No stamp duty payable on electric vehicle purchases

All new or used light BEVs and FCEVs with a dutiable value up to and including $78,000 are exempt from stamp duty. Any NSW resident or business registering these vehicles on or after 1 September 2021 for personal or business use are exempt from stamp duty on that registration. 

The stamp duty exemption is available for new and used light BEVs and FCEVs under 4.5 gross vehicle mass with a dutiable value up to and including $78,000 that are registered on or after 1 September 2021. BEVs and FCEVs with a dutiable value above $78,000 will continue to pay the same stamp duty as other non exempt vehicles.

The dutiable value of a vehicle is the total amount paid (including GST) for the vehicle, which includes delivery costs, accessories and options added to the vehicle (e.g. towbar, special wheels, paint protection etc) and any other charges or fees levied by the dealer on the purchaser. 

NSW Government charges administered by Transport for NSW, such as registration fees and vehicle weight tax, the cost of CTP insurance or the premium paid for any extended warranty insurance are not included in the dutiable value.

A BEV is a battery electric vehicle which uses only an electric motor for propulsion and runs entirely on battery power and requires no petrol.

A FCEV is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle which uses only an electric motor for propulsion and is equipped with a fuel cell for converting hydrogen to electricity.

The stamp duty exemption will be available for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell motor vehicles (as defined under the Road Transport Act 2013). This includes the following categories: 

• passenger vehicles
• sports utility vehicles
• light trucks / light commercial vehicles
• motorcycles

Vehicles that are not exempt from stamp duty under this policy include: 

• hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
• heavy trucks / heavy vehicles
• trailers and caravans

Examples of BEVs and FCEVs that, subject to pricing and eligibility requirements, may qualify for this stamp duty exemption can be found here.

Stamp duty is ordinarily payable on the registration of a vehicle if the vehicle has not previously been registered, or a previously registered vehicle is being registered to a different person. This dutiable event must be on or after 1 September 2021 to be eligible for a stamp duty exemption. 

If you have purchased an eligible vehicle and registered the vehicle on or after 1 September 2021, you are eligible for a stamp duty exemption. Stamp duty continues to be payable in relation to vehicle registrations prior to 1 September 2021 and for registrations of non-exempt vehicles.

There is no restriction on when a vehicle was purchased to be eligible for a stamp duty exemption. Eligible vehicles purchased before 1 September 2021 and registered on or after 1 September 2021 are exempt from stamp duty for that registration.

You will still be required to pay stamp duty when registering an eligible vehicle between 1 September 2021 and 14 August 2022. A stamp duty refund can then be claimed through an application portal.

For eligible vehicles registered or transferred from 15 August 2022, the stamp duty exemption will be automatically applied. This means you will not have to pay stamp duty or claim a refund.

A stamp duty exemption and refund can be applied for from 1 November 2021 on the NSW Government online application portal here. 

From 15 August 2022, the stamp duty exemption will be automated, and you will not need to pay the duty or claim a refund.

Evidence required during the application process includes:

• Current and valid NSW Driver Licence (which matches the registration details)
• Certificate of Registration (which shows a registration number, registration history, registered owner, vehicle use, Vehicle Identification Number – VIN, a duty paid amount)
• Proof of Registration Entitlement 

For customers applying for the exemption and refund, Revenue NSW will review the information within 15 business days from the submission of a complete application. Revenue NSW willwill notify applicants if they have been successful.  

If the stamp duty exemption is granted, Revenue NSW will proceed to transfer the stamp duty refund to the bank account nominated by customer within five business days of notification of successful application.

Please note that from 15 August 2022, the stamp duty exemption will be automatically applied. You will not have to pay any up-front duty costs or apply for a refund.

Separate applications for a rebate and a stamp duty refund for eligible vehicle purchases are required, however both applications will be available through a single online portal. You can find out more information about Electric Vehicle rebates here. 

If you are applying as an individual, you will be required to provide:

• Transport for NSW Customer Number 
• Copy of your NSW Driver Licence
• Copy of your Certificate of Registration
• Name
• Date of birth
• Mailing address
• Email 
• Phone number

If you are applying as a business, you will be required to provide:

• Transport for NSW Customer Number
• Copy of NSW Driver Licence of the business contact person
• Copy of the Certificate of Registration
• Company name
• ABN, ACN or ABRN etc.
• Contact person name
• Contact mailing address
• Contact email
• Contact phone number

NSW Government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy

• EV rebates
• Abolish stamp duty
• Government fleet
• Infrastructure funding
• Road user charge
• FAQs