In England and Northern Ireland it's called Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). In Scotland it's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), and in Wales it's Land Transaction Tax (LTT). It's payable on completion and handled by your solicitor.
Rates effective from 1 April 2025 — unchanged in 2026. Source: HMRC.
| Property Value | Standard Rate | First-Time Buyer Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% | 0% |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% | 0% (up to £300,000) |
| £250,001 – £300,000 | 5% | 0% (up to £300,000) |
| £300,001 – £500,000 | 5% | 5% (on portion above £300,000) |
| £500,001 – £925,000 | 5% | Standard rates apply (no relief) |
| £925,001 – £1,500,000 | 10% | Standard rates apply |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% | Standard rates apply |
Stamp duty applies to the portion of the price within each band, not the whole price. First-time buyer relief applies only on properties up to £500,000, and both buyers must be first-time buyers if purchasing jointly.
If you already own a property and are buying an additional one — including buy-to-let purchases — a 5% surcharge is added to all standard rates at every band. This surcharge was increased from 3% to 5% in the October 2024 Autumn Budget and applies to all completions from 31 October 2024 onwards.
Stamp duty is paid on completion — your solicitor handles the payment out of the funds on the day you legally complete. It must be paid within 14 days of completion.
Don't forget to factor stamp duty into your total buying budget. On a £300,000 property as a home mover, you'd pay £5,000 in stamp duty (2% on £125k–£250k = £2,500, plus 5% on £250k–£300k = £2,500). As a first-time buyer on the same property you'd pay £0. As a BTL purchase, the 5% surcharge adds significantly to the total. Make sure your solicitor has quoted for this.
Use the free Stamp Duty calculator on TMG Hub to work out exactly what you'll pay based on the purchase price and your buyer status.
In England and Northern Ireland it's Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). In Scotland it's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), and in Wales it's Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
First-time buyer relief means 0% is payable up to £300,000, with the relief applying only on properties up to £500,000 in total value. Both buyers must be first-time buyers if purchasing jointly.
Yes — a 5% surcharge is added to all standard rates at every band if you already own a property and are buying an additional one, including buy-to-let purchases. This surcharge increased from 3% to 5% in the October 2024 Autumn Budget and applies to completions from 31 October 2024 onwards.
On completion — your solicitor pays it out of the funds on the day you legally complete, and it must be paid within 14 days of completion.
As a home mover you'd pay £5,000 (2% on the £125,000–£250,000 band = £2,500, plus 5% on the £250,000–£300,000 band = £2,500). As a first-time buyer on the same property you'd pay £0, since it falls within the £300,000 relief threshold.
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