Up to £300,000
If the qualifying purchase is within the relief price limit, the first £300,000 is charged at 0% under the current rules.
PROPERTY GUIDE
How does Stamp Duty work for first-time buyers?
First-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland may qualify for SDLT relief when the purchase meets the current conditions. The property price and the buyer's circumstances both matter.
CURRENT RELIEF
What the current first-time-buyer bands do.
Under the current residential SDLT rules, a qualifying first-time buyer can pay 0% on the first £300,000 of a purchase up to £500,000, then 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. A purchase above £500,000 does not receive this first-time-buyer relief and is instead subject to the applicable standard rules.
£300,001 to £500,000
The portion above £300,000 and up to £500,000 is charged at 5% for a qualifying first-time buyer.
Above £500,000
First-time-buyer relief is not available above the £500,000 purchase-price limit. Standard SDLT rules apply instead.
Example: on a qualifying £400,000 purchase, the first £300,000 is taxed at 0% and the remaining £100,000 at 5%, producing £5,000 of SDLT under the simple published bands.
CHECK ELIGIBILITY
The label “first-time buyer” is not the only test.
Eligibility depends on the buyer and transaction details. For example, a joint purchase needs to consider the status of all buyers, and other property ownership can affect the position. Additional-property and non-UK-resident rules may also change the final liability.
Because SDLT is a legal tax calculation, the safest approach is to use the calculator for a first estimate and then check the current GOV.UK guidance against the exact transaction.
COMMON MISTAKES
Three reasons a first-time-buyer result can be wrong.
- Assuming the relief applies because one buyer is a first-time buyer when the joint-buyer circumstances do not qualify.
- Applying the first-time-buyer rates to a property above the £500,000 price limit.
- Forgetting that other surcharges or specialist transaction rules can affect the final bill.
The WorthChex Stamp Duty Calculator makes the main standard scenarios visible, but it deliberately does not pretend to cover every specialist case.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
First-time buyer SDLT FAQs
Is SDLT always zero for first-time buyers?
No. Relief depends on the property price and eligibility. A qualifying buyer can still owe SDLT on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000, and a purchase above £500,000 does not receive the relief.
What if two people are buying together?
Check the current rules for all buyers. The simple WorthChex model does not attempt to decide every joint-buyer eligibility case.
Does buying an additional property change the result?
Additional-property rules can introduce higher rates. Use the calculator inputs as a first check, then verify the official rules for the actual transaction.
Is this the same tax used in Scotland and Wales?
No. Scotland uses LBTT and Wales uses LTT. This guide is for residential SDLT in England and Northern Ireland.
Calculate SDLT → · Read the £300,000 example →
Tax rules can change and complex transactions may need professional advice.
CHECK THE RELIEF CONDITIONS
First-time buyer relief is a set of conditions, not a general discount.
For residential purchases in England and Northern Ireland, qualifying first-time buyers can receive SDLT relief under the published rules. The buyer status, property price and transaction details all matter.
Up to £300,000
Under the current published relief, qualifying first-time buyers pay no SDLT on the first £300,000 of a purchase.
£300,001 to £500,000
For a qualifying purchase within the relief limit, 5% applies to the portion above £300,000.
Over £500,000
The first-time buyer relief is not available where the property price exceeds £500,000, so the standard rules need to be considered instead.
These are the published GOV.UK residential SDLT rules. Scotland and Wales use different property taxes. Check current SDLT relief conditions →