{"id":"BILL-WA-D83AFDAC0B9A49D248258C67000BE0FE","name":"Duties Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"duties-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-04-09","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446169,"registerId":"BILL-WA-D83AFDAC0B9A49D248258C67000BE0FE:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-04-09","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-08T16:47:41.590Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Duties Amendment Bill 2025\n\n4—1 page i\nWestern Australia\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\nContents\n1. Short title 2\n2. Commencement 2\n3. Act amended 2\n4. Section 3 amended 2\n5. Section 141 amended 2\n6. Section 142 amended 3\n7. Section 266E amended 3\n8. Section 266F amended 4\n9. Section 266FA amended 5\n10. Section 266G amended 5\n11. Section 266L amended 6\n12. Section 266O amended 8\n13. Schedule 2 Division 2 amended 9\n14. Schedule 3 amended 10\nDivision 14 — Provisions for Duties Amendment\nAct 2025\n81. Terms used 10\n82. Relevant first home owner concessional\ntransaction 11\n83. Application of amended first home owner\nconcession provisions 11\n84. Provisions relating to amendments to\nChapter 6A 12\n15. Other provisions amended 13\n\npage 1\nWestern Australia\nLEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\nA Bill for\nAn Act to amend the Duties Act 2008.\nThe Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 1\npage 2\n1. Short title1\nThis is the Duties Amendment Act 2025.2\n2. Commencement3\nThis Act comes into operation as follows —4\n(a) sections 1 and 2 — on the day on which this Act5\nreceives the Royal Assent;6\n(b) the rest of the Act — on the day after that day.7\n3. Act amended8\nThis Act amends the Duties Act 2008.9\n4. Section 3 amended10\nIn section 3 insert in alphabetical order:11\n12\nfirst concessional transaction has the meaning given13\nin section 142(2);14\nfurther concessional transaction has the meaning15\ngiven in section 142(2);16\n17\n5. Section 141 amended18\n(1) In section 141(1) delete the definitions of:19\nfirst concessional transaction20\nfurther concessional transaction21\n(2) In section 141(1) insert in alphabetical order:22\n23\nmetropolitan region has the meaning given in the24\nPlanning and Development Act 2005 section 4(1);25\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 6\npage 3\nPeel region means the Peel Region described in the1\nPlanning and Development Act 2005 Schedule 42\nitem 6;3\n4\n6. Section 142 amended5\nDelete section 142(1)(b) and insert:6\n7\n(b) the unencumbered value of the dutiable8\nproperty the subject of the transaction does not9\nexceed —10\n(i) if the property is land that does not11\ninclude a home — $450 000; or12\n(ii) if the property is land in the13\nmetropolitan region or the Peel region14\nthat includes a home — $700 000; or15\n(iii) if the property is land outside the16\nmetropolitan region and the Peel region17\nthat includes a home — $750 000.18\n19\n7. Section 266E amended20\n(1) In section 266E delete the definitions of:21\nmulti-tiered scheme22\nnew residential unit or apartment23\n(2) In section 266E insert in alphabetical order:24\n25\neligible scheme means a strata scheme or a community26\ntitles (building) scheme;27\nmulti-tiered scheme means an eligible scheme, other28\nthan a single-tiered scheme;29\nnew dwelling has the meaning given in30\nsection 266G(1) and (2);31\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 8\npage 4\nsingle-tiered scheme means an eligible scheme in1\nwhich no part of a floor of a lot or part of a lot in a2\nbuilding forms or joins the ceiling of another lot or part3\nof a lot in a building;4\n5\n8. Section 266F amended6\n(1) Delete section 266F(1)(c) and insert:7\n8\n(c) entered into in the period —9\n(i) if the eligible scheme is a multi-tiered10\nscheme — beginning on11\n23 October 2019 and ending on12\n30 June 2026; or13\n(ii) if the eligible scheme is a single-tiered14\nscheme — beginning on 21 March 202515\nand ending on 30 June 2026.16\n17\n(2) In section 266F(3):18\n(a) before paragraph (b)(i) insert:19\n20\n(ia) the eligible scheme is a multi-tiered21\nscheme; and22\n23\n(b) delete paragraph (f)(ii) and insert:24\n25\n(ii) was entered into before26\n23 October 2019 (if the eligible scheme27\nis a multi-tiered scheme) or before28\n21 March 2025 (if the eligible scheme is29\na single-tiered scheme).30\n31\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 9\npage 5\n9. Section 266FA amended1\n(1) Delete section 266FA(1)(c) and insert:2\n3\n(c) entered into in the period —4\n(i) if the