You must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property or land over a certain price in England and Northern
Ireland.

You pay the tax when you:

buy a freehold propert
buy a new or existing leasehold
buy a property through a shared ownership scheme
Transfer land or property in exchange for payment, for example you take on a mortgage or buy a share in a house

The threshold is where SDLT starts to apply. If you buy a property for less than the threshold, there’s no SDLT to pay.
The current SDLT threshold for residential properties is £500,000. This changes on 1 April 2021. The threshold for
non-residential land and properties is £150,000.
Property purchases from 1 April 2021

The SDLT thresholds will be:

£125,000 for residential properties
£150,000 for non-residential land and properties

These thresholds are the same as they were before 8 July 2020.
First-time buyers

From 1 April 2021, you’ll get a discount (relief) that means you’ll pay less or no tax if both the following apply:

you, and anyone else you’re buying with, are first-time buyers
the purchase price is £500,000 or less
You’ll also be eligible for this discount if you bought your first home before 8 July 2020.

How much you pay

How much you pay depends on whether the land or property is:

residential and whether you’re a first-time buyer
non-residential or mixed-use

You may be able to reduce the amount of tax you pay by claiming relief, such as if you’re a first-time buyer or
purchasing more than one property (‘multiple dwellings’).
How and when to pay

Your solicitor will take of this when you have purchased your property must send an SDLT return to HMRC and pay
the tax within 14 days of completion.
If you have a solicitor, agent or conveyancer, they’ll usually file your return and pay the tax on your behalf on the day
of completion and add the amount to their fees. They’ll also claim any relief you’re eligible for, such as if you’re a first-
time buyer.