Apply for a property clearance certificate
If you are buying or selling or are the mortgagee of a property, you can apply for a property clearance certificate (previously known as a land tax clearance certificate), which details the amount of tax secured by a charge on the land.
A charge on the land includes land tax that is yet to be assessed for the year in which the certificate is issued, and all outstanding land tax liabilities from that year and prior years. It also includes any windfall gains tax and deferral interest applicable for the land.
Purchasers should be aware that if the vendor has not paid the tax owing that is secured by a charge on the land, we may enforce the charge and seek payment from the purchaser.
A purchaser is protected from the recovery of tax that is in excess of the amount shown on the certificate. However, to get this protection the purchaser must obtain their own certificate. Using a vendor’s certificate will not protect the purchaser.
Generally, you receive your certificate via email within one day, but it may take up to 10 business days.
Property clearance certificates with settlement in 2025
If you apply for a property clearance certificate for a property that will be settled or auctioned in 2025, the certificate will be issued after Thursday 2 January 2025. This allows us to include any 2025 liabilities.
If your settlement date is rescheduled from 2024 to 2025, you can request a free certificate update with 2025 liabilities on the provision that there is no change to the parties involved in the transaction and your request is made within 90 days of the original certificate being issued. If, however, your settlement has been delayed, you can obtain an update by calling us on 13 21 61.
Request a free online update
You can request a free update of your property clearance certificate within 90 days of it being issued, as long as there is no change to the parties involved in the transaction.
All certificates are issued subject to a number of notes which you should read carefully:
Clearance certificate payment options
You can pay the amount of tax shown as outstanding on a property clearance certificate by credit card, BPAY or via your electronic lodgement network operator (ELNO). Contact your ELNO for further instructions.
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Gather required information
Before applying for a certificate, have all the details of the property, including address, volume and folio, ready.
If you are the purchaser, you will also need the vendor’s details.
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Apply for a certificate
You can apply for a property clearance certificate online as either a non-registered or registered user.
The application fee is $18.90.
A card payment fee of 0.45% applies to all credit card transactions.
Apply as a non-registered user
It’s easy, fast and efficient, with secure credit card payment. You simply enter the requested details, pay and your certificate is emailed to you.
Apply as a non-registered user
If you frequently apply for property clearance certificates, you can become a registered user. This enables you to quickly and easily manage multiple certificate applications and update requests, with secure encrypted payment available by Visa, MasterCard or monthly direct debit.
Apply as a registered user
Registered users who have authorised access can sign in to their property clearance certificates account and apply for a certificate.
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Receive your certificate
Once your request has been processed, your certificate is emailed to you.
If we need to manually process your request it may take up to 10 working days to get your certificate.
Next Steps
Once you have your certificate, you can request a certificate update reflecting any changes since your certificate was issued. Your property clearance certificate update is free if you request it within 90 days of your initial certificate being issued.
Important notes
The information on a certificate does not preclude us from taking action against a vendor to recover outstanding tax.
Please also carefully read our property clearance certificates notes for land tax and windfall gains tax.
Last modified: 16 September 2024
News and updates
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3 December 2024
State Taxation Further Amendment Act 2024
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20 November 2024
State Revenue Office 2023–24 Annual Review is now available
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30 September 2024
More property tax seminars added this October
