Guidance

Stamp Duty Land Tax: relief for first time buyers – guidance note

This guidance note explains the relief for first time buyers announced at Autumn Budget 2017.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 22 November 2017
• Last updated: 8 March 2021 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on 11 November 2022

This publication has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. The Stamp Duty Land Tax rates for first time buyers changed on 23 September 2022.

You can check current Stamp Duty Land Tax rates for buying your first home.

Documents

[Withdrawn] Stamp Duty Land Tax: relief for first time buyers – guidance note

PDF, 929 KB, 16 pages

Details

At Budget 2017, relief from SDLT was introduced for first time buyers. The relief applies from 22 November 2017 to purchases of residential property for £500,000 or less, provided the purchaser intends to occupy the property as their only or main residence.

On 29 October 2018 the relief was extended to first time buyers purchasing through approved shared ownership schemes who choose to pay SDLT in stages. This will apply from 22 November 2017.

Published 22 November 2017
Last updated 8 March 2021 + show all updates

1. 8 March 2021

   Purchase deadlines extended for reduced rates for Stamp duty Land Tax.

2. 8 July 2020

   The government has temporarily increased the nil rate bands of residential Stamp Duty Land Tax from £125,000 to £500,000.

3. 28 November 2018

   Question 21 in the 'Questions and Answers' section of the attachment has been updated.

4. 29 October 2018

   The relief has been extended to first time buyers purchasing through shared ownership schemes who choose to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax in stages.

5. 22 November 2017

   First published.