What is UK Stamp Duty?
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax you pay when buying property or land in England and Northern Ireland above a certain price. Scotland has its own version (LBTT — Land and Buildings Transaction Tax) and Wales has LTT (Land Transaction Tax).
SDLT is a progressive tax — you only pay the higher rate on the portion of the price within each band, not on the entire price. First-time buyers get significant relief: no SDLT on the first £425,000 (on properties up to £625,000), saving up to £8,750.
Additional property buyers (second homes, buy-to-let) pay a 3% surcharge on top of standard rates on all bands. Non-UK residents pay an additional 2% surcharge.
SDLT must be paid within 14 days of completion. Your solicitor/conveyancer typically handles the filing and payment as part of the purchase process.
Formula
SDLT Bands 2025 (England & NI):
Standard rates: - Up to £250,000: 0% - £250,001 to £925,000: 5% - £925,001 to £1,500,000: 10% - Over £1,500,000: 12%
First-time buyer rates (properties up to £625,000): - Up to £425,000: 0% - £425,001 to £625,000: 5%
Example — £350,000 property: Standard: (£350,000 − £250,000) × 5% = £5,000 First-time buyer: £0 (below £425,000 threshold) Saving for FTB: £5,000
Example — £500,000 property: Standard: £250,000 × 5% = £12,500 First-time buyer: (£500,000 − £425,000) × 5% = £3,750 Saving for FTB: £8,750
How to use this UK Stamp Duty Calculator?
1. Enter the Property Price. 2. Select whether you are a First-Time Buyer (1 = Yes, 0 = No). FTB relief applies only on properties up to £625,000. 3. See the SDLT amount, effective tax rate, and total purchase cost.
Remember to also budget for: solicitor fees (£1,000-2,000), survey (£300-1,500), mortgage arrangement fee (£0-2,000), and moving costs.