eligible scheme is a multi-tiered5\nscheme — beginning on6\n31 August 2023 and ending on7\n30 June 2026; or8\n(ii) if the eligible scheme is a single-tiered9\nscheme — beginning on 21 March 202510\nand ending on 30 June 2026.11\n12\n(2) Delete section 266FA(3)(d)(ii) and insert:13\n14\n(ii) was entered into before 31 August 202315\n(if the eligible scheme is a multi-tiered16\nscheme) or before 21 March 2025 (if the17\neligible scheme is a single-tiered18\nscheme).19\n20\n10. Section 266G amended21\nIn section 266G(1) and (2) delete residential unit or apartment22\nand insert:23\n24\ndwelling25\n26\nNote: The heading to amended section 266G is to read:27\nNew dwelling28\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 11\npage 6\n11. Section 266L amended1\n(1) In section 266L(1) in the Table:2\n(a) in items 6, 7 and 8 delete “30 June 2025” and insert:3\n4\n20 March 20255\n6\n(b) after item 8 insert:7\n8\n9. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\n$750 000 or\nless\n100\n10. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\nMore than\n$750 000 but\nless than\n$850 000\nZ calculated\nunder\nsubsection (3A)\n11. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\n$850 000 or\nmore\n50\n9\n(2) After section 266L(3) insert:10\n11\n(3A) The calculation for the purposes of item 10 in the Table12\nto subsection (1) is as follows —13\nZ = 100 − ( V − 750 000\n100 × 0.05)14\nwhere —15\nV is the dutiable value of the concessional16\npre-construction agreement.17\n18\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 11\npage 7\n(3) In section 266L(4):1\n(a) in paragraph (b)(i) before “dutiable value” insert:2\n3\nconcession day of the agreement and the4\n5\n(b) delete the Table and insert:6\n7\nTable8\nItem Concession day Dutiable\nvalue\nConcession\npercentage\n(%)\n1. 31 August 2023 to\n20 March 2025\n$650 000 or\nless\n75\n2. 31 August 2023 to\n20 March 2025\nMore than\n$650 000 but\nless than\n$750 000\nA calculated\nunder\nsubsection (5)\n3. 31 August 2023 to\n20 March 2025\n$750 000 or\nmore\n37.5\n4. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\n$750 000 or\nless\n75\n5. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\nMore than\n$750 000 but\nless than\n$850 000\nB calculated\nunder\nsubsection (6)\n6. 21 March 2025 to\n30 June 2026\n$850 000 or\nmore\n37.5\n9\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 12\npage 8\n(4) In section 266L(5) delete:1\n2\nZ = 75 − ( V − 650 000\n100 × 0.0375)3\n4\nand insert:5\n6\nA = 75 − ( V − 650 000\n100 × 0.0375)7\n8\n(5) After section 266L(5) insert:9\n10\n(6) The calculation for the purposes of item 5 in the Table11\nto subsection (4) is as follows —12\nB = 75 − ( V − 750 000\n100 × 0.0375)13\nwhere —14\nV is the dutiable value of the concessional under15\nconstruction agreement.16\n17\n12. Section 266O amended18\nAfter section 266O(2) insert:19\n20\n(3) For the purposes of this section, a concessional21\noff-the-plan agreement is completed on the day on22\nwhich the purchaser of the lot the subject of the23\nagreement becomes the owner (as defined in the Strata24\nTitles Act 1985 section 3(1) or the Community Titles25\nAct 2018 section 3(1), as the case requires) of the lot.26\n27\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 13\npage 9\n13. Schedule 2 Division 2 amended1\nIn Schedule 2 Division 2 delete:2\n3\nIf the property\nincludes a home\n$0 — $450 000 Nil\n$450 001 — $600 000 $15.01 per $100 or\npart of $100 above\n$450 000\nIf the property\ndoes not include\na home\n$0 — $300 000 Nil\n$300 001 — $400 000 $13.01 per $100 or\npart of $100 above\n$300 000\n4\nand insert:5\n6\nIf the property\ndoes not include\na home\n$0 — $350 000\n$350 001 — $450 000\nNil\n$15.39 per $100 or\npart of $100 above\n$350 000\nIf the property is\nin the\nmetropolitan\nregion or the\nPeel region and\nincludes a home\n$0 — $500 000\n$500 001 — $700 000\nNil\n$13.63 per $100 or\npart of $100 above\n$500 000\nIf the property is\noutside the\nmetropolitan\nregion and the\nPeel region and\nincludes a home\n$0 — $500 000\n$500 001 — $750 000\nNil\n$11.90 per $100 or\npart of $100 above\n$500 000\n7\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 14\npage 10\n14. Schedule 3 amended1\n(1) After Schedule 3 clause 77(6) insert:2\n3\n(7) Nothing in this clause affects the application of Chapter 6A4\nto an agreement for the purchase of a lot in a single-tiered5\nscheme.6\n7\n(2) In Schedule 3 clause 78 delete the definitions of:8\nfirst concessional transaction9\nfurther concessional transaction10\n(3) At the end of Schedule 3 insert:11\n12\nDivision 14 — Provisions for