Stamp Duty Land Tax: Temporary reduced rates

July 18, 2020

On Wednesday, 8th July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a reduction in stamp duty rates in a bid to stimulate the housing market.

If you purchase a residential property between 8th July 2020 to 31st March 2021, you will only start paying stamp duty on the amount that you pay for the property above £500,000. The rates of stamp duty land tax can be found in the table below:
Property or lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate
Up to £500,000 Zero
The next £425,000 (the portion from £500,001 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%

The rates for first time buyers have been replaced by the reduced rates above.

 

Higher Rates for additional properties

Limited Companies and Individuals buying their second property must pay the 3% higher rate for any residential property they buy if:

  • the property is £40,000 or more
  • there is no lease on the property in place with more than 21 years


The following rates now apply:

Property or lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate
Up to £500,000 3%
The next £425,000 (the portion from £500,001 to £925,000) 8%
The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) 13%
The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) 15%

On the 1st April 2021, the stamp duty rates will revert back to the rates of SDLT in place prior to 8th July 2020.

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