Land Tax in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory does not levy land tax. This makes the NT the only Australian state or territory where property investors pay no land tax at all, regardless of the number of properties or their total land value.

While there is no ongoing land tax, NT property investors are still subject to other property-related costs including stamp duty on purchase, council rates, and federal taxes such as income tax on rental income and capital gains tax on sale. The absence of land tax is a significant ongoing saving compared to investing in other states.

For more information on NT taxes, visit the NT Department of Treasury and Finance .

How no land tax benefits NT property investors

The absence of land tax in the Northern Territory reduces the ongoing holding costs of investment property. This can improve net rental yields and cash flow compared to holding the same property in a state with land tax.

For example, a property with a land value of $500,000 would attract approximately:

• Victoria: ~$3,200 per year (lowest threshold at $50,000)
• Queensland: $0 (below the $600,000 threshold)
• WA: ~$500 per year
• NSW: $0 (below the $1,075,000 threshold)
• Northern Territory: $0 - no land tax at any value

Over 10 or 20 years of property ownership, the cumulative savings from no land tax can be substantial, particularly for investors with higher-value land or multiple properties.

Land value: $500,000

Estimated land tax: $0

For any land value in the Northern Territory, the land tax is $0. The NT does not levy land tax. A property with a land value of $500,000 in the NT attracts no land tax at all, compared to approximately $3,200 in Victoria, $500 in WA, or $6,093 in the ACT for the same land value.

Use the calculator above to estimate land tax for your specific land value. The calculator also shows how Northern Territory compares with other Australian states and territories.

City scenario: Darwin

In Darwin, investors still model federal tax and local holding costs, but ongoing state land tax remains nil in the NT.

If the taxable land value in your Darwin scenario is around $500,000, this page estimates annual land tax around $0 under current settings.

NT property taxes and charges

Although the Northern Territory does not have land tax, property investors should be aware of other taxes and charges that apply:

• Stamp duty: Payable on property purchases (transfer duty)
• Council rates: Annual charges levied by local councils
• Income tax: Rental income is taxable at your marginal rate (federal)
• Capital gains tax: Applies on the sale of investment property (federal)
• No foreign owner land tax surcharge (since there is no land tax)

For details on NT taxes, visit the NT Department of Treasury and Finance .