Stamp Duty Refund Guides
Practical guides to help you understand SDLT overpayments and navigate HMRC claims.
How Long Do You Have to Claim Stamp Duty Back?
You have up to 4 years from completion to claim an SDLT refund — but the clock is ticking. Here's everything you need to know about the deadline.
Multiple Dwellings Relief: How to Reduce Stamp Duty on Multiple Properties
Buying two or more dwellings in a single transaction? Multiple Dwellings Relief could significantly reduce your SDLT bill — here's how it works.
Stamp Duty Refund on an Uninhabitable Property: What You Need to Know
If the property was derelict or lacked basic facilities at completion, you may have been charged the wrong SDLT rate. Here's how to assess and claim.
Can You Claim Stamp Duty Back on Carpets and Fixtures?
Carpets, curtains and light fittings may reduce your stamp duty bill — but only if handled correctly. Here's what HMRC says and how to claim.
What a Successful Stamp Duty Refund Looks Like: A Step-by-Step Guide
From identifying an overpayment to receiving your HMRC repayment — a complete walkthrough of what the process actually looks like.
What Happens If HMRC Rejects Your Stamp Duty Refund Claim?
HMRC can reject or query SDLT amendment requests. Here's why it happens, what to expect, and your options if your claim is disputed.
Does Stamp Duty Apply to Kitchen Renovations?
Planning a kitchen renovation after buying your home? Here's what counts as a chattel for stamp duty purposes, what doesn't, and how to survive without a kitchen during the refit.
10 Things to Do After Buying a House — New Homeowner Checklist
Just completed on a new home? Here's everything you need to do in the first week — from stamp duty refunds to pest checks, council tax, and more.
What Is the TA10 Form? Your Key to a Stamp Duty Refund
The TA10 Fittings and Contents Form lists every chattel included in your property purchase. It's the key document for a stamp duty refund claim.
Stamp Duty Refund for Landlords — A Complete Guide
Landlords pay more stamp duty than anyone. Here's every type of SDLT refund available to BTL, portfolio, and HMO landlords — and how to claim them.
Stamp Duty on New Build Homes — Can You Claim on Chattels?
New builds often come with fitted kitchens, carpets, and appliances included. Can you deduct these as chattels for stamp duty? Here's what qualifies.
Is HMRC's Stamp Duty Calculator Wrong?
HMRC's online stamp duty calculator doesn't account for chattels. That means it probably told you to pay more SDLT than you legally owe. Here's why.
Stamp Duty Refund Examples — Real Numbers at Every Price Point
See exactly how much stamp duty refund you could get at different property prices. Worked examples from £300k to £2M with real SDLT calculations.
Is a Stamp Duty Refund Worth Claiming?
Not every stamp duty refund is worth the effort. We break down the real numbers by property price and tell you when to claim, when to DIY, and when to walk away.
How to Evaluate a Stamp Duty Refund Firm
Not all stamp duty refund firms are equal. Here's what to look for, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself when making an SDLT refund claim.
Stamp Duty Refund — Scam or Real Opportunity?
Getting bombarded with stamp duty refund offers? Here's the truth: the opportunity is real, but not all firms are trustworthy. How to tell the difference.
Stamp Duty on Second Homes — Can You Get a Refund?
Paid the 5% stamp duty surcharge on a second home? You may be able to claim it back if you sell your previous main residence within 3 years.
Can I Claim Stamp Duty Back After 4 Years?
The 4-year deadline for stamp duty refund claims explained. What happens after 4 years, exceptions, and what to do if you're running out of time.
How Long Does a Stamp Duty Refund Take?
HMRC stamp duty refund timelines explained. From submission to payment — how long each type of SDLT refund takes and what can cause delays.
What Your Solicitor Didn't Tell You About Stamp Duty
Why solicitors routinely fail to advise on chattels deductions — and what it could be costing you.
Do You Pay Stamp Duty on Carpets, Curtains & White Goods?
The direct answer to the most common SDLT question. Which items qualify, how much they're worth, and what to do about it.
I Got a Stamp Duty Refund Letter — Is It Legit?
Thousands of homeowners receive unsolicited letters about stamp duty refunds. Here's how to tell if it's genuine and what to do next.
Angela Rayner's Stamp Duty Mistake: What She Got Wrong
Angela Rayner publicly implied the higher stamp duty threshold was permanent. It wasn't — and buyers who believed her faced thousands in unexpected costs in April 2025.
Labour's Stamp Duty Policy: What Has Changed Since July 2024
Since Labour won the 2024 election, the stamp duty landscape has shifted. Here's what's changed, what hasn't, and what Rachel Reeves has signalled is coming.
What the Conservatives Did to Stamp Duty: 14 Years of Changes
From Osborne's 2014 slab-to-slice reform to the 2020 holiday and the Truss mini-budget, here's a balanced look at SDLT under 14 years of Conservative government.
What Lib Dems and Reform Want to Do With Stamp Duty
Lib Dems want to replace SDLT with a land value tax. Reform UK wants to abolish it for first-time buyers. Here's a balanced look at both proposals.
Stamp Duty April 2025: What Changed and Who Got Caught Out
On 1 April 2025 the SDLT nil-rate threshold dropped from £250,000 to £125,000. FTB threshold dropped from £425,000 to £300,000. Here's what it meant and who was caught out.