Duties Amendment Act 202513\n81. Terms used14\nIn this Division —15\namended Chapter 6A means Chapter 6A as amended by the16\nDuties Amendment Act 2025 sections 7 to 12 and 15;17\namended first home owner concession provisions means18\nsection 3, Chapter 2 Part 6 Division 3 and Schedule 219\nDivision 2, as amended by the Duties Amendment Act 202520\nsections 4 to 6 and 13;21\ncommencement day means the day on which the Duties22\nAmendment Act 2025 section 3 comes into operation;23\npre-21 March 2025 agreement has the meaning given in24\nclause 82(2);25\nrelevant first home owner concessional transaction has the26\nmeaning given in clause 82;27\nsubstituted transferee has the meaning given in28\nsection 141(3).29\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 14\npage 11\n82. Relevant first home owner concessional transaction1\n(1) A relevant first home owner concessional transaction is a2\ntransaction that —3\n(a) is a first home owner concessional transaction under4\nthe amended first home owner concession5\nprovisions; and6\n(b) occurs on or after 21 March 2025.7\n(2) An agreement (a pre-21 March 2025 agreement) for the8\ntransfer of dutiable property entered into before9\n21 March 2025 is not a relevant first home owner10\nconcessional transaction even if the subsequent transfer of11\nthe property occurs on or after 21 March 2025.12\n83. Application of amended first home owner concession13\nprovisions14\n(1) The amended first home owner concession provisions apply15\nin relation to the imposition of duty on a relevant first home16\nowner concessional transaction even if the transaction17\noccurred before commencement day.18\n(2) Despite subclause (1), the amended first home owner19\nconcession provisions do not apply in relation to the20\nimposition of duty on a relevant first home owner21\nconcessional transaction that is a further concessional22\ntransaction if the first concessional transaction to which it23\nrelates is —24\n(a) a pre-21 March 2025 agreement; or25\n(b) a transfer of dutiable property that is —26\n(i) in conformity with a pre-21 March 202527\nagreement; or28\n(ii) a transfer of dutiable property the subject of29\na pre-21 March 2025 agreement to a30\nsubstituted transferee in relation to the31\nagreement.32\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 14\npage 12\n(3) If subclause (2) applies, duty is chargeable on the further1\nconcessional transaction at the same rate and using the same2\nthresholds that applied to the pre-21 March 2025 agreement3\nreferred to in whichever of subclause (2)(a) or (b)(i) or (ii) is4\napplicable.5\n(4) If an assessment of duty payable on a relevant first home6\nowner concessional transaction to which the amended first7\nhome owner concession provisions apply was made before8\ncommencement day, the Commissioner may, on application9\nor on the Commissioner’s own initiative, reassess the duty10\npayable on the transaction in accordance with the amended11\nfirst home owner concession provisions.12\n(5) Despite section 144(2), an application for reassessment13\nreferred to in subclause (4) may be made in the approved14\nform on or before the later of the following —15\n(a) the last day of the period that applies under16\nsection 144(2);17\n(b) the last day of the period of 12 months beginning on18\ncommencement day.19\n(6) Subclauses (4) and (5) apply despite the Taxation20\nAdministration Act section 17.21\n84. Provisions relating to amendments to Chapter 6A22\n(1) If a term used in this clause is given a meaning in23\nsection 266E, it has the same meaning in this clause.24\n(2) Amended Chapter 6A applies in relation to the imposition of25\nduty on a concessional off-the-plan agreement entered into26\non or after 21 March 2025 (including a concessional27\noff-the-plan agreement entered into in the period beginning28\non 21 March 2025 and ending immediately before29\ncommencement day).30\nNote for this subclause:31\nAn agreement entered into before 21 March 2025 that32\nrelates to a single-tiered scheme is not a concessional33\npre-construction agreement under section 266F or a34\nconcessional under construction agreement under35\nsection 266FA.36\n\nDuties Amendment Bill 2025\ns. 15\npage 13\n(3) If an assessment of duty payable on a concessional1\noff-the-plan agreement entered into on or after2\n21 March 2025 was made before commencement day, the3\nCommissioner may, on application or on the4\nCommissioner’s own initiative, reassess the duty payable on5\nthe agreement in accordance with amended Chapter 6A.6\n(4) Despite section 266O, an application for reassessment7\nreferred