Townsends Lawyers can now stamp family, discretionary and unit trust deeds established in New South Wales and Victoria, along with a number of other eligible documents, on a complimentary basis when the documents or transaction are ordered through the firm. All you need to pay is the duty.
Once we receive the signed documents and a credit card for the duty, the documents are checked for proper signing and then we stamp them as an authorised agent of the relevant state revenue office before returning them to you. All of this is completed in a matter of days, not weeks.
As an added bonus, we will retain stamped copies for electronic storage so you never have to worry about losing the documents.
The start of this service comes hot on the heels of the decision by the two revenue offices to delegate the stamping of standard documents to authorised agents in order to speed up the process and reduce their own administration costs.
Effective from 1 July 2016, the NSW Office of State Revenue will no longer accept direct lodgement of documents that can be processed via their Electronic Duties Return (EDR) service. These documents must be assessed electronically through an authorised agent and include at least the following:
- contract of sale of land and transfer document where ad valorem duty is payable;
- contract of sale of business;
- transfer of land in relation to a deceased estate;
- transfer or assignment of lease;
- discretionary, family or unit trust deeds; and
- mortgages and caveats.
Similarly in Victoria, the State Revenue Office no longer processes transactions which can be assessed using its Duties Online (DOL) facility. Applications from individuals are currently still accepted but will be processed with a 21-day turnaround. Documents which can be assessed in DOL include:
- contract of sale of land and transfer where ad valorem duty is payable;
- transfer of land in relation to a deceased estate;
- transfer of property from a member to a superannuation fund for no consideration; and
- discretionary, family or unit trust deeds.
Media enquiries
Julie Hartley
Solicitor
Townsends Business & Corporate Lawyers
p 02 8296 6208
e julie@townsendslaw.com.au
w townsendslaw.com.au