Stamp Duty Information

Stamp duty in Ireland is a tax payable to the Government based on the documents used in the transfer of property. The value of the property and your status will determine the amount of stamp duty that is payable. There are three areas considered for calculating stamp duty:

New homes

The stamp duty on new homes depends primarily on the area of the property. If the property is under 125 square metres (1345 sq. ft) and you are a first time buyer or owner occupier, then NO DUTY is payable.

Buyer	Duty (under 125m2)	Duty (over 125m2)
First Time buyer	Exempt	Exempt
Owner Occupier	Exempt	See table 1
Investor	See table 1	See table 1

Otherwise, if the property is over 125 square metres or you are an non-investor, the stamp duty is calculated from table 1 below using whichever of the following two values is greatest.

A. The cost of the site OR
B. 25% of (the cost of the site) + (the building costs less VAT@ 13.5%). This is generally calculated at 25% of the purchase price less VAT @ 13.5%

However, if you are an investor, the size of the property is irrelevant and you will pay the stamp duty on the full purchase price using table 1.

Table 1
Value	Non-investors	Investors
€1 - €125,000	0%	0%
€125,001 - €1,000,000	7%	7%
€1,000,000 +	9%	9%

Second hand homes

The stamp duty due on the purchase of a second hand home depends on whether you are a first time buyer or not and the price of the property being purchased. Table 2 will help calculate your stamp duty liability.

Table 2
Value	First time buyers	Owner occupiers/Investors
€1 - €125,000	0%	0%
€125,001 - €1,000,000	0%	7%
€1,000,000 +	0%	9%

Land and Sites

Stamp duty for the purchase of land and sites is based solely on the price and there are no reductions for first time buyers or owner occupiers. Table 3 outlines the stamp duty due.

Table 3
Price of property	Stamp duty rate
€0 - €10,000	0%
€10,001 - €20,000	1%
€20,001 - €30,000	2%
€30,001 - €40,000	3%
€40,001 - €70,000	4%
€70,001 - €80,000	5%
€80,001 - €100,000	6%
€100,001 - €120,000	7%
€120,001 - €150,000	8%
€150,001+	9%

Rules

Stamp duty on new houses

The house must not have been occupied prior to purchase.
The house must be occupied as the owners main place of residence for a period of two years from the date of the purchase deed.
Stamp duty clawback may arise if rent, other than a "rent a room scheme", is obtained during the two year period.
The amount of the clawback is the difference between the stamp duty payable at the higher rate which would have applied at the date of purchase and the lower duty if any paid.

Transfer of property between relatives

Stamp duty is payable at half the normal rate applicable if there is a transfer of property to certain relatives. ( parents, grandparents, step-parent, child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew)

Site transfers from parent to child

No stamp duty where a parent transfers a site to a child, but the site must be used for the child's principal private residence, and the site value must not exceeed €253,947.62
Only one site to each child.

Exchange of farmland

New stamp duty relief for farmers when they exchange land to consolidate their holding.
The stamp duty will be applied to the difference in value between lands concerned.
Two year exemption period outlined in Finance Bill 2005

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