First Home Buyer ACT 2026: No FHOG — Home Buyer Concession Scheme Explained

Last updated: May 2026 · Reading time: 5 minutes

Key facts

• FHOG: None — the ACT does not offer a First Home Owner Grant
• What's available instead: Home Buyer Concession Scheme — full stamp duty waiver
• Duty-free threshold: ~$1,020,000 (indexed to CPI annually)
• Income-tested: Yes — unlike most states, the ACT scheme assesses both applicants' income
• Administered by: ACT Revenue Office
• Last verified: May 2026 — revenue.act.gov.au

General information only. Not personal financial advice.

The ACT has no First Home Owner Grant

If you're buying your first home in the Australian Capital Territory and searching for a FHOG, you won't find one — the ACT does not participate in the national First Home Owner Grant scheme.

Instead, the ACT offers something arguably more valuable: the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, which waives stamp duty entirely for eligible first home buyers on properties up to approximately $1,020,000.

On a $900,000 property, the standard ACT stamp duty would be around $35,000. The concession scheme makes that $0.

How much is the ACT duty concession worth?

The ACT's Home Buyer Concession Scheme provides a full stamp duty waiver — not a reduction, a complete waiver — for eligible first home buyers.

Current threshold: Approximately $1,020,000 (this figure is indexed to the Canberra Consumer Price Index and updated annually — verify the current figure at revenue.act.gov.au before applying).

For context, stamp duty on an $800,000 ACT property would typically be approximately $27,000–$30,000. The full waiver makes this $0.

Am I eligible?

The ACT concession scheme has two key differences from state-based FHOG schemes:

1. Income-tested: The ACT assesses both applicants' gross income. There is an income threshold — buyers above the limit do not qualify. Verify the current income threshold at the ACT Revenue Office as it changes annually.

2. First home buyers only: You (and your spouse or partner) must not have previously owned or co-owned residential property in Australia.

Other standard conditions apply:

• You must be 18 or older
• Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Must occupy the property as principal place of residence within 12 months
• Property must be in the ACT and capable of being used as a residence

The concession applies to both new and established homes — unlike most FHOG schemes, you don't need to buy a new build.

How to apply for the ACT Home Buyer Concession

1. Apply through the ACT Revenue Office as part of your property settlement process
2. Your solicitor or conveyancer typically handles this at settlement
3. Verify your current income eligibility at revenue.act.gov.au before assuming you qualify

Combining the ACT concession with the FHSS scheme

Even without a FHOG, ACT first home buyers can still use the FHSS scheme:

• Full stamp duty waiver (up to ~$1,020,000 property value) — potentially $30,000–$40,000+ in savings
• Up to $50,000 (plus earnings) from FHSS contributions as part of your deposit
• Couples can each access their own $50,000 FHSS cap — $100,000 combined

The FHSS scheme is independent of the ACT's concession scheme — using one doesn't affect eligibility for the other.

General information only. Not personal financial advice. The ACT income and property thresholds are updated annually. Verify current eligibility directly with the ACT Revenue Office before making financial decisions.

Source: ACT Revenue Office — Home Buyer Concession Scheme · Last verified: May 2026