Stamp duty land tax SDLT
Stamp duty land tax is payable on the purchase or transfer of property or land in the UK which has a value above a certain threshold. Therefore, it is a tax which arises on property transactions. Given the large amounts of money involved, it is important that it is fully factored into project appraisals.
The way in which the tax is calculated can vary according to a number of considerations, such as, whether the property which is the subject of the transaction is commercial or residential, is leasehold or freehold or is part of a series of associated transactions.
For transactions that are classified as 'non-residential' the rates of tax are as follows:
Property or lease premium or transfer value | SDLT rate |
Up to £150,000 | Zero |
The next £100,000 (the portion from £150,001 to £250,000) | 2% |
The remaining amount (the portion above £250,000) | 5% |
Whilst for transactions that are classified as 'residential' the rates of tax are as follows:
Property or lease premium or transfer value | 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% |
[Rates current at September 2016.]
There will normally be a 3% additional charge on top of the normal SDLT rates if buying a new residential property means the owner will own more than one.
There are different rules and rates for:
- corporate bodies
- people buying 6 or more residential properties in one transaction
- shared ownership properties
- multiple purchases or transfers between the same buyer and seller (‘linked purchases’)
- companies and trusts buying residential property
NB: Scotland has its own Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, and in September 2016, the Welsh Government announced that it would introduce its own Land Transaction Tax, the first Welsh tax in 800 years.
In 2020, SDLT rates were temporarily reduced to boost the housing market following the COVID-19 outbreak. In October 2020, this reduction was extended to March 2021.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Company acquisitions in construction.
- Conveyancing.
- December 2020 GDP figures show construction vulnerable.
- Disbursement.
- Duty.
- Land.
- Net Present Value.
- Owner.
- Reservation agreement.
- Search fees.
- Tax on £2m plus residential properties.
- Taxation.
[edit] External references
- HMRC: Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Featured articles and news
A transformative shift in the design, construction and management of built assets.
Apprenticeship announcement by the Prime Minister
Welcomed but with call for more actionable detail.
Heat pump announcements, what homeowners need to know
An 'ultimate guide to heat pumps' from a heating company.
Construction contract awards reach 7.1bn in February
Their highest level in seven months.
The journey to sustainability in heritage
Research is the key to better understanding.
Heritage approaches to adaptation, mitigation and loss.
Bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation.
Development on brownfield land
Definition, background, policy and the latest consultation.
With the Design Framework for Building Services.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Pertinent technical issues, measures and the roles involved.
ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health
Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment.
Mental health in the construction industry
Mental health issues in brief with related articles.
Transitional arrangements, Building Control and the BSR.
For pre-October buildings with substantial progress by April.
Why quality counts in domestic ventilation systems
From products, to systems to the installation.
Empowering the Future with CIOB Academy
Lifelong learning, upscaling, and reskilling for the built environment.