First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator
See the stamp duty a first-time buyer pays in England and Northern Ireland, and how much the relief saves.
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator
See the stamp duty a first-time buyer pays in England and Northern Ireland, and how much the relief saves.
First-time-buyer relief: 0% on the first £300,000 and 5% on £300,001–£500,000. Both buyers must be first-time buyers. England & NI only; Scotland and Wales differ.
First-time buyer stamp duty relief, explained
In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay a reduced rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax. There is no SDLT on the first £300,000, then 5% on the portion between £300,000 and £500,000. Compared with the standard residential rates, that is a saving of up to £6,250.
The relief is all-or-nothing above a ceiling. If the price is more than £500,000, the relief is withdrawn entirely and you pay standard rates on the whole purchase, so a property at £505,000 is taxed very differently from one at £500,000.
To qualify, every buyer must be a first-time buyer, meaning none of you has ever owned a residential property anywhere in the world, and you must intend to live in the property as your only or main home. Buying with someone who already owns, or has owned, a home means the relief is lost for the whole purchase.
Scotland and Wales have their own systems. Scotland's first-time-buyer relief raises the nil band to £175,000 (worth up to £600), and Wales has no separate first-time-buyer relief because its nil band is already £225,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much stamp duty does a first-time buyer pay?
In England and Northern Ireland, nothing on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,000 to £500,000. Above £500,000 the relief is withdrawn and standard rates apply to the whole price.
Who counts as a first-time buyer for stamp duty?
Someone who has never owned a residential property anywhere in the world, buying a home to live in as their only or main residence. If you buy jointly, every buyer must meet the test, or the relief is lost for the whole purchase.
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty over £500,000?
Yes. Once the price exceeds £500,000 the relief no longer applies at all, and the purchase is taxed at the standard residential SDLT rates.
Want to be sure of your position?
A calculator gives you the shape of the answer. We confirm your exact figure and the reliefs that apply to you. Tell us about your situation for a no-obligation review.