{{ propApi.searchIcon }}
{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights
Economics Insights Data & forecasts Tailored research & analysis
Advocacy & policy
Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions
News & inspiration
Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Support & guidance
Ask an expert Contracts & compliance support Building & planning services Australian Standards
Member perks
Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Ampol fuel savings See all
Industry insurance
HIA Insurance Services Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance
For your business
Contracts Online Safety systems & solutions HIA SafeScan
Apprentices
Why host a HIA apprentice? Hire an apprentice Value for money
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right
Building codes National Construction Code Australian standards See all
Building materials & products
Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all
Managing your business
Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all
Managing your safety
Safety rules Working with silica See all
Building your business
Growing your business Communication for your business See all
Other subjects
Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career
Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer How do I apply? Frequently asked questions
Study with us
Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand Professional development courses
A job in the industry
Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Further your career
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Grow with us
Sign me up Become a member Member benefits Mates rates
Our podcasts
Made To Build Built Different HIA Building Australia Building the Hunter
Our initiatives
HIA Building Women Charitable Foundation GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom & design hub
Get involved
Become an award judge Join a committee Meet our members Partner with us
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards
Awards winners
Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2026 Australian Home of the Year
Industry events
Events in the next month Economic outlook HIA Made Events calendar
HIA shop
HIA shop $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Most popular products
National Construction Code Vol 1 & 2 Waterproofing wet areas AS 3740:2021 HIA Guide to Waterproofing HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions
Top categories
Building codes & standards Contracts & documents Guides & manuals Safety products Signage
For your business
Contracts Online Digital Australian Standards Digital Resource Library Forecasts & data
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Tax on trading stock

This policy sets out HIA's preferred position in respect to the manner in which stamp duty is calculated for the transactions by a builder in relation to the changes of property ownership in a residential development.

HIA's Position statement

Transactions involving land development and builder’s stock should be free of stamp duty.

Background

  • Creating a house and land package from raw land (known as a ‘greenfield development’) involves a number of transactions, including the transfer of land on at least two, if not three occasions.
  • Apart from stamp duty, a raft of other taxes and charges are required to be paid along the way. These include land tax, GST, various levies and charges that developers are required to pay as financial contributions to local and state government for the provision of infrastructure, such as water, public hospitals, schools, libraries, footbridges and playing fields.
  • By the time the final product is sold to the home owner, not only has a significant sum of money been paid to various levels of government in the form of taxes, levies and charges, but these amounts are taken into account when the amount of stamp duty that is payable by the home owner is calculated.
  • The way in which the current laws are framed, unlike Goods and Services Tax (where all taxes, fees, levies and charges as declared in the Treasurer's Determination are GST-free), for each of these transactions, stamp duty is assessed on an amount that includes all of those taxes and charges that have been previously paid and then passed on to the next person in the chain.
Share with your network:
More articles on:
{{ tag.label }} {{ tag.label }} $vuetify.icons.faTimes
Find the latest expert advice, guides and much more!
HIA Advocacy
View all $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
22 Sep
Review of health and air monitoring requirements for hazardous chemicals

HIA responded to Safe Work Australia Consultation Paper: Review of health and air monitoring requirements for hazardous chemicals of the model Work Health and Safety laws.

21 Sep
Federal discretionary trust changes smash property industry confidence and investment

Joint statement by the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Master Builders Australia (MBA), the Property Council of Australia (PCA), the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

18 Sep
Minimum tax on discretionary trusts

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) opposes the proposed minimum tax on discretionary trusts and the associated Excluded Election Trust (EET) regime.

18 Sep
Member information: Fuel Surcharges and the Road Transport Order

In April 2026 an order requiring primary and secondary parties in road transport contractual chains to review and adjust transport rates fortnightly to recover increased fuel costs was handed down by the FWC. This requirement switched off automatically in the week ending 5 June 2026, when the weekly average national terminal gate diesel price fell below $2.00 per litre but did not revoke the order. HIA breaks down what this means for your business.

18 Sep
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Fair Super for Young Workers) Bill 2026

HIA supports fair treatment of young workers and recognises the importance of appropriate superannuation coverage. However, HIA opposes the Bill as drafted due to a number of legal and technical issues, primarily the impact on small business builders. Read more about HIA's submission to the Federal Senate's Economic Legislation Committee here.

16 Sep
Proposed domestic building contracts amendment regulations 2026

Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (the Act) and the Domestic Building Regulations have failed to keep pace with changes in home building and reflect cost and payment structures relevant to the previous century.