Stamp Duty Rates
England and Northern Ireland
The rates for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) have been updated and adapted over the years. They apply to those buying properties in England and Northern Ireland, and work on a band system in order to work out how much tax you pay on your home purchase. The more expensive your property, the more you will pay in Stamp Duty, but as it is done through bands, you will only pay a percentage for the portion of the property in that band.
| Purchase price bands (£) | Percentage rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Above £1,500,000 | 12% |
So if you bought a property worth £300,000 it would cover the first 3 tax bands.
This means your total Stamp Duty payment would be £5,000.
Find out how much Stamp Duty you’ll have to pay with our quick and easy Stamp Duty calculator.
Paying a higher rate of Stamp Duty
You will pay a higher rate of Stamp Duty if your property is more expensive. For example, in England and Northern Ireland, anything over £1.5 million has a 12% Stamp Duty rate. However, remember that the portions up to that amount still go through the lower bands and are worked out that way.
You will never pay Stamp Duty on the first £125,000 of your property.
There are other instances in which you might have a higher Stamp Duty tax bill.
Second Home and Buy to Let Stamp Duty Rates
If you are buying a second home or are buying a property to let out as a landlord, you will pay a higher rate of Stamp Duty.
| Purchase price bands (£) | Percentage rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 3% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 5% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 8% |
| £925,001 to £1,500,000 | 13% |
| Above £1,500,000 | 15% |
If you are buying a new property before selling your old property, you will briefly be owner of two homes and pay the second home rate of Stamp Duty.However, as long as you sell your initial home within 3 years you can reclaim it.You just need to make sure you fill in the paperwork to reclaim the difference in Stamp Duty within 3 months of selling the property.
Welsh Rates
The rates for Land Transaction Tax(LTT) are slightly different to those for Stamp Duty, and they have a higher starting price for bands, to remain in line with the average house price in Wales.
| Purchase price bands (£) | Percentage rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Up to £180,000 | 0% |
| £180,001 to £250,000 | 3.5% |
| £250,001 to £400,000 | 5% |
| £400,001 to £750,000 | 7.5% |
| £750,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Above £1,500,000 | 12% |
You can instantly find out how much Land Transaction Tax you’ll have to pay by using our LTT calculator .
Scottish Rates
The Scottish equivalent of Stamp Duty is known as Land and Buildings Transaction Tax(LBTT). There is nothing to pay on properties up to £145,000.
| Purchase price bands (£) | Percentage rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Up to £145,000 | 0% |
| £145,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £325,000 | 5% |
| £325,001 to £750,000 | 10% |
| Above £750,000 | 12% |
Find out how much you should expect to pay for Land and Buildings Transactions Tax with our quick and easy LBTT calculator.
How do you pay and when it is it paid?
Stamp Duty is usually paid through your conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer. They may take this payment alongside your other payments, or they may take it separately. Stamp Duty must be paid within 14 days of completion on your property.