A settlement agent does not usually submit a first home owner grant application through the online portal for you. In WA, the applicant submits online, an approved lender may lodge on the applicant’s behalf, or the applicant can lodge with RevenueWA. Your settlement agent can coordinate settlement information and explain how the application affects the transaction.
Key takeaways
- The FHOG Application Portal submission must be made by an applicant; third-party portal submissions are not accepted.
- An approved lender can process and lodge an application when it is providing the home loan.
- An applicant may lodge directly with RevenueWA in specified circumstances.
- FHOG, the first home owner rate of duty and the Home Buyers Assistance Account are separate programs.
- Eligibility, property caps and deadlines should be rechecked before relying on them.
Who actually applies for the FHOG in WA?
RevenueWA currently provides three main lodgement pathways. An applicant may lodge through the national FHOG Application Portal. If the lender is an approved agent, that lender can process and lodge the application. An applicant may instead lodge with RevenueWA if the lender is not approved, the applicant does not want to use the lender, or no finance is being obtained.
RevenueWA states that applications lodged through the online portal must be submitted by an applicant and that applications submitted by a third party cannot be accepted. In this context, “approved agent” ordinarily means an approved financial institution, not the buyer’s settlement agent.
What can a settlement agent do?
Your settlement agent manages the conveyancing and financial settlement, not the RevenueWA decision. The agent can help you understand the settlement timetable, coordinate information with the lender and account for an approved grant or duty treatment in the settlement process when the relevant authority and documents are available.
The settlement agent can also identify inconsistencies that may affect settlement, such as purchaser names that do not match the contract, loan or application. They cannot guarantee eligibility, approval or payment timing.
How much is the WA FHOG?
As at 4 September 2026, RevenueWA states that the FHOG is a one-off payment of up to $10,000 toward buying or building an eligible new home for use as the applicant’s principal place of residence. Only one grant is payable for an eligible transaction.
RevenueWA also states that, for transactions commencing from 7 May 2026, the property cap south of the 26th parallel increased to $800,000. Rules and caps can change, so these figures must be checked again before the intended October publication and before a buyer commits to a transaction.
Does the FHOG apply to established homes?
The WA FHOG generally supports the purchase or construction of a new home, not an ordinary established home. A first-home buyer purchasing an established property may still qualify for other assistance, including the first home owner rate of duty or the Home Buyers Assistance Account, if all separate criteria are met.
Do not assume that being a first-home buyer automatically qualifies you for every program. Each scheme has its own property, occupancy, prior ownership, transaction and application rules.
What is the first home owner rate of duty?
The first home owner rate of duty is a transfer-duty concession administered by RevenueWA. It is separate from the $10,000 FHOG. A buyer may qualify for one form of assistance but not another, depending on the property and eligibility rules.
The duty assessment affects the amount required for settlement. Use the RG Settlements stamp duty calculator only as an estimate and obtain the formal RevenueWA assessment.
What is the Home Buyers Assistance Account?
The Home Buyers Assistance Account, or HBAA, is administered through Consumer Protection WA and can reimburse up to $2,000 of eligible incidental buying expenses. It is a different scheme from both FHOG and duty relief.
As at 4 September 2026, Consumer Protection lists criteria including a purchase price of $500,000 or less, purchase through a licensed WA real estate agency, lending finance, occupation as the principal home and an established or partially built property at contract acceptance. It says the lending institution must lodge the application and applications should generally be made within 90 days of settlement.
These requirements must be checked again at application time. Do not choose a property or finance arrangement solely on an assumed grant.
When should the FHOG application be lodged?
RevenueWA says an application for FHOG and/or pre-approval for the first home owner rate of duty must be made within 12 months after completing the eligible transaction, and late applications cannot be accepted. That legal deadline should not be treated as a recommended waiting period.
If grant funds or concessional duty treatment are needed for settlement, speak to the lender and settlement agent much earlier. Processing time, evidence and payment arrangements can affect how the transaction is funded.
What documents might be required?
The evidence depends on the application and property. Applicants may need identity documents, the signed contract, evidence about the home being new, construction documents, citizenship or residency information, prior ownership details and occupancy commitments.
Use consistent legal names and answer every eligibility question accurately. RevenueWA may verify identity information and records in the national first-home owner grant database.
Frequently asked questions
Is my settlement agent an FHOG approved agent?
Usually no. RevenueWA’s approved agents are participating financial institutions that process applications connected to their lending.
Can my mortgage broker submit the online application?
The online portal submission must be made by an applicant. Ask your lender whether it is an approved agent and what role the broker will play.
Can I receive FHOG and duty relief?
Possibly, but they are separate benefits with separate eligibility rules. RevenueWA assesses each entitlement.
Does RG Settlements decide whether I qualify?
No. RevenueWA or the relevant administering body decides eligibility. RG Settlements can coordinate the conveyancing and settlement implications.
Start the application pathway early
First-home assistance can be valuable, but it should be treated as a formal application rather than an automatic payment. Confirm the correct lodgement path with your lender and RevenueWA as soon as possible.
Ask RG Settlements for a first-home settlement checklist or learn about our residential buying settlement service across Perth and Western Australia.
This article is general information only and not legal or financial advice. For advice about your specific situation, please get in touch with our team.
Authoritative sources
About RG Settlements
RG Settlements assists buyers and sellers with property settlement and conveyancing in Perth and Western Australia. Meet our team or request a settlement quote.