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    4. Farm-in agreement concessions
    5. How to apply

    How to apply for farm-in agreement concessions

    Find out how to lodge a farm-in agreement and apply for a transfer (stamp) duty concession.

    On this page:
      Other farm-in agreement concessions pages
      You will need to lodge the signed farm-in agreement
      Farm-in agreement

      A farm-in agreement is a contract between two parties:

      • the farmor, who owns a piece of land or an interest in said land
      • the farmee, who wants access to the land in question for mining purposes.

      The farmee agrees to fund exploration and development of the land, and in exchange the farmor agrees to sell the farmee a percentage of their stake in the land. The two parties then share in any proceeds from the mining works.

       with a dutiable transaction statement (Form D2.2) for assessment to claim the concessions. You may also need to submit other documents for assessment at a later time if further interests are transferred or when exploration amounts are spent.

      Instructions

      Here are the steps you’ll need to follow when applying for a duty concession regarding your farm-in agreement. The process will vary slightly depending on whether you’re entering into a new farm-in agreement or are transferring the farmor’s interest as part of an upfront farm-in agreement.

      Upfront farm-in agreement

      Under an upfront farm-in agreement, the farmee’s share in the mining operation(s) is transferred immediately without any required expenditure.

      See section 84B of the Duties Act 2001.

      Who needs to notify QRO

      Either the farmor or farmee

      Notification or lodgement due date

      30 days after the farm-in agreement is entered into

      What to lodge

      • Dutiable transaction statement (Form D2.2)
      • Original signed farm-in agreement (i.e. not a photocopy)

      How duty will be assessed

      When a concession is granted, transfer duty will be assessed on any consideration

      Consideration

      Transfer duty

      Generally, the Australian dollar value paid for property in property transfers.

      Consideration includes monetary and non-monetary payments, such as assumption of liabilities.

      See section 12 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

      for entering into the agreement.

      When the concessions do not apply, transfer duty will be assessed on the greater of the consideration for the agreement or the unencumbered value
      Unencumbered value

      Transfer duty

      The value of the property being transferred disregarding any encumbrance; for example, money owed under a mortgage.

      See section 14 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

       of the dutiable property.
      Dutiable property

      Property that is involved in a dutiable transaction in Queensland.

      When you buy or sell dutiable property, you’re likely to pay duty. This can include:

      • land in Queensland
      • a transferable site area
      • an existing right
      • a Queensland business asset
      • a chattel (e.g. furniture, other freestanding moveable items) in Queensland.

      Chattels are only dutiable if the transaction either:

      • includes another type of dutiable property
      • is aggregated with a transaction for another type of dutiable property.

      Read section 10 of the Duties Act 2001 for more on property types.

      Who needs to notify QRO

      Either the farmor or farmee

      Notification or lodgement due date

      30 days after the instrument of transfer is signed by the farmor

      What to lodge

      • Dutiable transaction statement (Form D2.2)
      • Original stamped upfront farm-in agreement (i.e. not a photocopy)
      • Instrument of transfer for the interest

      How duty will be assessed

      No duty will apply to the transfer. The transfer will be marked as ‘nil duty’ so that it can be lodged for registration.

      Requirements

      The following requirements apply to any farm-in agreements currently receiving a duty concession.

      Who needs to notify QRO

      The farmee

      Notification or lodgement due date

      14 days after spending the exploration amount required to receive the interest

      What to lodge

      • Written notice
      • Original stamped upfront farm-in agreement (i.e. not a photocopy)

      How duty will be assessed

      The farm-in agreement will be reassessed for transfer duty.

      Where a farm-in agreement involves transfers of interests across multiple stages, duty will be reassessed on all consideration
      Consideration

      Transfer duty

      Generally, the Australian dollar value paid for property in property transfers.

      Consideration includes monetary and non-monetary payments, such as assumption of liabilities.

      See section 12 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

       paid or payable up to the lodgement date for the relevant stage.

      Exploration amounts will be excluded from the reassessment of duty. A credit will be applied for any transfer duty previously paid for the agreement.

      Who needs to notify QRO

      The farmee

      Notification or lodgement due date

      30 days after the expenditure completion date.

      The farmor and farmee may agree to change the expenditure completion date. In this instance, the farmee must notify the Commissioner of State Revenue by lodging the required documents. Notification is required within 30 days of the expenditure completion date last given to the Commissioner.

      What to lodge

      • Written notice
      • Original stamped upfront farm-in agreement (i.e. not a photocopy)

      How duty will be assessed

      If the farmee transfers the interest in the exploration authority back to the farmor within 30 days of the expenditure completion date (or the new, changed date as varied and notified to the Commissioner), the retransfer of the interest from the farmee to the farmor will be exempt from transfer duty.

      If the farmee does not retransfer the interest in the exploration authority back to the farmor within 30 days of the expenditure completion date (or the new, changed date as caried and notified to the Commissioner):

      • the agreement will be reassessed for transfer duty as if it were not a farm-in agreement.
      • transfer duty will apply to the greater of the consideration
        Consideration

        Transfer duty

        Generally, the Australian dollar value paid for property in property transfers.

        Consideration includes monetary and non-monetary payments, such as assumption of liabilities.

        See section 12 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

         for the agreement (including exploration amounts) or the unencumbered value
        Unencumbered value

        Transfer duty

        The value of the property being transferred disregarding any encumbrance; for example, money owed under a mortgage.

        See section 14 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

         of the dutiable property
        Dutiable property

        Property that is involved in a dutiable transaction in Queensland.

        When you buy or sell dutiable property, you’re likely to pay duty. This can include:

        • land in Queensland
        • a transferable site area
        • an existing right
        • a Queensland business asset
        • a chattel (e.g. furniture, other freestanding moveable items) in Queensland.

        Chattels are only dutiable if the transaction either:

        • includes another type of dutiable property
        • is aggregated with a transaction for another type of dutiable property.

        Read section 10 of the Duties Act 2001 for more on property types.

         agreed to be transferred.

      Who needs to notify QRO

      The farmor or farmee

      Notification or lodgement due date

      30 days after the instrument of transfer is signed by the farmor

      What to lodge

      • Dutiable transaction statement (Form D2.2)
      • Original stamped deferred farm-in agreement (i.e. not a photocopy)
      • Instrument of transfer for the interest in the authority

      How duty will be assessed

      The farm-in agreement will be reassessed for transfer duty.

      Where a farm-in agreement involves transfers of interests across multiple stages, duty will be reassessed on all of the consideration
      Consideration

      Transfer duty

      Generally, the Australian dollar value paid for property in property transfers.

      Consideration includes monetary and non-monetary payments, such as assumption of liabilities.

      See section 12 of the Duties Act 2001 for a full definition.

       paid or payable up to the lodgement date of the relevant stage.

      Exploration amounts will be excluded from the reassessment of duty. A credit will be applied for any transfer duty previously paid for the agreement.

      Also consider…

      Last updated: 20 April 2026