to in subclause (3) may be made in the approved8\nform on or before the later of the following —9\n(a) the last day of the period that applies under10\nsection 266O(1);11\n(b) the last day of the period of 12 months beginning on12\ncommencement day.13\n(5) Subclauses (3) and (4) apply despite the Taxation14\nAdministration Act section 17.15\n16\n15. Other provisions amended17\nAmend the provisions listed in the Table as set out in the Table.18\nTable19\nProvision Delete Insert\ns. 266F(1)(a)\nand (2)(a)\ns. 266FA(1)(a)\ns. 266M(1)\na multi-tiered (each\noccurrence)\nresidential unit or\napartment\nan eligible\ndwelling\ns. 266J(1) a multi-tiered (each\noccurrence)\nan eligible\ns. 266J(4) multi-tiered (each\noccurrence)\neligible","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This version materially broadens and reframes the Duties Act treatment for residential transactions compared with a narrower original approach. It (1) changes and raises concession and duty thresholds with geographic differentiation (metro/Peel vs outside) and reworked duty bands (s.6; Schedule 2), (2) extends concessional windows for off‑the‑plan and pre‑construction/under‑construction agreements through 30 June 2026 and inserts distinct timing rules for single‑tiered versus multi‑tiered schemes (ss.8–9, s.11), and (3) adds transitional reassessment powers and extended filing windows that allow the Commissioner to reapply the new rules to transactions that straddle the 21 March 2025 cut‑off (Schedule 3 Division 14). Those additions go beyond a purely technical tidy‑up and adjust who can access concessions, when, and under what structural definitions, thereby expanding the practical scope and fiscal effect of the statute."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendments across at least 15 separate sections and two Schedules (ss.4–15 and Schedule 2 & 3 changes).","Introduction of new defined terms and removal/replacement of previous ones (e.g., first/further concessional transaction moved, 'eligible scheme', 'single‑tiered scheme')—increases cross‑referencing (s.4, s.7, Schedule 3 cl.81).","Multiple, date‑dependent windows with different rules for multi‑tiered vs single‑tiered schemes (ss.8–9; entries in s.266F and s.266FA).","Geographic differentiation of thresholds (metropolitan region, Peel region, outside those regions) relying on an external Act's definitions (s.5 and s.6).","Insertion of graduated numerical formulas (A, B, Z) for concession tapering, which require arithmetic computation and careful application (s.11 inserting s.266L(3A), (5), (6)).","Transitional provisions that treat pre‑21 March 2025 agreements differently, including carve‑outs and conditionals (Schedule 3 Division 14 cl.82–84).","Extended reassessment powers and modified limitation periods for certain transactions, overriding or modifying existing Taxation Administration Act time limits (Schedule 3 cl.83–84).","Cross‑references to multiple other Acts (Planning and Development Act 2005; Strata Titles Act 1985; Community Titles Act 2018; Taxation Administration Act) which increases interpretive complexity (ss.5, 12, Schedule 3).","Replacement of rate tables in Schedule 2 and insertion of new table rows with overlapping date bands and thresholds (s.13 and s.11 replacing parts of s.266L)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill changes (mechanically)\n\n- Raises and / or re‑sets duty thresholds and rates for residential land purchases and for first home owner concessions. Key changes appear in section 142 and in Schedule 2 Division 2 (see amendments at ss. 6 and 13).\n  - The unencumbered value caps used to determine concession eligibility are changed: for land without a home $450,000; for land with a home in the metropolitan or Peel regions $700,000; for land with a home outside those regions $750,000 (amendment to s.142(1)(b), s.6).\n  - The general land duty bands for properties that include or exclude a home are altered (Schedule 2 Division 2 change at s.13) so thresholds and marginal rates differ by whether the property is in the metropolitan/Peel regions or outside them.\n\n- Reworks the definition and treatment of off‑the‑plan and strata/community title schemes (Chapter 6A amendments at ss.7–12):\n  - Introduces new defined terms: \"eligible scheme\", \"single‑tiered scheme\", and \"new dwelling\" and removes older references to \"residential unit or apartment\" (s.7, s.10, s.15).\n  - Distinguishes multi‑tiered eligible schemes from single‑tiered schemes and applies different date windows and concession rules depending on that classification (amendments to ss.266F and 266FA at ss.8–9).