Foreign investors slugged with taxes on Sydney apartment sales
The Housing Industry Association's recent Stamp Duty Watch report claims foreign investors now pay nearly $100,000 in taxes to buy a Sydney unit, almost four times as much as local buyers.
Shane Garrett, HIA Senior Economist said the average stamp duty bill in Australia paid by resident owner occupiers is also up by 16.4 percent over the year to $20,725, even though dwelling prices increased by just 10.5 percent.
Shane Garrett, HIA Senior Economist said recent changes to stamp duty in NSW mean that foreign investors now pay almost $100,000 in transaction taxes to acquire a standard apartment in Sydney – almost four times as much as local buyers.
“Foreign investors are a vital component of rental supply in cities like Sydney and Melbourne," he said.
"With rental market conditions now so tight in Australia’s two biggest cities, should we really be placing more and more barriers in the way of new supply.
“On the owner occupier side, stamp duty drains family coffers of $107 each and every month over a 30- year mortgage term.
“For owner occupiers, the typical stamp duty bill now amounts to $20,725 – an increase of some 16.4 percent on a year ago.
“Shelling out so much in stamp duty drains the household piggy bank of vital funds for their home deposit. Families are then forced to take out larger mortgages and incur heavier mortgage insurance premiums."
