NSW stamp duty refunds expected to attract 2,500 applications as land tax scheme launches

Coalition's program allowing choice of annual tax over stamp duty could exceed projection of 6,000 applicants

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

About 2,500 people are expected to retrospectively apply for refunds to stamp duty paid on new homes bought since the middle of November when the New South Wales government's land tax scheme officially begins.

New estimates from Revenue NSW suggest almost half of the 6,000 new owners who were expected to apply to have their stamp duty payments waived in favour of a land tax in the scheme's first year will come within days of its introduction on Monday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup