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This Checklist sets out HM Land Registry’s rules for first registration of title on the transfer of a freehold or leasehold estate, the grant of a fresh lease, or the creation of a first legal mortgage. It explains which dealings trigger first registration, the period allowed for registration, the results of failing to apply, and the particulars that must be supplied to HM Land Registry with the application... Which dispositions trigger first registration? The following dealings give rise to compulsory first registration. Transfers of unregistered freehold and leasehold estates The transfer or assignment of: an unregistered freehold estate in land; and an unregistered leasehold estate in land with more than seven years remaining at the date of assignment, whether for valuable or other consideration, by way of gift, or in pursuance of an order of any court. An instrument at a negative value is still treated as being for valuable or other consideration. The assignment or surrender of...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE: On 11 March 2024, HM Treasury opened a consultation examining the effectiveness of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/692), which impose duties on a range of businesses to identify and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The government published its response on 17 July 2025, followed on 2 September 2025 by a draft statutory instrument and an accompanying policy note. The draft SI proposes a de minimis exemption from the requirement to register with the Trust Registration Service where, among other conditions, a trust with no UK tax liability also satisfies all of the following: it holds no interest in UK land; it holds no assets of significant value exceeding £2,000; it has not, since creation, held property with a cumulative value above £10,000; and its income does not exceed £5,000 per annum. This exemption would not be retrospective and would apply solely to new trusts set...
In this issue: Pension Schemes Bill The Pensions Regulator Transfers Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Pension Schemes Bill Pensions surplus release plans to be included in Pension Schemes Bill In a statement, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed proposals that would permit defined benefit (DB) pension schemes to distribute a share of their surpluses through the forthcoming Pension Schemes Bill. The purpose is to help sponsoring employers reinvest in their businesses while unlocking extra value for scheme members. With around three-quarters of DB schemes now in surplus and deficit contributions markedly lower (from £16bn in 2010 to under £5bn in 2024), the DWP and pensions minister Torsten Bell emphasised that the reforms will ensure any surplus use is secure, member-centric, and aligned with wider economic ambitions. The precise design of the surplus policy will be detailed in the government’s reply to the Options for Defined Benefit Schemes consultation, which the...
Original news Ms N (CAS-124815-S6D7)—26 May 2025 Summary The Pensions Ombudsman upheld a complaint concerning a delayed pension transfer. The complainant was awarded compensation for significant distress and inconvenience. However, she was not awarded compensation for financial loss because the Pensions Ombudsman was not persuaded about how she would have invested the transfer, and adding statutory interest to the transfer yielded a sum lower than the actual transfer value. This decision serves as a reminder that, in a pension transfer delay case, a member must evidence financial loss. What were the facts? Ms N was a member of the Scottish Widows Executive Pension Plan (the Scheme). Ms N’s ex‑husband (Mr N) was the trustee director of the Scheme in this specific case...
On 25 February 2025, The People’s Pension, operated by People’s Partnership, stated in its response to Discussion Paper DP24/3 ‘Pensions: Adapting our requirements for a changing market’—issued by the FCA in December 2024—that the regulator should bring in an outright prohibition on financial incentives to transfer pensions. The master trust argued that savers can lose as much as 20% of their pension pots because of ill‑informed transfer decisions, which could translate into around £1.2bn forfeited across the UK in a single year. It also said its research indicates that incentives, including free cash offers, can prompt savers to move their pension without fully considering the long‑term...
A UK-based purchaser of an overseas business should evaluate the following tax considerations: the prospective overseas and UK tax outlays linked to the acquisition tax-efficient ways to repatriate profits from the overseas entity to the UK buyer a tax-efficient exit strategy maximising the tax-efficiency of the target business This Practice Note is written from a UK tax perspective and also flags typical overseas tax points to address, including reporting, filing and compliance obligations. Local advice should be obtained in each jurisdiction in which the target operates. Overseas and UK tax costs associated with the acquisition of an overseas business The common UK and overseas tax costs relevant to acquiring an overseas business are summarised below. Transfer taxes Share acquisitions may attract local transfer or registration taxes, usually calculated as a percentage of the consideration for those shares, together with notary fees...
