Territory home owner discount

If you're affected by COVID-19

If you miss the deadline due to the COVID-19 lockdown, your circumstances will be considered.

You must sign and exchange contracts by Friday 9 July 2021 and forward any supporting information to the Territory Revenue Office by email to ntrevenue@nt.gov.au. This can include:

  • evidence showing the date the seller, or their real estate agent, formally accepted your offer to purchase the home
  • the receipt provided when a deposit was placed on the home
  • evidence of when the applicant first engaged a conveyancer.

THOD program

If you're a home buyer in the Northern Territory (NT), you may be eligible to get up to $18,601 off stamp duty until 30 June 2021.

You must be:

  • building or buying a home
  • buying vacant land to build a new home.

The home must also be $650,000 or less and be your principal place of residence for at least six months.

You must have signed the contract to purchase the home or land between 8 February 2019 and 30 June 2021. For vacant land, you must supply evidence of intention to build at the time of lodgement.

Read below to find out how to apply for the Territory Home Owner Discount (THOD).

To apply for the THOD, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • you and your spouse or de facto partner have not held interest in a home in the NT within 24 months of settlement - this applies even if you're not applying with your spouse
  • at least one applicant:
    • is 18 years old or over at the time of settlement
    • is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
    • lives in the home as their principal place of residence for at least six months within 12 months of settlement
  • you have not been paid or won't be paid another grant, discount, concession or rebate by the Commissioner of Territory Revenue for the home or land - excluding:
    • BuildBonus
    • HomeBuilder and
    • $10,000 First Home Owner Grant
  • you're buying the:
    • whole beneficial interest of the home or land
    • home or land in your own right and not in any other capacity - for example, a company, agent or trustee.

Exceptions

There are some limited exceptions to the eligibility criteria when applying for the THOD. To find out more, read the commissioner's guideline.

Commissioner's guideline: discretion to exempt or vary compliance with the eligibility criteria PDF (241.6 KB)
Commissioner's guideline: discretion to exempt or vary compliance with the eligibility criteria  DOCX (221.4 KB)

With your application, you must provide the following supporting documents for you and your spouse (even if you're not applying together).

All documents must be an original or a legible copy. Original documents will be returned by mail. The Territory Revenue Office will not accept liability for any loss or damage incurred during transit.

This includes:

  • proof of age, identity with photographic evidence and Australian citizenship or permanent residency, such as a:
    • birth or citizenship certificate and passport, driver or firearms licence with signature - if an Australian citizen
    • passport and permanent residency certificate or visa - if a citizen of another country
  • proof of name change if the name on any documents is different to the applicant or their spouse, such as a:
    • marriage certificate
    • change of name certificate
  • declaration by a non-applicant spouse in section 6 of the application confirming they've not held interest in a home for the past 24 months (unless they meet the exception)
  • evidence of property settlement if seeking to have a prior interest in a home disregarded, such as a:
    • court order
    • binding financial agreement
    • declaration by a former spouse confirming date of separation
  • a statutory declaration of separation if still formally married, including:
    • former spouse's full name, date of birth and current address (if known)
    • date of marriage and separation
    • a statement declaring you don't live together and don't intend to resume cohabitation
  • a copy of a guardian's lawful appointment - if a guardian is applying on behalf of the applicant
  • a contract for the purchase of a home (if applying with settlement) or contract of sale (if stamp duty has already been paid and you're applying for a refund)
  • evidence of intent to build for vacant land - or alternatively, the full stamp duty must be paid and a refund claimed when the evidence is available (read more information for contract to build through a registered builder or owner builder below).

Contract to build through a registered builder

If your:

  • building is within a building control area, you must provide:
    • a copy of the building contract or occupancy permit issued under the Building Act 1993 if the building has been completed
    • certification from the builder or a copy of the building permit issued under the Act - if the contract does not specify the building is a class 1A dwelling within the meaning of the Building Code of Australia
  • building is outside a building control area, you must provide:
    • a copy of the building contract
    • confirmation from the builder that the building will meet the standards suitable for a place of residence
    • a copy of the plans and specifications demonstrating the building will meet the standards suitable for a place of residence.

Owner builder

If your:

  • building is within a building control area, you must provide a copy of:
    • the building permit for a class 1A dwelling issued under the Building Act 1993 or occupancy permit issued under the Act if the building has been completed
  • building is outside a building control area, you must provide a copy of:
    • the plans and specifications or certification from a building certifier demonstrating the building will meet the standards suitable for a place of residence.

To apply for the THOD, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the THOD application DOCX (109.3 KB).

Step 2. Attach your supporting documents.

Step 3. Submit your application and supporting documents:

  • to your conveyancer or solicitor - if you're claiming the THOD with your settlement or
  • by mail or email to the Territory Revenue Office (TRO) - if you've already paid stamp duty and you're claiming the THOD as a refund.

If you've already paid stamp duty on your home, you will get a refund into your bank account within five days of your application being approved.

If your application has not been approved and you believe the decision was wrong, you can lodge an objection.

You must:

  • outline the grounds of objection in writing
  • submit it to the TRO within 60 days of the decision being made.

If you're unhappy with the outcome of your objection, you may appeal it to the Taxation and Royalty Appeals Tribunal or the Supreme Court.

Compliance checks

Once you've received the THOD, regular inquiries are done to confirm you're living in the home for at least six months within 12 months of settlement.

If you can't comply, you must tell the commissioner in writing within 30 days of your circumstances changing.

Your stamp duty may be reassessed as if you're not eligible for the THOD if these inquiries prove you:

  • made a false application
  • have not followed the requirements and failed to notify the TRO.

Interest, penalty tax and prosecution may apply.

Other schemes

The NT Government has other schemes to assist with home ownership.

Find out about other home owner assistance.

Contact

Territory Revenue Office
Department of Treasury and Finance
Level 14 Charles Darwin Centre
19 The Mall
Darwin NT 0800
ntrevenue@nt.gov.au

GPO Box 1974
Darwin NT 0801

Phone: 1300 305 353
www.revenue.nt.gov.au


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