\n  - Changes when an off‑the‑plan (concessional) agreement is treated as completed: completion is the day the purchaser becomes owner under the Strata Titles Act or Community Titles Act (new s.266O(3) inserted at s.12).\n\n- Alters concession percentages and introduces graduated phase‑out formulas for concessions applying to pre‑construction and under‑construction agreements (amendments to s.266L and new calculations A, B and Z in s.11).\n  - For certain concession periods the Bill replaces fixed percentages with formulae that scale the concession down as the dutiable value of the agreement rises (see s.266L(3A), (5), (6) as inserted at s.11).\n\n- Adds transitional and application rules (Schedule 3 Division 14 inserted at s.14):\n  - Defines \"relevant first home owner concessional transaction\" and makes the amended first home owner concession provisions apply to transactions occurring on or after 21 March 2025, with specific carve‑outs for agreements entered into before that date (clause 81–83).\n  - Allows the Commissioner of State Revenue to reassess duty payable under the new provisions, within extended time limits in specified cases (clauses 83(4)–(5) and 84(3)–(4)).\n\n- Miscellaneous: Inserts cross‑references to the Planning and Development Act definitions (metropolitan region, Peel region) and removes or replaces several earlier defined terms (ss.4–5, s.15).\n\nWho is directly affected\n\n- Property purchasers: purchasers of residential land (with or without a home), off‑the‑plan buyers, and first home buyers — because thresholds, concession eligibility and duty calculations change (ss.6, 11, Schedule 2).\n- Developers, builders and vendors offering off‑the‑plan or pre‑construction contracts, particularly for strata or community title developments — because the timing, scheme structure (single vs multi‑tiered), and concessional windows affect the duty applying to sales (ss.7–12, Schedule 3 cl.84).\n- Conveyancers, mortgagees and substituted transferees involved in transfers arising from older agreements — because transitional rules determine which regime applies and permit reassessments (Schedule 3 cl.82–84).\n- The Commissioner of State Revenue — gains explicit reassessment powers and timing flexibility to apply the amended rules to certain transactions (Schedule 3 cl.83–84).\n\nWhy it matters (the stated policy aim, then practical trade‑offs)\n\n- Stated aim (as expressed by the mechanical changes): to recalibrate duty thresholds and concession settings for first home owners and to adjust the concessional treatment for off‑the‑plan and strata/community title developments, including clear definitions for different scheme types and transitional treatment for agreements around 21 March 2025 (see ss.6–12 and Schedule 3 Division 14).\n\n- Testing that aim against costs and incentives:\n  - Who pays: duties remain payable by purchasers; where concessions increase or thresholds rise, purchasers (particularly first home buyers) pay less duty up front (s.142, Schedule 2). Reduced up‑front duty is an incentive to buy within the concession windows.\n  - Who decides: the Commissioner decides assessments and can reassess certain prior assessments within extended timeframes (Schedule 3 cl.83–84). That increases administrative discretion and imposes a potential compliance risk for taxpayers and practitioners.\n  - Behavioural effects: buyers and developers may time contracts and settlement dates to fall inside favourable windows (concession periods beginning/ending dates in ss.8–9 and Schedule 3 cl.84). Developers might re‑design projects to qualify as single‑tiered schemes or structure sales differently if tax outcomes are material (definitions in s.7 and Schedule 3 cl.84(2)).\n  - Distribution of costs and benefits: benefits (lower duties, phased concessions) are concentrated on eligible purchasers and projects that meet the specific scheme and timing tests; compliance and reassessment costs are borne by purchasers, vendors, conveyancers and the revenue office.\n  - Implementation and compliance burden: new definitions, multiple date windows, region‑specific thresholds and new formulae (A, B, Z) for concession tapering increase complexity for practitioners and for the revenue office (see s.11 and s.266L insertions). Conveyancers will need to check scheme type, contract date, concession day, and whether an agreement is \"pre‑21 March 2025\" for transitional application (Schedule 3 cl.82–84).