Pay the Right SDLT.
Reclaim the Rest.
Thousands of UK property buyers overpay Stamp Duty every year on mixed-use properties, missed reliefs, and incorrectly applied surcharges. Our specialist property accountants review your past and future transactions to make sure you only ever pay what you legally owe.
- Dedicated Property Accountant
- SDLT Refund Specialists
£2.4m+
Tax Saved for Clients
HMRC
Compliant
50+
Five-Star Reviews
Property
Tax EXPERTS
Fixed Fee
No hidden charges
£625k
FTB SDLT-Free Threshold
Who We Are
UK specialists in Stamp Duty Land Tax planning and refunds
Stamp Duty Land Tax is often the single largest transaction cost in a property purchase, yet it is also one of the areas where specialist advice delivers the most immediate and measurable savings.
At UK Property Tax Accountants, our SDLT specialists advise on every transaction from straightforward residential purchases to complex commercial acquisitions, portfolio transfers, and intra-group reorganisations. We also prepare and submit SDLT refund and overpayment claims to HMRC.
SDLT rate optimisation before every property purchase is completed
Surcharge refund claims prepared and submitted
First-time buyer relief, group relief, and mixed-use rate claims assessed on every transaction
SDLT Rates and Surcharges
Current SDLT rates, surcharges and reliefs
Standard residential SDLT rates from April 2025 are 0% on the first £125,000 of consideration, 2% on £125,001 to £250,000, 5% on £250,001 to £925,000, 10% on £925,001 to £1.5 million, and 12% above £1.5 million. Buyers of additional residential properties including buy-to-let investors pay a 5% surcharge on top of each of these bands. Non-UK resident purchasers pay a further 2% surcharge on top of all applicable rates, meaning a non-resident investor buying an additional property can face effective rates of up to 19%.
First-time buyers benefit from a zero-rate threshold of £425,000 on properties worth up to £625,000. Above that purchase price, the standard rates apply from the first pound. Mixed-use properties those with both residential and commercial elements are taxed at non-residential rates, which are considerably lower than residential rates and cap at 5%. Correctly identifying whether a property qualifies as mixed-use can produce a very substantial SDLT saving.
4 YEARS
Window to claim SDLT REFUND
100%
Compliance Rate
SDLT Refunds and Relief CLAIMS
SDLT refund & overpayment claims recover what you should not have paid
Many property buyers pay more SDLT than they legally owe. Overpayments arise from incorrect rate applications, missed relief claims, failure to identify mixed-use characteristics, and incorrect treatment of linked transactions. HMRC does not proactively identify and repay overpayments it is always the buyer’s responsibility to make a claim. The window for making an overpayment claim is generally four years from the filing date of the original SDLT return.
We identify and prepare claims for all types of SDLT overpayment, including refunds of the 3% additional dwellings surcharge where a previous main residence is sold within three years, refunds of the 5% surcharge where the surcharge was incorrectly applied, and group relief claims where intra-group transfers were not correctly structured at the time of purchase. Our team reviews your past transactions and identifies any recoverable amounts before preparing and submitting the claim to HMRC.
Common Pain Points
The SDLT Traps Property Buyers must avoid
SDLT is a complex, transaction-based tax with very limited scope for retrospective planning. These are the most common and costly mistakes we resolve for our clients.
Paying the 5% Additional Dwelling Surcharge Unnecessarily
Since October 2024, all purchases of additional residential properties attract a 5% SDLT surcharge. However, the surcharge can be refunded where a buyer replaces their main residence and sells the old main home within three years. Many buyers fail to reclaim this refund after the sale completes.
Missing the Mixed-Use Property Classification
Properties with a commercial element such as a flat above a shop, or a house with an agricultural outbuilding may qualify for mixed-use SDLT treatment at non-residential rates, which cap at 5%. Paying residential rates on a qualifying mixed-use property is a very common and expensive mistake.
Incorrect SDLT on Linked Transactions
Where two or more property transactions are connected by the parties or consideration, HMRC treats them as linked for SDLT purposes. The SDLT is then calculated on the total consideration at the applicable rates. Failing to identify a linked transaction results in underpayment, penalties, and interest.
Overlooking First-Time Buyer Relief
First-time buyer relief reduces SDLT to 0% on the first £425,000 of a property purchase priced up to £625,000. The relief is only available where all purchasers are first-time buyers. Incorrectly claiming or failing to claim this relief both result in the wrong amount of SDLT being paid.
Paying SDLT on Intra-Group Transfers
SDLT group relief removes the SDLT charge on property transfers between companies in a qualifying group. This relief must be actively claimed. Many accountants who do not specialise in property simply pay SDLT on these transactions unnecessarily, resulting in significant costs that should never have arisen.
Free No-Obligation Review
Let’s discuss your property accounting needs
Book a 30-minute consultation with a specialist. We’ll review your current structure and identify immediate opportunities.
- HMRC-compliant tax strategies
- Specialist UK property tax expertise
- Proactive planning, not just compliance
- Fixed-fee, no hidden charges
Our Services
Stamp Duty Land Tax on UK Property — Key Areas We Cover
From pre-purchase rate optimisation through to refund claims, group relief applications, and first-time buyer relief, our SDLT specialists cover every aspect of UK stamp duty for property buyers and investors.
SDLT Planning and Rate Optimisation
Pre-purchase SDLT review of every transaction to ensure the correct rate is applied, identify any available reliefs (mixed-use, first-time buyer, group relief), and confirm the SDLT liability before contracts are exchanged.
