Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) meaning

HMRC may issue a revenue determination in relation to direct taxes when a taxpayer fails to submit a return in response to a notice requiring a return to be filed. Unless the determination was raised by HMRC in error, receiving one indicates a significant lapse in attending to tax affairs and compliance obligations. It should be addressed promptly as a matter of priority, and a taxpayer may wish to instruct an adviser to provide assistance. For detailed guidance on the consequences of a revenue determination for direct taxes and the options available to displace it, see Practice Note: What is a revenue determination for direct tax purposes? This Checklist sets out key practical considerations and the procedural steps to take once a taxpayer has been issued with a revenue determination by HMRC. Determinations concerning stamp duty land tax (SDLT) fall outside the scope of this Checklist. In contrast to revenue determinations relating to direct tax—where there is no right of appeal—there is a limited right of appeal against SDLT...

This Checklist is primarily for use on the assignment of a commercial lease This is a guidance tool for assignments of commercial leases. It is not comprehensive and may not address every circumstance on each deal. You should always consider whether any additional matters require attention. It works on the basis that: the lease relates to commercial premises let at an open market rent to an occupier, on terms under which the landlord insures the premises the assignor has used the premises for business purposes and the assignee likewise intends to use them for their business the lease is a head lease and the premises are not held under any underleases the lease is not subject to a fixed charge (this would be uncommon in practice), and no premium is payable If the assignment forms part of a wider or more complex arrangement, you may find further relevant material in Acquisition of commercial property (buyer)—checklist and Practice Note: Transferring...

Flowchart This Flowchart helps determine which stamp duty land tax (SDLT) provisions are relevant on a lease renewal where a tenant remains in occupation by ‘holding over’ after a fixed-term lease ends. It should be considered together with the fuller Practice Note: SDLT—holding over. The SDLT provisions governing situations where a tenant holds over a lease, and that lease is subsequently renewed, are intricate and often complex...

In Scotland, minor offences proceed by way of a summary complaint...

This Flowchart This Flowchart helps determine the appropriate rate of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) for the transaction in question. Different SDLT rates may apply to purchases depending on the property type (residential, non-residential (commercial property), or mixed-use property). Use this Flowchart in conjunction with Practice Note: Rates of SDLT. This Flowchart proceeds on the basis that: the buyer is acquiring a single property and the purchase is not linked with any other transaction. For further detail on linked transactions, see Practice Note: SDLT chargeable consideration—Linked transactions no relief from SDLT applies to the transaction...

In this issue: Budgets and Finance Bills Companies and corporation tax International Funds Real estate tax Employment Taxes Individuals and income tax Energy and environment Anti-avoidance Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Budgets and Finance Bills Spring Statement 2025 The Chancellor of the Exchequer is set to deliver her Spring Statement to Parliament on Wednesday 26 March 2025. Finance Bill 2025 to receive Royal Assent Royal Assent for the Finance Bill 2025 is expected on 20 March 2025, at which point it will be enacted as the Finance Act 2025. This comes after the Bill’s second and third readings in the House of Lords on 19 March 2025 and the usual bypassing of the committee stage. The House of Lords made no amendments to the Bill as received from the House of Commons. See: Finance Bill 2025...

In this issue: Key developments and horizon scanning Residential property Property management Property development Transferring property Property taxes Property in Scotland Additional property updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New Q&As Key developments and horizon scanning Law Society responds to Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill amendments The Law Society has signalled its backing for newly tabled changes to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (which had its second reading on 27 March 2024—see the Trackers section below). The revisions would curb the sale of new leasehold houses and ensure every new home in England and Wales is freehold from day one, save in exceptional cases. Nonetheless, Law Society President, Nick Emmerson, noted that, without current moves to advance commonhold tenure, the Society supports the Law Commission’s 2011 recommendations to modernise freehold law, enabling houses on managed estates to be sold as freehold with greater ease, and he urged government...

Harjono and another v HMRC [2024] UKFTT 228 (TC) The taxpayers acquired a property comprising a residential barn conversion with three acres of land. Roughly half of the acreage was a fenced paddock. This paddock bordered the garden and had two gates: one opening from the garden and another giving access to the road. The taxpayers agreed with a friend that she could graze her horse on the paddock for a fixed six-month period in return for a £50 monthly payment. Both parties signed the agreement before completion of the purchase, but it remained undated until after completion, when the taxpayers’ solicitor added the date as the effective date. The taxpayers filed their SDLT return on a mixed-use basis. They maintained that the paddock did not constitute part of the dwelling’s grounds because it was being used for commercial purposes unconnected with the residence, and therefore was not...

