You were first time buyers. The fact that the property was second hand doesn’t change that. However, In 2004 First time buyers of Second-hand Residential Property were subject to stamp duty. The rate of 3% for a property worth €200,000 in September 2004 is correct. For transfers executed on or after 2 December 2004, a first time buyer would have been exempt from stamp duty on second hand properties up to a value of €317,500. Your purchase was about 3 months too early to benefit from the budget changes so the stamp duty of 3% was correct.