What stamp duty applies to residential property purchase?

What the Law Says

Stamp duty on residential property purchases in Ireland is governed by the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 — not the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Planning and Development Act 2000 s. 34 does not address stamp duty; it concerns planning permissions and development contributions. Therefore, no statutory quote from s. 34 applies to stamp duty liability.

The correct legal basis for residential property stamp duty is the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, as amended — particularly sections dealing with instruments of conveyance relating to land. Under current Revenue guidance (based on that Act), buyers of residential property pay stamp duty at 1% on the first €1 million of the purchase price, and 2% on any amount exceeding €1 million.

Stamp duty must be paid and the instrument stamped within 30 days of execution (e.g., signing the contract or completion date, whichever is earlier). Failure to do so incurs interest and potential penalties.

Certain exemptions and reliefs may apply — for example, first-time buyer relief was abolished in 2011, but relief may still apply for specific schemes like the Help-to-Buy Initiative (which provides a tax rebate, not stamp duty exemption).

What to Do

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