Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Bristol : Elite

SDLT is an extremely complicated area of tax with a constantly changing legislation.

What is SDLT?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax that individuals or businesses must pay if they buy property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. The higher the price, the more SDLT there will be to pay. SDLT can be paid on residential and non-residential properties.

When do you pay SDLT?

Buying a freehold property
Buying a new or existing leasehold
Buying through a shared ownership scheme
Transferred land or property in exchange for debt (e.g., taking on a mortgage)

How much SDLT do you pay?

Rates from 1 April 2025

Residential property

	SDLT
Up to £125,000	0%
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%

-Limited companies pay an additional 3% surcharge on these rates.

First- time buyers

	SDLT
Up to £300,000	0%
£300,001 - £500,000	5%
Above £500,000	Standard rates apply.

Non-residential property

	SDLT
Up to £150,000	0%
£150,001 - £250,000	2%
Above £250,000	5%

Higher rates for additional properties

Purchasers of additional residential properties, such as second homes or buy-to-let investments, will pay an extra 5% on top of the standard SDLT rates.
This surcharge applies to properties acquired for £40,000 or more.

Important considerations

SDLT returns and payments are due within 14 days of property transaction completion.
Typically, your solicitor, agent, or conveyancer will handle this process.
There are penalties if payments are late

Exemptions from SDLT

Certain transactions may be exempt from SDLT such as:

Transfers where no payment was made (e.g. gifts or inheritance)
Properties valued under £40,000
Transfers resulting from divorce settlements

Have you overpaid SDLT? How are some of the ways we can help?

SDLT refund claim on mixed-use property

HMRC's guidance states that the additional 3% SDLT surcharge does not apply to the purchase of mixed-use properties (a combination of residential and non-residential property) where Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) is claimed. MDR can be claimed when more than one dwelling is acquired in a single transaction or a mixed-use purchase involving more than one dwelling.

SDLT refunds for uninhabitable buildings

If a property is deemed uninhabitable, this may affect the stamp duty you pay. According to the Health and Safety Executive, uninhabitable properties are those unfit for human occupation, lacking basic facilities, having severe structural issues, or posing major health hazards. If you purchase such a property in this state, you may be eligible for an SDLT refund.

SDLT refund claim on outbuildings

Outbuildings, such as barns on the grounds of your property, could reduce your SDLT liability. If you overpaid due to including outbuildings in the main property valuation, you might be able to claim an SDLT refund.

Get in touch today

Stamp Duty Land Tax is often misunderstood, with many overpayments resulting from reliance on HMRC’s basic Stamp Duty Calculator which is considered a “guide” by their own admittance, often used by solicitors, it can frequently give incorrect results due to not accounting for the over 50 reliefs and exemptions that are available. Frequent legislative changes further complicate matters for non-specialists.

If you believe you may have overpaid, it’s crucial to contact our expert team, whether you live in one property, own multiple properties, or have purchased land for development, our advisers will help determine if you have a valid claim.

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Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)