Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax you pay when you buy a property or piece of land in England or Northern Ireland above a certain price. It is one of the main upfront costs of buying a home, and the amount depends on the purchase price, whether you are a first time buyer, and whether you already own other properties.

Current thresholds (from April 2025)

For standard residential purchases in England and Northern Ireland, the SDLT bands from April 2025 are:

• 0% on the first £125,000
• 2% on the portion from £125,001 to £250,000
• 5% on the portion from £250,001 to £925,000
• 10% on the portion from £925,001 to £1,500,000
• 12% on anything above £1,500,000

If you already own a property (including buy-to-let or inherited property), a 5% surcharge applies on top of each band for additional property purchases.

First time buyer relief

First time buyers benefit from higher nil-rate thresholds. You pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000, and 5% on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000. If the property costs more than £500,000, the relief does not apply and you pay the standard rates on the full price. This can save a first time buyer thousands of pounds.

Wales is different

In Wales, stamp duty is replaced by Land Transaction Tax (LTT), which has its own rates and thresholds set by the Welsh Government. The bands differ from SDLT, and there is currently no equivalent first time buyer relief in Wales. If you are buying in Wales, check the LTT rates separately — they can be higher or lower than SDLT depending on the purchase price.

Use our buying costs calculator to see exactly how much stamp duty or LTT you would pay on a specific property.

Last updated: April 2026