State budgets are vulnerable to reliance on stamp duty: HIA

Another industry body has lent its voice to the growing calls for tax reform around stamp duty. 

HIA’s Stamp Duty Watch report is a regular review of policies and the latest developments in the states and territories around Australia.

Replacing stamp duty with a more predictable and equitable tax would provide state governments with a more reliable source of revenue, explained HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon.

“State governments have become increasingly dependent on stamp duty revenues,” said Reardon.

“Stamp duty is an unreliable source of revenue and the increased dependence makes states heavily susceptible to housing market downturns.

“In NSW the downturn in the property market is forecast to cost $10.6 billion in lost revenue over the forward estimates.

“In Victoria where the decline in house prices has been more modest, revenue from stamp duty has been revised down by $5.2 billion.”

The sharp drop in revenues highlights the vulnerability of state budgets, Reardon said.

“In 2018/19 stamp duty revenues made up over one-fifth of all taxation revenue raised in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania,” he said.

“Victoria has the highest dependency on stamp duty revenues closely followed by NSW.

“The ACT, which is seven years into an ambitious 20-year tax reform program to replace stamp duty, has the lowest dependence on stamp duty.

“It makes up only 13% of total taxation revenue.

“Alternative broad-based tax measures could deliver a more consistent and reliable revenue stream.”

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