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What is Stamp Duty?

When you buy a property in the UK, you’ll need to pay tax. In England and Northern Ireland this is called Stamp Duty Land Tax, or just Stamp Duty. In Wales it’s called Land Transaction Tax and in Scotland it’s called Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

The amount of Stamp Duty you pay will vary depending on a number of factors, including whether or not you’re a first-time buyer.

When do you have to pay Stamp Duty?

Stamp Duty is typically levied on any transaction that involves an exchange of property. This includes transactions such as:

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

You may be entitled to certain concessions, for instance if you’re a first-time buyer.

You have 14 days after you complete the purchase of your property to file a return to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However, you probably won’t need to take any action yourself, as your conveyancer should collect Stamp Duty money from you in advance and will usually file a return on completion day.

What is the Stamp Duty holiday and how will it work?

In England and Northern Ireland

The Government has announced a Stamp Duty holiday from 8 July 2020 until 31 March 2021. 

If you’re looking to buy your first property or move home, they won’t charge Stamp Duty on the first £500,000 of a property purchased – as long as the home you’re buying will be the only home you own.

This is a temporary measure and if you’ll own more than 1 property, the 3% extra Stamp Duty will still apply.

This means that, during this time, if you buy your first, or only, property in England and or Northern Ireland for £500,000 or less, you won’t have to pay Stamp Duty. If you buy a property for more than £500,000, or an additional property, you will pay significantly less in Stamp Duty.

The tables below show you how much you could save during the Stamp Duty holiday.

Buying your first property
Property value Stamp Duty payable Potential saving
£250,000 £0 No change
£500,000 £0 £10,000
£1m £28,750 £15,000
Buying your first property
Property value £250,000
Stamp Duty payable £0
Potential saving No change
Property value £500,000
Stamp Duty payable £0
Potential saving £10,000
Property value £1m
Stamp Duty payable £28,750
Potential saving £15,000
Buying a new home that will be your only home
Property value Stamp Duty payable Potential saving
£250,000 £0 £2,500
£500,000 £0 £15,000
£1m £28,750 £15,000
Buying a new home that will be your only home
Property value £250,000
Stamp Duty payable £0
Potential saving £2,500
Property value £500,000
Stamp Duty payable £0
Potential saving £15,000
Property value £1m
Stamp Duty payable £28,750
Potential saving £15,000
Purchasing an additional home
Property value Stamp Duty payable Potential saving
£250,000 £7,500 £2,500
£500,000 £15,000 £15,000
£1m £58,750 £15,000
Purchasing an additional home
Property value £250,000
Stamp Duty payable £7,500
Potential saving £2,500
Property value £500,000
Stamp Duty payable £15,000
Potential saving £15,000
Property value £1m
Stamp Duty payable £58,750
Potential saving £15,000

In Scotland

The starting threshold for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) for residential property transactions will temporarily be raised from £145,000 to £250,000.

The revised rates and bands, as set out in the table below, will apply to all relevant transactions where the effective date is between 15 July 2020 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive of these dates).
Purchase price LBTT
Up to £250,000 0%
£250,001 to £325,000 5%
£325,001 to £750,000 10%
Over £750,000 12%
The revised rates and bands, as set out in the table below, will apply to all relevant transactions where the effective date is between 15 July 2020 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive of these dates).
Purchase price Up to £250,000
LBTT 0%
Purchase price £250,001 to £325,000
LBTT 5%
Purchase price £325,001 to £750,000
LBTT 10%
Purchase price Over £750,000
LBTT 12%

This means that, during this time, if you buy your first, or only, property in Scotland for £250,000 or less, you won’t have to pay LBTT.

If you buy a property for more than £250,000, or an additional property, you will pay significantly less in LBTT. If after the purchase you own more than 1 property, the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) remains at 4% of the purchase price.

In Wales

Changes to the Land Transaction Tax (LTT) rates and thresholds will apply to residential property purchases from 27 July 2020 to 31 March 2021. The starting threshold for LTT main residential rates will be set at £250,000.  

This means those buying their only property costing less than £250,000 will pay no LTT and those buying their only property for more than £250,000 will make a saving of £2,450. These changes will not apply to those buying property as an investment, or those owning more than 1 property after the transaction.

How much is Stamp Duty?

The rate of Stamp Duty 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 a second or further additional property
  • the value of the property

The figures and percentages below are the Stamp Duty charges for buying a home outside of the Stamp Duty holiday period.