\n  - Opportunity cost and substitution effects: buyers who do not meet the new thresholds may defer purchases or switch to different locations (metro/Peel vs outside) to access more favourable thresholds; developers may change floor‑plan designs or title arrangements to influence whether a scheme is single‑ or multi‑tiered (s.7 definitions).\n\nConcrete mechanics that allocate risk and discretion\n\n- Commissioner power to reassess earlier assessments under the new rules (Schedule 3 cl.83(4)–(5) and cl.84(3)–(4)) extends the period for potential change and creates planning uncertainty for transactions around the transitional dates.\n- Precise formulae for tapering concessions (new calculations in s.266L(3A), (5) and (6)) make the concession amount a deterministic function of the dutiable value but add computational steps that registrars and tax agents must apply.\n- Definitions cross‑refer to other Acts (Planning and Development Act; Strata Titles Act; Community Titles Act; Taxation Administration Act) so scheme classification and completion events depend on non‑Duties Act statutory definitions (ss.5, 12, Schedule 3 cl.81), raising coordination requirements across laws.\n\nNet practical effect (summary sentence)\n\n- The Bill increases or reassigns duty concessions and modifies duty bands with geographically differentiated thresholds, introduces distinct treatment of single‑tiered versus multi‑tiered strata/community schemes, extends concession windows to mid‑2026 and builds in transitional reassessment powers — changes that reduce immediate duty for some buyers while adding definitional complexity, timing incentives and administrative reassessment risk for practitioners, developers and the revenue office.\n\n\nWho pays, who decides, and likely behaviour changes (concise)\n\n- Who pays: purchasers of dutiable property pay duty; duty amounts may be lower for those who meet the new thresholds and concession tests (s.142, Schedule 2, s.266L). If reassessment occurs, the purchaser or relevant transferee may face an increased bill or a refund as assessed by the Commissioner (Schedule 3 cl.83–84).\n- Who decides: the Commissioner of State Revenue assesses and may reassess duties (Schedule 3 cl.83–84); statutory definitions and cross‑referenced Acts determine scheme classification and completion dates (ss.5, 12).\n- Likely behaviour changes: timing of agreements and settlements to fall within concession windows; developers may alter scheme structure or sales practices to obtain more favourable duty treatment; conveyancers and purchasers will be more cautious around agreements dated close to 21 March 2025 and other concession start/end dates.\n"},"summary":{"status_summary":"The Duties Amendment Bill 2025 has received royal assent and will commence operation the day after royal assent.","complexity_score":7,"likely_questions":["Does the first home owner concession apply if I signed a contract before 21 March 2025 but settlement occurs after that date?","What is the difference between a multi-tiered scheme and a single-tiered scheme for off-the-plan concessions?","How do I apply for a reassessment of duty I already paid on a transaction that is now eligible for a higher threshold?","Are the new thresholds for first home owners indexed or will they remain fixed?","Does the extension to single-tiered schemes apply to units in small developments or only large projects?"],"complexity_factors":["Multiple interlocking amendments across different parts of the Duties Act","Geographic differentiation of thresholds for first home owner concession (metropolitan, Peel region, other)","Two categories of off-the-plan schemes (multi-tiered and single-tiered) with different qualifying periods","New sliding-scale formulas for concession percentages, varying by agreement type and value","Retrospective application from 21 March 2025 with transitional rules preserving old treatment for certain pre-existing agreements","Reassessment provisions with extended application periods that override standard time limits"],"plain_english_summary":"The Duties Amendment Bill 2025 raises first-home duty-free thresholds and adds new concessional bands with metropolitan/Peel geographic splits, and extends off‑the‑plan duty concessions to single‑tiered strata/community title schemes (with specific qualifying windows). Largely retrospective to 21 March 2025, it lets some already-assessed transactions be reassessed. It chiefly affects first‑home buyers, developers and off‑the‑plan purchasers by reducing potential duty liabilities and creating new compliance and timing considerations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/duties-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}