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What is Stamp Duty?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a type of tax you may have to pay if you buy a home, or a piece of land, in England or Northern Ireland.

How much tax you’ll pay depends on:

  • Which part of the UK you’re buying in
  • Whether you’re a first-time buyer
  • Whether you’re buying additional properties
  • The value of the property

Buying in Scotland or Wales?

The Scottish and Welsh equivalents of SDLT are:

When do you have to pay Stamp Duty?

Stamp Duty is typically charged on any transaction that involves an exchange of property. For example, when you buy:

  • A freehold property
  • A new, or existing leasehold property
  • A share of a property through a shared ownership scheme
  • Any commercial property
  • A buy-to-let property

If the property is under a certain price (threshold), there is no SDLT to pay. You may also be entitled to a discount (tax relief), if you’re a first-time buyer, for example.

If you’re buying a property in England or Northern Ireland, you have 14 days from completion, to pay your Stamp Duty bill through HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). In Scotland and Wales, you’ll have 30 days to make the equivalent payment. 

If you have a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, they’ll usually collect the money from you in advance and file a return for you. However, you’re still responsible for making sure it’s paid on time and will be charged a penalty if it isn’t.  

How much is Stamp Duty?

The total amount of Stamp Duty you’ll pay for properties in England and Northern Ireland is cumulative. 

You'll have to pay the rate of Stamp Duty for each segment of the property’s value according to these percentages.

Buying your first property

First-time buyers (buyers who have never owned a property, or part of a property, anywhere else in the world) get a special discount on their Stamp Duty. This means there’s no tax on the first £425,000 of the property price, as long as it's below £625,000. If the property value is above £625,000, then there is no discount.

SDLT rates

Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £425,000
0%
£425,001 to £625,000 5%

SDLT rates

Property price
£0 to £425,000
£0 to £425,000
Percentage taxed
0%
0%
Property price
£425,001 to £625,000 £425,001 to £625,000
Percentage taxed
5%
5%

If the price is over £625,000, you follow the rules for people who’ve bought a home before.

Buying a new property that will be your only home

SDLT rates
Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £250,000 0%
£250,001 to £925,000
5%
£925,001 to £1,500,000
10%
Over £1,500,001
12%
SDLT rates
Property price
£0 to £250,000 £0 to £250,000
Percentage taxed
0%
0%
Property price
£250,001 to £925,000
£250,001 to £925,000
Percentage taxed
5%
5%
Property price
£925,001 to £1,500,000
£925,001 to £1,500,000
Percentage taxed
10%
10%
Property price
Over £1,500,001
Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed
12%
12%

So, if you were buying a property worth £260,000, you would pay:

  • 0% of the value below £250,000 = £0
  • 5% of the value between £250,001 and £260,000 = £500
  • Total Stamp Duty payable = £500

Buying additional properties

If you’re buying a second home in England or Northern Ireland, the rates for additional properties are higher.

SDLT rates
Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £250,000 3%
£250,001 to £925,000
8%
£925,001 to £1,500,000
13%
Over £1,500,001
15%
SDLT rates
Property price
£0 to £250,000 £0 to £250,000
Percentage taxed
3%
3%
Property price
£250,001 to £925,000
£250,001 to £925,000
Percentage taxed
8%
8%
Property price
£925,001 to £1,500,000
£925,001 to £1,500,000
Percentage taxed
13%
13%
Property price
Over £1,500,001
Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed
15%
15%

For more information, visit GOV.UK: SDLT

How much is SDLT for non-UK residents?

If you buy a residential property in England or Northern Ireland, and you’re not a UK resident – you’ll need to pay a surcharge of 2%.

This means SDLT rates are 2% higher on properties bought by non-UK residents, compared to UK residents. The surcharge doesn’t apply to purchases of land or buildings in Scotland or Wales. 

This additional 2% surcharge applies to purchases of both freehold and leasehold properties and is on top of all residential rates of SDLT, including zero rates. For example, there are no exemptions for first-time buyers or if the property is priced under the SDLT threshold.   

It also increases the SDLT payable on rents on the grant of a new lease.

For more information, visit GOV.UK: SDLT for non-UK residents

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) – Scotland

The total amount of LBTT you’ll pay for properties in Scotland is cumulative.

Buying your first property

First-time buyers in Scotland don't pay any tax on the first £175,000 of the value of their property.

Buying a new property that will be your only home

LBTT rates
Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £145,000
0%
£145,001 to £250,000
2%
£250,001 to £325,000
5%
£325,001 to £750,000
10%
Over £750,001
12%
LBTT rates
Property price
£0 to £145,000
£0 to £145,000
Percentage taxed
0%
0%
Property price
£145,001 to £250,000
£145,001 to £250,000
Percentage taxed
2%
2%
Property price
£250,001 to £325,000
£250,001 to £325,000
Percentage taxed
5%
5%
Property price
£325,001 to £750,000
£325,001 to £750,000
Percentage taxed
10%
10%
Property price
Over £750,001
Over £750,001
Percentage taxed
12%
12%

Buying additional properties

For second properties in Scotland, you pay an extra 6% on the total value of the property.

For more information, visit GOV.SCOT: LBTT

Land Transaction Tax (LTT) – Wales

Buying your first property

There are no concessions for first-time buyers in Wales.

Buying a new property that will be your only home

The total amount of LTT you’ll pay for properties in Wales is cumulative.

LTT rates
Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £225,000
0%
£225,001 to £400,000
6%
£400,001 to £750,000
7.5%
£750,001 to £1,500,000
10%
Over £1,500,001
12%
LTT rates
Property price
£0 to £225,000
£0 to £225,000
Percentage taxed
0%
0%
Property price
£225,001 to £400,000
£225,001 to £400,000
Percentage taxed
6%
6%
Property price
£400,001 to £750,000
£400,001 to £750,000
Percentage taxed
7.5%
7.5%
Property price
£750,001 to £1,500,000
£750,001 to £1,500,000
Percentage taxed
10%
10%
Property price
Over £1,500,001
Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed
12%
12%

Buying additional properties

The rates for additional properties are slightly higher.

LTT rates
Property price
Percentage taxed
£0 to £180,000
4%
£180,001 to £250,000
7.5%
£250,001 to £400,000
9%
£400,001 to £750,000
11.5%
£750,001 to £1,500,000
14%
Over £1,500,001
16%
LTT rates
Property price
£0 to £180,000
£0 to £180,000
Percentage taxed
4%
4%
Property price
£180,001 to £250,000
£180,001 to £250,000
Percentage taxed
7.5%
7.5%
Property price
£250,001 to £400,000
£250,001 to £400,000
Percentage taxed
9%
9%
Property price
£400,001 to £750,000
£400,001 to £750,000
Percentage taxed
11.5%
11.5%
Property price
£750,001 to £1,500,000
£750,001 to £1,500,000
Percentage taxed
14%
14%
Property price
Over £1,500,001
Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed
16%
16%

For more information, visit GOV.WALES: LTT

This article was last updated: 15/02/2024, 08:37