In England and Northern Ireland

The total amount of Stamp Duty you’ll pay is cumulative. You'll have to pay the rate of Stamp Duty for each segment of the property’s value according to these percentages.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £125,000
 0%
£125,001 - £250,000
 2%
£250,001 - £925,000
 5%
£925,001 - £1,500,000
 10%
Over £1,500,001
 12%
The total amount of Stamp Duty you’ll pay is cumulative. You'll have to pay the rate of Stamp Duty for each segment of the property’s value according to these percentages.
Amount £0 - £125,000
Percentage taxed 0%
Amount £125,001 - £250,000
Percentage taxed 2%
Amount £250,001 - £925,000
Percentage taxed 5%
Amount £925,001 - £1,500,000
Percentage taxed 10%
Amount Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed 12%

So, if you were buying a property worth £1,000,000, you would pay:

  • 0% of the value below £125,000 = £0
  • 2% of the value between £125,001 and £250,000 = £2,500
  • 5% of the value between £250,001 and £925,000 = £33,750
  • 10% of the value between £925,001 and £1,000,000 = £7,500

Making the total Stamp Duty payable = £43,750

Buying a second home

If you’re buying a second home in England or Northern Ireland. The rates for additional properties are higher.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £125,000
 3%
£125,001 - £250,000
 5%
£250,001 - £925,000
 8%
£925,001 - £1,500,000
 13%
Over £1,500,001
 15%
If you’re buying a second home in England or Northern Ireland. The rates for additional properties are higher.
Amount £0 - £125,000
Percentage taxed 3%
Amount £125,001 - £250,000
Percentage taxed 5%
Amount £250,001 - £925,000
Percentage taxed 8%
Amount £925,001 - £1,500,000
Percentage taxed 13%
Amount Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed 15%

Buying your first property

First-time buyers (buyers who have never previously owned a property, or part of a property, anywhere else in the world) get a special discount on their Stamp Duty, meaning there’s no tax on the first £300,000 of the property price provided it is below £500,000. If the property value is above £500,000 then there is no discount and you pay the same as other purchasers.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £300,000
 0%
£300,001 - £500,000
 5%
Over £500,001
 0%
First-time buyers (buyers who have never previously owned a property, or part of a property, anywhere else in the world) get a special discount on their Stamp Duty, meaning there’s no tax on the first £300,000 of the property price provided it is below £500,000. If the property value is above £500,000 then there is no discount and you pay the same as other purchasers.
Amount £0 - £300,000
Percentage taxed
 0%
Amount £300,001 - £500,000
Percentage taxed
 5%
Amount Over £500,001
Percentage taxed
 0%

In Scotland

If you buy a property in Scotland, you’ll pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). The total amount of LBTT you’ll pay is cumulative.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £145,000
 0%
£145,001 - £250,000
 2%
£250,001 - £325,000
 5%
£325,001 - £750,000
 10%
Over £750,001
 12%
If you buy a property in Scotland, you’ll pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). The total amount of LBTT you’ll pay is cumulative.
Amount £0 - £145,000
Percentage taxed 0%
Amount £145,001 - £250,000
Percentage taxed 2%
Amount £250,001 - £325,000
Percentage taxed 5%
Amount £325,001 - £750,000
Percentage taxed 10%
Amount Over £750,001
Percentage taxed 12%

Buying a second property

For second properties in Scotland you pay an extra 4% on the total value of the property.

Buying your first property

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

In Wales

When you buy a property in Wales, you’ll pay Land Transaction Tax (LTT). The total amount of LTT you’ll pay is cumulative.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £180,000
 0%
£180,001 - £250,000
 3.5%
£250,001 - £400,000
 5%
£400,001 - £750,000
 7.5%
£750,001 - £1,500,000
 10%
Over £1,500,001
 12%
When you buy a property in Wales, you’ll pay Land Transaction Tax (LTT). The total amount of LTT you’ll pay is cumulative.
Amount £0 - £180,000
Percentage taxed 0%
Amount £180,001 - £250,000
Percentage taxed 3.5%
Amount £250,001 - £400,000
Percentage taxed 5%
Amount £400,001 - £750,000
Percentage taxed 7.5%
Amount £750,001 - £1,500,000
Percentage taxed 10%
Amount Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed 12%

Buying a second property

The rates for additional properties are slightly higher.
Amount Percentage taxed
£0 - £180,000
 3%
£180,001 -£250,000
 6.5%
£250,001- £400,000
 8%
£400,001 - £750,000
 10.5%
£750,001 - £1,500,000
 13%
Over £1,500,001
 15%
The rates for additional properties are slightly higher.
Amount £0 - £180,000
Percentage taxed 3%
Amount £180,001 -£250,000
Percentage taxed 6.5%
Amount £250,001- £400,000
Percentage taxed 8%
Amount £400,001 - £750,000
Percentage taxed 10.5%
Amount £750,001 - £1,500,000
Percentage taxed 13%
Amount Over £1,500,001
Percentage taxed 15%

Buying your first property

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

Are there any exceptions to Stamp Duty?

You may be entitled to a discount depending on your circumstances and the type of property you’re buying. Exceptions include:

  • zero-carbon homes and flats under £500,000 are exempt from Stamp Duty, while those over £500,000 have their Stamp Duty bill reduced by £15,000
  • right-to-buy transactions may qualify for a discount
  • charities can apply for Stamp Duty relief when buying property for charitable purposes
  • registered social landlords may be able to apply for relief
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