Published: July 1, 2025 The Victorian Government has recently passed the State Taxation Acts Amendment Act 2025, introducing several important changes to state taxation laws. Following its Royal Assent on June 24, 2025, the act brings updates that will affect property buyers, developers, businesses, and landowners across the state. Here’s a breakdown of the key...
ConveyancingPropertyUncategorisedUnlocking Your First Home: A Guide to Victorian First Home Buyer Benefits
30 June 2025
For many Victorians, the dream of owning a home can feel like a distant ambition. The financial hurdles, from saving a deposit to covering transaction costs, are significant. Fortunately, the Victorian Government offers a helping hand through several initiatives designed to make homeownership more accessible. Whether you’re buying a new build or an established property,...
ConveyancingFamily LawPropertyThe Bank of Mum & Dad: How to Protect Your Family Loan from a Relationship Breakdown
29 June 2025
The Australian dream of homeownership is increasingly being financed by the “Bank of Mum and Dad.” With property prices soaring, it’s now common for parents to contribute tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars to help their children secure a first home. It’s a generous act of love. But it’s also a significant financial...
ConveyancingPropertyUncategorisedThe Hidden Trap That’s Costing Victorian Property Investors Millions
28 June 2025
Picture this: You’ve just purchased your third investment property in Melbourne, feeling proud of your growing portfolio. Your accountant set up the first property in your personal name for “simplicity,” and you’ve continued with the same structure ever since. Fast forward five years, and a single professional indemnity claim threatens to wipe out your entire...
ConveyancingPropertyNavigating Victoria’s Public Open Space Levy: A Framework for Developers
25 May 2025
Victoria’s urban landscape is continually evolving, driven by population growth and the imperative for sustainable development. A cornerstone of this growth management is the Public Open Space (POS) levy, a critical mechanism ensuring that new developments contribute to the provision of essential community infrastructure. For property developers, understanding the legislative intricacies of this levy is...
PropertyHow Developers Legally Avoid Paying Victoria’s Public Open Space Levy and Land Tax
25 May 2025
In Victoria, a segment of property developers—particularly those engaged in build-to-rent (BTR) schemes—are taking advantage of legal frameworks to sidestep certain state and local tax obligations. While not inherently unlawful, these strategies highlight gaps in legislation that municipalities and the State Revenue Office (SRO) are now scrutinizing. Avoiding the Public Open Space Levy Ordinarily, developers...
ConveyancingPropertyVictoria’s Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF): Current Situation
24 May 2025
Overview The Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) is a new property tax that will replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) in Victoria starting July 1, 2025. The Victorian Parliament passed the legislation last week, and it represents a significant increase in property taxes for Victorian landowners. Background and Implementation The ESVF replaces...
ConveyancingPropertyUncategorisedVictoria’s Tax Burden: The 33 Taxes, Levies and Duties That Weigh on Residents
20 May 2025
When the Federal Government introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2000, it came with a promise: the new consumption tax would replace a raft of inefficient state taxes, creating a more streamlined taxation system across Australia. The GST was meant to provide states with a stable revenue source while allowing them to eliminate...
Based on research from the State Revenue Office, Department of Treasury and Finance, and other government sources, here is the complete list of 33 taxes, levies, and duties in Victoria, categorised by type: Property Taxes and Duties Land tax Vacant residential land tax Land transfer (stamp) duty – non-principal place of residence Land transfer (stamp)...
ConveyancingPropertyNavigating Property Title Name Changes in Victoria: What You Need to Know
19 May 2025
Changing names on a property title is more common than you might think—and for various reasons. Whether correcting a spelling error, reflecting a relationship change, or updating trustee details, it’s important to understand the legal and tax implications involved. In Victoria, this process typically involves the Land Titles Office (LTO) for registration and the State...