3% SDLT Surcharge Refund Claims
Where you paid the 3% additional dwellings surcharge on a purchase and subsequently sold your previous main residence within three years, you are entitled to a refund. We prepare and submit the refund claim to HMRC on your behalf.
5% Additional Dwelling Surcharge Refund
Where the 5% additional dwellings surcharge (introduced October 2024) was incorrectly applied to your purchase, or where you have subsequently become entitled to a refund, we assess the position and submit the claim to HMRC within the relevant time limit.
SDLT Refund and Overpayment Claims
Where you have overpaid SDLT for any reason, including incorrect rate application, missed relief claims, or mixed-use misclassification, we review the transaction and prepare a detailed overpayment claim.
First-Time Buyer SDLT Relief
We confirm eligibility for first-time buyer relief on qualifying purchases, ensure the relief is correctly claimed in the SDLT return, and advise on the interaction between first-time buyer relief and other available reliefs where relevant.
SDLT Group Relief Claims
We prepare and file SDLT returns for qualifying intra-group property transfers, ensure group relief is correctly claimed using the appropriate relief code, and document all conditions for retention of relief to protect against degrouping charges.
How It Works
Get started in four simple steps
Changing accountants should be smooth and simple, not disruptive and difficult. Our skilled property accountants help you with every step of changing service providers so that your record-keeping and tax compliance remain intact.
Free Consultation
Tailored Proposal
Smooth Handover
Ongoing Support
Why UK Property Tax Accountants
Why Property Investors choose UK Property Tax Accountants
That singular focus means deeper expertise in non-resident landlord taxation, faster answers on international treaty questions, and better outcomes for every overseas landlord we work with.
Dedicated Named Accountant
You will always work with a single, named Chartered Accountant who knows your companies, your portfolio and your goals intimately, not a call centre or a rotating team.
ACCA Registered Auditor
Registered as auditors in the United Kingdom by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, providing you with expert advice you can rely on and trust completely.
Transparent Fixed Fees
You will never receive an unexpected invoice. All fees are fixed, all-inclusive and agreed upfront, with no hourly rates and no extra charges for additional advice or HMRC queries.
Proactive Tax Reviews
We run quarterly tax reviews throughout the year, not just at year-end, so your corporate structure and tax position are constantly optimised as your portfolio evolves.
Cloud Accounting Technology
As Xero Platinum Partners and QuickBooks Pro Advisors, we provide real-time financial visibility across your portfolio, fully MTD-compliant and accessible anytime, anywhere.
Full Ecosystem of Services
Beyond accounting, we offer cashflow forecasting, legal referrals, commercial mortgage broker introductions and contractor insurance, providing a complete professional ecosystem for your property business.
Client Stories
What our clients say about us
★★★★★
“UK Property Tax Accountant Team saved me over £18,000 in CGT when I sold two properties last year. Their knowledge of available reliefs is extraordinary. I strongly recommend them. Unlike my previous accountant, they picked up the phone every time.”
★★★★★
“We restructured our entire portfolio into a limited company on their valuable advice. The tax savings pay for their fees many times over and every decision was explained clearly. Moving to them was the best decision we made for our property business.”
★★★★★
“As a property developer I deal with complex VAT, SDLT and CIS issues on every project. They handle everything seamlessly and their proactive advice has saved us significant six-figure sums. Switching from our old firm was completely painless.”
FAQS
Commonly Asked Questions about Stamp Duty Land Tax
How long do I have to claim a 3% SDLT surcharge refund after selling my previous main home?
You must claim the refund within three years of the date of the original purchase that triggered the surcharge, or within 12 months of the filing date of the Self Assessment return for the tax year in which the sale of the previous main home completed whichever is the later. We recommend making the claim as soon as the sale of the previous home completes.
Can I claim an SDLT refund if I overpaid on a past transaction?
Yes. The general time limit for making an SDLT overpayment claim is four years from the date the original SDLT return was filed. UK Property Tax Accountants reviews past transactions to identify any overpayments arising from incorrect rate applications, missed relief claims, or mixed-use misclassification, and prepares the refund claim on your behalf.
Does UK Property Tax Accountants review SDLT on past purchases as well as future transactions?
Yes. We review past property purchases to identify any SDLT overpayments or missed relief claims that can still be recovered within the four-year time limit. Our review process is straightforward we simply need the original SDLT return and completion statement, and we handle the rest.
Is SDLT payable on a transfer of property between spouses or civil partners?
A transfer of property between spouses or civil partners living together is exempt from SDLT, provided no chargeable consideration passes. If the receiving spouse takes over a mortgage on the property, the outstanding mortgage balance is treated as chargeable consideration and SDLT is calculated on that amount. We review the consideration in every intra-spousal transfer to confirm whether any SDLT is payable and, if so, calculate the correct amount.
What SDLT rate applies to commercial or mixed-use property?
Non-residential and mixed-use property is taxed at lower SDLT rates than residential property. The rates are 0% on the first £150,000, 2% on £150,001 to £250,000, and 5% above £250,000. Mixed-use property property with both residential and commercial elements qualifies for these lower non-residential rates. Correctly identifying whether a property is mixed-use can result in a substantial SDLT saving compared to residential rates. We assess the mixed-use position on every transaction before the SDLT return is filed.
What happens if I underpay SDLT and HMRC opens an enquiry?
Still have questions?
Our property specialist accountants are ready to answer any questions about your specific tax situation with no obligation for an initial conversation.
- +44 121 262 1528
- Mon–Fri, 9am–5:30pm
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Reduce your property tax bill
Book a free call with our property specialist accountant. We will review your structure and identify immediate savings opportunities.
- ACCA Registered
- Fixed Transparent Fees
- Onboarded Within 1 Week