Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Stamp duty definition

What does Stamp duty mean? Stamp duty is a documentary tax on instruments that transfer certain assets, most commonly UK certificated shares. In practice, it is paid on the executed stock transfer form, which must be stamped before the transferee can be registered. The charge is imposed by UK legislation (principally the Stamp Act 1891, as amended) and arises on execution of the instrument; HMRC collects the duty via the stamping process, with penalties and interest for late stamping. Reliefs and exemptions exist (for example for certain intra-group transfers and charities). For electronic or uncertificated share transfers, stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) generally applies instead; where...

SDLT higher rates on additional residential properties: scope, rates (2024–25 changes), conditions, reliefs and exemptions, interactions and transitional rules (England and Northern Ireland)

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Practice notes

The higher rates surcharge of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) apply to:

Acquisitions of certain additional residential dwellings by individuals
Acquisitions of residential property by purchasers that are not individuals, whether or not they own any other dwellings

The surcharge is 5% (that is, 5% above the standard residential SDLT rates) for land transactions with an effective date on or after 31 October 2024, subject to transitional provisions. This marks an increase from the original 3% surcharge. For the applicable SDLT rates, see Practice Note: Rates of SDLT.

The policy aims to support owner-occupiers and first-time buyers by making the purchase of additional homes—such as second homes and buy-to-let properties—more costly. This Practice Note considers when the higher rates apply and how they interact with other SDLT provisions. The higher rates surcharge is also described as the higher rates of SDLT. There is, in addition, a single higher rate of SDLT of 17% (for land transactions with an effective date on or after 31 October 2024) for high-value residential property transactions...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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