Before disposing of a business or trade When planning a disposal, a corporate seller must choose the most suitable deal structure. Commercial drivers should lead, yet securing a tax-efficient outcome will inevitably be a key concern. The initial choice is whether to transfer: the business and its underlying assets (a business sale), or the shares in a subsidiary that holds the business and assets (a share sale) Broadly, sellers tend to prefer a share sale: it offers a straightforward exit and, where the substantial shareholdings exemption (SSE) applies, any gain is exempt from tax. An asset deal is more likely to crystallise tax charges and leaves any pre-completion tax liabilities with the seller. This Practice Note does not address individual sellers or business asset disposal relief (BADR). For more on BADR, see Practice Note: CGT—business asset disposal relief (formerly entrepreneurs' relief)...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE relating to the modernisation of stamp taxes on shares framework: In 2027, stamp duty and SDRT are set to give way to a unified, self-assessed levy on securities—the securities transfer charge (STC)—to be paid and reported through a new digital portal. In broad terms, the STC’s design will align with the proposals for that tax set out in the 2023 consultation. Finance Bill 2026 (FB 2026) creates a power, commencing on Royal Assent, for secondary legislation that will enable taxpayers to pilot the digital service by self-assessing their stamp taxes on securities obligations and submitting transactions electronically via the service. This will allow reporting and payment to be handled online as part of the modernisation of stamp taxes on shares. For detailed coverage of the modernisation of stamp taxes on securities, see: News Analyses: Budget 2025—Tax analysis—Stamp and transfer taxes Tax update spring 2025—Stamp taxes on shares modernisation Tax update spring 2025—Tax analysis—Stamp and transfer taxes TAMD 2023—Stamp taxes on...
date [ date ] Parties [ name of (first) Seller ] [ and [ name of second Seller ] both ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Seller) [ name of Buyer ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) whose registered office is at [ address ] ] (Buyer) 1 Definitions For this Agreement, the terms below shall have these meanings: Buyer’s Solicitors – [ name ] of [ address ] (reference [ details ]) or any other solicitors the Buyer notifies to the Seller; Deposit – £[ amount in figures ] ([ amount in words ] pounds); [ Independent Surveyor – an independent chartered surveyor with at least [ 10 ] years’ experience in valuing property of a comparable type and in a comparable location to the Property; ]...
Important—this provisional allotment letter (pal) is of value and is negotiable. Your prompt attention is required. This invitation lapses at [ insert time ] on [ insert date ]. The full pal must be produced at the time of payment. Should you be uncertain about any part of this pal, or unsure what steps to take, you should seek your own financial advice without delay from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or another suitably qualified independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (fsma), or, if you are located outside the United Kingdom, from an appropriate qualified independent financial adviser duly authorised within your jurisdiction. If you dispose of, transfer, or have already disposed of or otherwise transferred all of your ordinary shares (other than ex-rights) held in certificated form before [ Insert time ] on [ Insert date ], please send this pal together with form x (form of renunciation) on page [ Insert page number ], completed immediately, to the buyer...
Insert the following as new definitions (if not already included) in the articles of association of the relevant company: Definitions include: Bad Leaver; Good Leaver (loss of subsidiary status, death, Investor‑assessed incapacity, or retirement at normal age); Garden Leave; Employee Trust (s.86 IHTA 1984); Fair Value (Art 1.6); Family Member/Trust; Financing Documents; Independent Expert; Issue Price; Leaver and related terms. Insert the following as a new article in the company’s articles of association: 1 Leavers Applies to Leavers and Leaver’s Shares. Within one year of Leaving Date Investor may require the Company to issue a Sale Notice offering Shares to recipients (including the Company/Employee Trust). The Leaver must complete transfer at the Sale Price within five Business Days. On default the Company may execute and register transfers or cancel its purchase; once effected it is final. Good Leavers receive Fair Value; Bad Leavers the lower of Issue/acquisition price and Fair Value. Fair Value is agreed with Investor Consent within 10 Business Days or determined by an Independent...
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...
The following Q&A addresses this question: Is a sole LPA attorney permitted to purchase real property from the donor where the donor lacks mental capacity? We also direct you to: Subtopic: Lasting powers of attorney—overview (and in particular, see Practice Note: LPAs—the attorney's duties and powers) Topic: Court of Protection Commentary: Re Buckley: The Public Guardian v C: Cretney and Lush on Lasting and Enduring Powers of Attorney...
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) applies to the chargeable consideration given for a land transaction. A land transaction arises where a chargeable interest is acquired. For SDLT purposes, chargeable consideration has a specific meaning and is set out in section 50 of the Finance Act 2003 (FA 2003) and in FA 2003, Sch 4. It covers not just cash or money’s worth, but also other forms by which value is provided, whether directly or indirectly, to the land’s transferor...