You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today for a better experience of this site and many others.
Stamp Duty Land Tax is payable by the purchaser in a land transaction which includes a simple conveyance of land such as buying a house but also creating a lease or assigning a lease. If you are considering property investment or acquiring a lease on a commercial property we, at Finnies, can help you to make property acquisitions in a tax efficient manner.
SDLT is payable by the purchaser in a land transaction occurring in England and Northern Ireland. For land transactions occurring in Scotland, Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) applies and in Wales land transactions are chargeable to Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
A transaction will trigger liability if it involves the acquisition of an interest in land. This will include a simple conveyance of land such as buying a house, creating a lease or assigning a lease.
The tax has to be paid when a contract has been substantially performed. In cases where the purchaser takes possession of the property on completion, that will be the date. However, if the purchaser effectively takes possession before completion - known as ‘resting on contract’ - that will be regarded as triggering the tax.
Each SDLT rate is payable on the portion of the property value which falls within each band.
The current rates are as follows:
First-time buyers may be eligible for first-time buyer relief on purchases of residential property up to £625,000. The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.
Each SDLT rate is payable on the portion of the property value which falls within each band. The rates and thresholds (from 23 September 2022) are:
No relief can be claimed if the property is over £625,000.
First-time buyer relief applies to purchasers of qualifying shared ownership properties who do not elect to pay SDLT on the market value of the whole property when they purchase their first share. Relief will be applied to the first share purchased, where the market value of the shared ownership property is £625,000 or less.
Higher rates of SDLT are charged on purchases of additional residential properties (above £40,000).
The main target of the higher rates is purchases of buy-to-let properties or second homes. However, there will be some purchasers who will have to pay the additional charge even though the property purchased will not be a buy-to-let or a second home. The 36 month rule set out below helps to remove some transactions from the additional rates (or allow a refund).
The higher rates are three percentage points above the SDLT rates shown in the table above. The higher rates potentially apply if, at the end of the day of the purchase transaction, the individual owns two or more residential properties.
Some further detail:
The rates for non-residential and mixed property are set out in the table below.
The SDLT rates are payable on the portion of the property value which falls within each band.
There is a relief available for purchasers of residential property who acquire interests in more than one dwelling at the same time. Where the relief is claimed the rate of SDLT is determined not by the aggregate consideration but instead by the mean consideration (ie by the aggregate consideration divided by the number of dwellings) subject to a minimum rate of 1% on the total.
There is a 2% SDLT surcharge on non-UK residents (and certain UK resident companies that are controlled by non-UK residents) purchasing residential property in England and Northern Ireland.
Yes. There are a number of situations in which the transfer of land will not be caught for SDLT. These include:
Tax is chargeable on the consideration. This will usually be the actual cash that passes on the sale. However the definition is very wide and is intended to catch all sorts of situations where value might be given other than in cash: for example, if the purchaser agrees to do certain work on the property.
If an existing lease is purchased, SDLT is calculated in the same way as the purchase of a freehold property. If a lease is created for the payment of a premium ie a lump sum in addition to any rent, then the amount of the premium is the consideration subject to SDLT and is also calculated in the same way as the purchase of a freehold property.
However, there is also a potential charge to SDLT on the rental element. The calculation takes account of various factors including the rent that will be paid under the lease. If the calculated value exceeds £125,000 for residential property and £150,000 for non-residential, the excess is charged at 1%.
A 2% rate applies to rent paid under a non-residential lease where the NPV of the rent is above £5 million.
The government has SDLT calculators which work out the amount of SDLT payable. The calculators can be found here.
The purchaser must complete an SDLT1 return and this must be submitted to a special HMRC office within 14 days of the transaction. The purchaser must also send a cheque for the tax at the same time so this means that they have to calculate the tax due. A late return triggers an automatic penalty of £100, and late payment of the tax will mean a charge to interest.
A certificate will be sent to the purchaser to show that they have paid the tax. This certificate is required to change the details of the property ownership at the Land Registry. The fact that HMRC has given the purchaser a certificate does not mean the SDLT calculations are agreed. HMRC has nine months in which to decide whether or not to enquire into the return and challenge the figures.
If you are planning to enter into an arrangement to purchase land, we can advise you of the precise impact of Stamp Duty Land Tax on the transaction so please contact us at Finnies. We can also help you complete the SDLT1 and submit it to HMRC.
Connect with us