PEXA Fees Perth: A Complete Guide to PEXA Settlement, Registration and Lodgement Costs
Making digital property settlements simple
Almost every property transaction in Western Australia now runs through PEXA, the digital network that replaced paper-based settlements. This guide sets out exactly what goes into your total, why it costs what it does, and how KDD Conveyancing manages your file from registration through to the final transfer.
- Real-time lodgement with Landgate, WA's land title registry
- Fast access to cleared funds once your transaction settles
- Fewer delays, thanks to pre-lodgement checks on every party's figures
- No physical attendance required on the day
What Is PEXA and Why Does It Charge a Fee?
PEXA (Property Exchange Australia) is the network banks, financial institutions and licensed agents use to lodge title documents electronically and complete a transaction in real time, rather than at a physical meeting. Since electronic lodgement became standard practice across WA, most eligible settlements now proceed this way by default.
Access to the network isn’t free. Subscribers, including agencies like KDD, pay to use it, and that charge is built into the published rates your agent quotes you. It is a legitimate, itemised part of that invoice, not a hidden add-on, and understanding what it covers makes the number far easier to accept.
PEXA is sometimes described as PEXA e-conveyancing or PEXA electronic conveyancing, and older listings still reference PEXA online or a PEXA portal login. Whatever the industry calls it, the fees PEXA charges cover the same ongoing subscription fees that keep the settlements conveyancing sector connected to Landgate in real time.
Typical PEXA Charges for Perth Settlements
There is no single flat figure, because the total depends on your transaction type, how many parties are involved, and whether the title is standard residential land, strata, or commercial. As a general guide, the main charges that make up a typical residential file are:
- Workspace fee: charged per transaction, generally $100 to $150 depending on complexity
- Landgate lodgement charge: the government amount for registering the transfer, set annually
- Professional charge: your agent’s amount for managing the file, checking figures and coordinating with the bank
- Discharge charge: payable if an existing mortgage needs to be released electronically at completion
- Registration charge: for registering the transfer, a new mortgage, or other dealings against the title
Landgate reviews its schedule annually, so exact figures can shift from one financial year to the next. KDD always confirms current pricing before your date is locked in, so every dollar in your online quote reflects what is actually payable, not a rough estimate.
Your PEXA settlement fees estimate sits alongside the wider PEXA e-settlement process KDD manages on your behalf, so you always know what each line item covers before the file is lodged.
Who Pays at Settlement?
In most WA residential matters, each party covers their own share, in the same way charges were always split. The buyer typically pays for registering the transfer and any new mortgage, while the seller pays to discharge their existing one. Your KDD agent itemises every charge on the final statement so nothing is bundled together or left unclear.
The same principle applies to commercial settlements, though the number of parties and documents in the workspace is usually higher, which can affect the professional charge.
Is the PEXA Fee Tax Deductible?
For an investment property, these charges are generally treated as part of the cost base for capital gains purposes rather than an immediate deduction. This is standard practice on any digital platform, and none of it is legal or tax advice for your specific matter, so confirm with your accountant how it applies to your circumstances.
Ask KDD for a written PEXA fee estimate before you commit, so your PEXA fees are always confirmed in advance rather than added on afterwards.
Why Choose KDD for Your Perth Settlement
With over 20 years as a Perth agency and a century of combined team experience, KDD Conveyancing is one of the most trusted names in local settlement services. We are fully licensed with the Department of Commerce, PEXA authorised, and members of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA Division. Read what our clients say on our testimonials page.
One dedicated agent managing your file from start to finish
Local knowledge across the Perth metropolitan area
What's Included in the Professional Charge
The amount KDD quotes covers considerably more than network access. It includes:
- Preparing and checking every document before it is lodged
- Confirming figures directly with the buyer’s or seller’s bank
- Coordinating in real time with every other party in the file
- Verifying cleared funds and triggering same-day disbursement
- Registering the transfer and any related documents with Landgate
This is the same work a settlement agent has always done for a property transfer, set out in full on our property settlement services checklist. It is simply carried out through a faster, more transparent digital process instead of a paper file and a face-to-face meeting.
PEXA Verification of Identity
Before anyone can be added to a file, every party to a transaction must complete an identity verification check and sign a client authorisation allowing their agent to act on their behalf. This is a legislated safeguard that applies to every electronic transaction in Australia, not a KDD-specific step.
This identity check protects buyers and sellers from fraud, which has become more common as more of the industry has moved digital. KDD can complete yours in person at our office, or through an approved provider, whichever suits you. Read more on our about conveyancing page.
Documents you will typically need on hand for your identity check include:
- Current driver’s licence or passport
- A recent Medicare card
- Proof of your current address, such as a utility bill
How KDD Manages Registration and Lodgement
As a locally authorised agency, KDD handles every stage of registration and lodgement from start to finish, as part of our full range of conveyancing services.
Because it all happens inside one connected workspace, completion is confirmed the moment funds and documents exchange, rather than days later once paperwork is physically lodged.
- We open your file and invite every relevant party, including your bank
- We complete your client authorisation and identity check
- We reconcile figures with each participant ahead of the confirmed date
- We register the transfer, mortgage and any discharge documents with Landgate
- We confirm funds have cleared and send a final statement showing every charge paid
Common Questions
FAQs About PEXA Fees
How much does PEXA cost?
A workspace charge generally falls between $100 and $150, on top of your agent’s professional amount and any Landgate charges. Your KDD quote sets out the exact total for your transaction.
How much does a settlement agent cost in Perth?
Who pays PEXA fees on settlement?
What Are PEXA Lodgement Fees Based On?
Do these charges change every year?
Is a Workspace Charge the Same as an Agent's Fee?
No. The workspace charge covers access to the network itself. The agent’s professional fee is separate, and covers the work of preparing, checking and registering your transaction.