Spring Statement 2026: What It Means for Stamp Duty
Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement 2026 left stamp duty largely untouched. Here's what was — and wasn't — announced, and what to watch for in the Autumn Budget.
The History of Stamp Duty in the UK: From 1694 to Today
Stamp duty has funded the British state for over 300 years. From a tax on parchment in 1694 to the modern SDLT — here's the full story.
The 2020–2021 Stamp Duty Holiday: What It Was and What It Taught Us
Rishi Sunak's pandemic stamp duty holiday saved buyers thousands — but it also drove prices up. Here's what really happened, and the lessons we're still learning.
Stamp Duty Slab vs Slice: The 2014 Reform That Changed Everything
Before 2014, buying at £251,000 cost three times more SDLT than buying at £250,000. George Osborne's slab-to-slice reform fixed that — here's how it worked.
SDLT vs LBTT vs LTT: How Stamp Duty Differs Across the UK
England uses SDLT, Scotland uses LBTT, Wales uses LTT. Same idea, three regimes, very different bills. A worked comparison at £300k, £500k, and £750k.
Every Stamp Duty Change Since 2010: A Complete Timeline
From minor rate adjustments to landmark reforms, here's every UK stamp duty change since 2010 — a comprehensive reference for buyers, advisers and policy nerds.
Do You Pay Stamp Duty on Inherited Property?
Generally no — you don't pay SDLT on inherited property. But buying out beneficiaries, taking on a mortgage, or inheriting while you own a home all complicate the picture.
Stamp Duty on Gifted Property: When You Do and Don't Pay
A pure gift of property with no mortgage = no SDLT. But take on the mortgage and you'll owe stamp duty on the debt. The rules are counterintuitive — here's the complete picture.
Stamp Duty and Divorce: What Happens to Property in a Separation
Court-ordered property transfers in a divorce are SDLT-free. But informal transfers, mortgage assumption, and the 'main residence' rule create traps. Full guide.
Stamp Duty on Auction Purchases: The 14-Day Rule and What It Means
Buy at auction and you've got 28 days to complete and 14 days after that to pay SDLT. Miss either deadline and the penalties bite fast. Here's how to stay on top of it.
Stamp Duty on Off-Plan Purchases: When Is It Due?
Buying off-plan? You'll exchange now but complete years later. SDLT is due 14 days after completion — at the rates in force on completion day. Here's the timing risk.
Stamp Duty on Annexes and Granny Flats: Multiple Dwellings Relief
If your purchase included a self-contained annexe, Multiple Dwellings Relief can cut the SDLT bill significantly. Plus: HMRC has 1 year from filing to challenge — what to know.
Stamp Duty When Buying Through a Limited Company
Buying property through a Ltd company doesn't avoid SDLT — it adds the 5% surcharge, plus ATED on properties above £500k. Here's when it makes sense anyway.
Stamp Duty on Houseboats and Mobile Homes: The Surprising Rules
A houseboat that floats is not subject to SDLT. A mobile home that doesn't fix to the land usually isn't either. But moor on owned land and it gets complicated.
Stamp Duty on Commercial-to-Residential Conversions
Buying a pub, office, or shop to convert into a home? Non-residential SDLT rates apply — and they can be dramatically lower. Here's how the saving works.
Can You Claim Stamp Duty Back on a Property You Never Moved Into?
Surcharge refund eligibility depends on the timeline, not on whether you ever lived in the new property. Here's why never moving in doesn't disqualify your claim.
Stamp Duty Refund When You Sold Your Previous Home After Completion
The most common SDLT refund: you paid the 5% surcharge, then sold your old home within 3 years. Here's the full mechanics, the documentation, and the typical refund size.
Stamp Duty Refund After a Chain Collapse: What Are Your Options?
Your purchase completed, your sale fell through, the surcharge is paid — and the 36-month clock is now ticking. Here's what to do and what your options actually are.
Is a Stamp Duty Refund Taxable? What HMRC Says
A refund of SDLT overpaid is not income — it's not taxable. But the fee a claims firm charges isn't tax-deductible. Here's the full picture, including DIY vs paid options.
HMRC Stamp Duty Clawback: When They Come Back for the Money
HMRC can open an enquiry into a paid SDLT refund for up to 9 months — or longer if they suspect fraud. Here's what triggers a clawback, and how to protect yourself.
How Stamp Duty Calculators Work (And Where They Go Wrong)
Most online SDLT calculators get the standard calculation right and miss everything else. Chattels, mixed-use, non-resident, surcharge stacking — here's what to watch for.
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty in 2025: The New Lower Threshold
From April 2025 the FTB threshold dropped from £425,000 to £300,000, with relief tapering out at £500,000. Here's what this means at every price point, with worked examples.
The 3% Stamp Duty Surcharge on Second Homes: A Full Explanation
The additional-dwelling surcharge is now 5% (raised from 3% in October 2024). Here's exactly when it applies, when it doesn't, and how the 36-month refund window works.
The 2% Non-Resident Stamp Duty Surcharge: Who It Affects
Since April 2021, non-UK residents pay an extra 2% SDLT on residential property in England and Northern Ireland. Here's who counts, how it stacks, and how the residency refund works.
Stamp Duty Reliefs You Might Not Know About: Charities, Right to Buy, and More
Beyond first-time buyer relief, several obscure SDLT reliefs are available but rarely claimed. Charities, Right to Buy, employee relocation, partition, group relief and more.
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