Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is paid when you buy a property in England or Northern Ireland over a certain price. These are the rates that have applied since 1 April 2025. Scotland has Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Wales has Land Transaction Tax (LTT), which work differently.
Standard rates (home movers)
- Up to £125,000: 0%
- £125,001 to £250,000: 2%
- £250,001 to £925,000: 5%
- £925,001 to £1.5 million: 10%
- Over £1.5 million: 12%
First-time buyer rates
- Up to £300,000: 0%
- £300,001 to £500,000: 5%
- Over £500,000: no relief — standard rates apply to the whole price
Second homes and buy-to-let
If you'll own more than one residential property after buying, a 5% surcharge is added on top of each band. Non-UK residents pay an extra 2%.
Worked examples
- Home mover buying at £350,000: 0% on £125k + 2% on £125k (£2,500) + 5% on £100k (£5,000) = £7,500
- First-time buyer at £350,000: 0% on £300k + 5% on £50k = £2,500
- First-time buyer at £280,000: £0
Stamp duty is normally due within 14 days of completion and your solicitor will usually handle the payment. Always confirm your exact figure with your solicitor or HMRC's online calculator, as rules can change.
Expert tip: Budget for stamp duty early — it can affect how much deposit you have left, and so which LTV band and mortgage deals you can access.
This guide is general information, not personal advice. Figures are correct at the time of updating and rules can change. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
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