Understanding Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is collected to reflect the work that goes into changing the land ownership of your property from the developer or previous property owner to you. All land needs to be legally registered with the Land Registry. To complete the Land Registry process requires a certificate from HMRC, which is what the fee from the Stamp Duty pays for. This is a piece of background work that is completed by your solicitor as part of your house purchase and something you do not have to initiate yourself. A stamp duty return must be submitted (unless exempt), even if you won’t need to pay any Stamp Duty.
How much is Stamp Duty?
In England the Stamp Duty rates increase on a sliding scale based on the price of the property being purchased, unless you are a first-time buyer purchasing a home with a value lower than £500,000, where an exemption or reduced rate applies.
Stamp Duty rate are outlined below:
| Purchase Price | SDLT Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | Zero |
| The next £125,000 (the portion from £125,001 to £250,000) | 2% |
| The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000) | 5% |
| The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) | 10% |
| The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) | 12% |
The above rates apply for a single residential property. You usually pay 5% on top of these rates if you own another residential property.
First-time buyers
If you are a first-time buyer (and if anyone you are making the purchase with is), you will pay no SDLT on the purchase of your first home if the price is £300,000 or less. For properties costing up to £500,000 you will not have to pay any Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, however, a 5% Stamp Duty will apply on the portion of the property's value from between £300,000 to £500,000.
For example, if you are a first-time buyer and buy a house for £500,000, the Stamp Duty you owe will be calculated as follows:
0% on the first £300,000 = £0
5% on the next £200,000 = £10,000
Total Stamp Duty to pay = £10,000
If the property price is over £500,000, you do not qualify for any exemption, and will therefore need to follow the rules for people who have bought a home before.
You can use the government SDLT Calculator to work out how much tax you’ll pay. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to an experienced member of our sales team, email us on newhomes@sanctuary.co.uk.