close
Products
About us
Resources
Call us: +44 1632 960212

Stamp Duty – What You Need to Know

Whether you are a first time buyer or have experienced multiple home purchases over the years, navigating the property market can be a confusing and stressful process.

In this article we will assess all that you need to know when it comes to Stamp Duty, your obligations, thresholds and other useful information.

What is Stamp Duty?

A stamp duty is the tax a government will place on legal documents, usually in the transfer of an asset or a property. Governments will usually impose stamp duties, also known as stamp taxes on documents that are needed to legally record certain types of transactions.

Stamp Duty in the UK – What is Liable?

If you buy a property of a piece of land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland, you will be liable to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). The tax however is different if the property or land is in:

  • Scotland – you will pay a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax
  • Wales – you will be liable to pay the Land Transaction Tax, if the sale was completed on or after 1 April 2018

In broad terms, you pay the tax when you buy a:

  • Freehold property
  • New or existing leasehold
  • Purchase a property through a shared ownership scheme
  • Or are transferred land or property in exchange for payment, for example you take on a mortgage or buy a share in a house

Thresholds and How Much You Must Pay

The threshold is where SDLT starts to apply and not before, so if you buy a property for less than the stated threshold then there’s no SDLT to pay. The current SDLT threshold for residential properties is £500,000. This changes on 1 April 2021 and we will keep you updated with any changes.

The threshold for non-residential land and properties such as a commercial property however is £150,000. With all property purchases from 1 April 2021 the SDLT thresholds will be:

  • £125,000 for residential properties
  • £150,000 for non-residential land and properties

These thresholds are the same as they were before 8 July 2020.

Information For First-time Buyers

From the 1 April 2021, you’ll be given a discount or relief that means you’ll pay less or no tax if both the following rules apply:

  • You, and anyone else you’re buying with, are first-time buyers
  • the purchase price of the property is £500,000 or less
  • You’ll also be eligible for the discount if you bought your first home before 8 July 2020

How Much Will You Pay?

How much you SDLT you pay will depend on whether the land or property is:

  • Residential and whether you’re a first-time buyer
  • Or a non-residential or mixed-use

For sake of ease you can use HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator to work out how much tax you’ll pay. You may also be able to reduce the amount of tax you pay by claiming a relief, such as if you’re a first-time buyer or purchasing more than one property (‘multiple dwellings’).

The total value on which you pay the SDLT on (sometimes called the ‘consideration’) is usually the price you pay for the property or land. Sometimes it might include another type of payment such as:

  • Goods
  • Works or services
  • Release from a debt
  • A transfer of a debt, including the value of any outstanding mortgage
  • Find out how to work out the consideration if your situation is complicated.

How and When to Pay?

You must send an SDLT return to HMRC and pay the tax within 14 days of completion.

If you are using a solicitor, agent or conveyancer, they’ll usually file your return and pay the tax on your behalf on the day of completion and add the amount to their fees. They’ll also claim any relief you’re eligible for, such as if you’re a first-time buyer. If they do not do this for you, you can file a return and pay the tax yourself.

For more information about the SDLT please visit https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax

We are here to help you
Your first consultation is completely free-of-charge. All you need to do is select a convenient time & date and outline how we can assist you.
virtual advisor
Try out our new Virtual advisor!
Get all benefits of Regular Advice via AI and ML algorithms
Related articles
Featured media
Investment
Stocks and Shares: Where to Start if You Want to Become an Investor
10 Oct 2024 · Marketing Team

From assessing your risk tolerance to understanding the tax implications of investing Before jumping into the stock market, it’s essential…

Featured media
Investment
The Growing Popularity of Active ETFs: What They Are and Why They’re on the Rise
02 Oct 2024 · Marketing Team

Active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been around for a while, but they’ve experienced a notable surge in popularity in recent…

Featured media
General
Investment
Other
Strategies to Reduce Inheritance Tax by Gifting
19 Sep 2024 · Marketing Team

With inheritance tax (IHT) on the rise, here are some strategies to help you save on inheritance tax by making…

Thanks for subscribing!
We’re happy you joined our subscription.
Chech your inbox for future updates.
An error has occured
Please, try again later or
contact us via live chat.