Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Act 2026

The Act introduces changes to land tax, the emergency services and volunteers fund and the temporary off-the-plan duty concession.

Land tax

The Act introduces amendments to the principal place of residence (PPR) exemption for a home under construction or renovation, from 1 January 2027, which allow:

• the exemption to apply for up to 4 years even if the construction or renovation takes longer
• the exemption to apply where construction or renovation starts and finishes in the same calendar year, but the land is unoccupied as at 31 December
• greater flexibility for an owner to nominate the date of the issue of a planning permit or a building permit as the works start date, giving owners more control over when the exemption begins to apply
• a joint owner who departs their former PPR and starts construction or renovation of a new PPR elsewhere to retain an exemption on their previous PPR for a maximum of one further year rather than 2 further years.

Learn more about the exemption for constructing or renovating a PPR.

Emergency services and volunteers fund

The Act defers the increase to the fixed charge for non-PPR residential land, previously legislated to commence on 1 July 2026, until a date declared by the Treasurer by notice published in the Government Gazette.

The Act also expands the volunteer rebate, expands the exemption for land owned by Homes Victoria and introduces a partial rebate for community housing organisations effective from a commencement date to be declared by the Treasurer by notice published in the Government Gazette.

Learn more about emergency services and volunteers fund calculations and discounts.

Temporary off-the-plan duty concession

The Act extends the eligibility period of the temporary off-the-plan duty concession by 6 more months, so that it can apply to all contracts entered into on or after 21 October 2024 and on or before 20 April 2027.

Learn more about the temporary off-the-plan duty concession.

Our website has been updated to reflect the changes.