Business In periods of economic unpredictability (eg arising from high inflation and/or wider instability), organisations frequently cut costs. This can involve shedding contractual obligations and resolving legal disputes, but also purchasers seeking to withdraw from deals—for example, where a business or asset acquisition that seemed compelling to a buyer a couple of years or even months earlier becomes far less attractive. Yet unpicking an acquisition is rarely straightforward and, if not managed with care, can produce unforeseen tax consequences. This Practice Note outlines the tax issues that may emerge where a business or asset sale is unwound after signing and after certain assets and liabilities have already been transferred. It proceeds on the assumption that the buyer and seller are unconnected, are both UK tax resident, and are large corporate entities. For detail on the tax considerations relevant to undoing a share sale, see Practice Note: Unwinding a share sale—key tax consequences. For discussion of tax considerations relevant to an asset sale—many of which also apply when reversing an...

This Practice Note consolidates the HMRC Manuals tracker that featured weekly in the Private Client highlights from January 2021 to December 2024, arranged by HMRC Manual in reverse chronological order. It captures many of the key amendments to the HMRC Manuals set out below that will interest Private Client practitioners. For the combined tracker from January 2025 onwards, see Practice Note: Consolidated HMRC Manuals tracker 2025–26–Private Client. Avoidance Handling Process Manual Pages amended • Date of change • Comments Added: AHP1000, AHP1200, AHP1300, AHP1400, AHP1450, AHP2000, AHP2100, AHP2200, AHP2300, AHP3000, AHP3100, AHP3200, AHP3300, AHP3400, AHP3500, AHP4000, AHP4100, AHP4200, AHP4300, AHP4350, AHP4400, AHP4500, AHP4550 and AHP4570 Date: 29 September 2023 Summary: This new manual sets out HMRC’s method for managing tax avoidance risks across all taxes and HMRC directorates, aiming for consistency and effectiveness. The overview sections describe what HMRC regards as tax avoidance, as distinct from lawful tax planning. They also outline the role of iTAPE, a specialist network within HMRC that leads...

This Practice Note outlines the key rules for taxing income, capital gains, lifetime gifts and estates on death (inheritance tax), together with stamp duty land tax, on the basis of an individual who is UK-resident and domiciled. As tax legislation is frequently amended, this note is not, and must not be, treated as a replacement for specific professional advice where required. Income tax Individuals are charged to income tax on their overall income, with distinct regimes applying to different income streams and to qualifying outgoings that can be set against that income. The main categories of income include: pay from employment, or profits from a trade, profession or vocation (on which national insurance contributions are also due) rents from furnished or unfurnished property or land interest and dividend receipts overseas income (which may already have suffered foreign tax) A personal allowance is deducted from an individual’s total income before calculating the tax, provided their annual income (after deductions for...

Key points Residence determines the scope of a person’s liability to UK income tax and capital gains tax (CGT). An individual’s tax residence is established under the Statutory Residence Test (SRT). A person can be tax resident in multiple countries at the same time, as each jurisdiction applies its own domestic rules. Someone who is not resident in the UK is taxed only on UK‑source income and on certain gains from disposing of UK assets, including residential property. Value added tax (VAT), stamp duty land tax (SDLT) and the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) may apply to both residents and non‑residents. Before 6 April 2025, domicile—rather than residence—was the principal factor in determining exposure to inheritance tax (IHT). From 6 April 2025, IHT liability is largely linked to the period an individual has been resident in the UK. Residence of individuals—summary An individual’s UK tax residence is relevant when determining liability to income tax and CGT. Those...

We are presuming that A is a person...

Mary Ashley of 15 Old Square Higher SDLT rates apply where an individual buys a major interest in a single dwelling if conditions A–D are met at day‑end: A — consideration of £40,000 or more B — not subject to a lease with over 21 years unexpired C — purchaser owns another £40,000+ dwelling not so leased D — does not replace the only or main residence Dwelling includes a building or part used, suitable or being built/adapted as one dwelling, its gardens, grounds and benefiting land, and off‑plan contracts. Mixed‑use is excluded; no apportionment. As this freehold includes residential and non‑residential parts, it is mixed‑use, so the 3% surcharge should not arise. Sean Randall of Blick Rothenberg Limited The 3% applies to “higher rates transactions” in FA 2003, Sch 4ZA, paras 3–7, each requiring the main subject‑matter to consist of a major interest in at least one dwelling. The chargeable interest includes the first‑floor flat but does...

Assignment of a lease The disposal of a lease is ordinarily handled in the same manner as conveying a freehold, and any sum or premium given for the assignment (excluding a reverse premium) falls within the scope of stamp duty land tax (SDLT). However, the incoming tenant’s acceptance of obligations under the lease—such as paying rent or complying with the tenant’s covenants—does not constitute chargeable consideration for SDLT purposes and is disregarded when assessing the tax charge...