The steps required to complete your transaction depends on what stage your transaction was up to when the new Barrier Free model was implemented. If your transaction has an execution date prior to 18 September 2017 this will be managed in accordance with the transitional provisions.
Read the scenarios below to see what applies to you.
- Your transaction will be managed under the Barrier Free model.
- After you enter into a contract/agreement to purchase your property and settlement has occurred, you will have 14 days to lodge your application to register a crown lease or your transfer instrument with the Access Canberra Land Titles Office for title registration. The documents lodged must be in a registrable form and include the buyer and seller verification codes and any associated mortgage documents.
- If you are claiming a concession or exemption for your transaction, the applicable concession code must be recorded on your transfer instrument. To help find out if you’re eligible for a concession or exemption, you can the self assessment tools on our website.
- The Land Titles Office will collect the necessary data to enable our Office to calculate the duty payable and apply any concessions or exemptions being claimed to your transaction.
- A Notice of Assessment for your transaction will be generated and emailed to your nominated email address and also to your solicitor, if applicable. This notice will include details of the property being purchased, the duty amount payable, any concessions or exemptions claimed and your unique payment reference number for the transaction.
- Payment is limited to BPAY or EFT and must be made within 14 days of title registration.
- If payment is made on time, no further interaction will be required with the ACT Revenue Office for this transaction. If payment is not made or is received late the matter will be referred to the Debt Management Unit for follow up action.
- You can attend the Access Canberra with a copy of your Notice of Assessment at any time to have your documents stamped and collect them.
- Access Canberra staff will look up your transaction to verify payment. If duty has been paid in full your contract (if applicable) and transfer instrument will be stamped and returned to you. Please note that documents will be manually stamped.
- You will then be able to proceed to settlement with your stamped documents to complete your property purchase.
- Following settlement, your transfer instrument (with the buyer and seller verification codes included) and mortgage documents will need to be lodged with the Land Titles Office for title registration.
- The Land Titles Office will register the title and no further action is required by you.
- If you did not pay your duty liability prior to 18 September 2017 you will be reissued a Notice of Assessment from our office.
- This will be emailed to your solicitor (if applicable) or the email address nominated on your conveyance lodgement form.
- The reissued notice will include online payment information for your transaction. This does not replace any previous notice issued for your transaction.
- You can pay online using BPAY or Electronic Funds Transfer. Please not payments can take up to 48 hours to be received and processed by our office.
- If you have an urgent matter settling and are yet to receive your re-issued notice you can email duties@act.gov.au with your transaction details and settlement date and we will prioritise the reissuing of your notice.
- Once payment has been made you can attend the Access Canberra with a copy of your reissued notice. Access Canberra staff will look up your transaction to verify payment. If duty has been paid in full your contract (if applicable) and transfer instrument will be manually stamped and returned to you.
- You will then be able to proceed to settlement with your stamped documents to complete your property purchase.
- Following settlement, your transfer instrument (with the buyer and seller verification codes included) and mortgage documents will need to be lodged with the Land Tittles Office for title registration.
- The Land Titles Office will register the title and no further action is required by you.
- If your transaction was not assessed prior to our transition to our new IT system on 18 September 2017, we will endeavour to get your Notice of Assessment to you as soon as possible. Please note, as a result of the transition process there may be some delays in receiving the Notice of Assessment. Your patience during this period is greatly appreciated.
- if you have an urgent matter settling you can email duties@act.gov.au with your transaction details and settlement date and we will look at prioritising your duty assessment.
- Once you receive your Notice of Assessment you can take it to the Access Canberra. Your transaction will be looked up to verify payment and if duty has been paid in full your contract (if applicable) and transfer instrument will be manually stamped and returned to you.
- You will then be able to proceed to settlement with your stamped documents to complete your property purchase.
- Following settlement, your transfer instrument (with the buyer and seller verification codes included) and mortgage documents will need to be lodged with the Land Titles Office for title registration.
- The Land Titles Office will register the title, no further action is required by you.
- Transactions with an execution date prior to 18 September 2017, that were not lodged prior to the commencement of the Barrier Free model, will be required to be submitted via online SmartForm.
- The SmartForm submission must include any supporting documentation or associated applications for concessions and exemptions as an attachment, together with any applicable declarations.
- Once the submission has been received, our office will raise a Notice of Assessment and email it to your nominated email address and also to your solicitor, if applicable. This notice will include details of the property being purchased, the duty amount payable, any concessions or exemptions claimed and the unique payment reference number for the transaction.
- You can pay online using BPAY or Electronic Funds Transfer. Please note payments can take up to 48 hours to be received and processed by our office.
- Once payment has been made you can attend the Access Canberra with a copy of your Notice of Assessment, your contract (if applicable) and your completed transfer instrument.
- Access Canberra staff will look up your transaction to verify payment. If duty has been paid in full, your contract (if applicable) and transfer instrument will be manually stamped and returned to you.
- You will then be able to proceed to settlement with your stamped documents to complete your property purchase.
- Following settlement, your transfer instrument (with the buyer and seller verification codes included) and mortgage documents will need to be lodged with the Land Titles Office for title registration.
- The Land Titles Office will register the title and no further action is required by you.