently been taxed solely on the land’s value.

He argued that the discrepancy “puts an unfair financial burden” on those looking to buy off-the-plan, with a number of potential purchasers forced to look elsewhere.

In some cases, the president said it’s even pushed people to buy in Perth’s outer suburbs – “in direct contradiction to the WA government’s commitment to reducing urban sprawl and promoting infill developments”.

While the 75 per cent rebate currently in place is countering this issue in the short term, Mr Collins warned that without a permanent scheme, apartment buyers would go back to being significantly disadvantaged when the rebate program ends in October.

“If our state is going to continue to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19, we need to ensure apartments remain desirable for buyers so there is a healthy supply of construction projects and jobs available,” he concluded.