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Stamp duty for first-time buyers

First-time buyer relief in England and Northern Ireland, price by price, and the cliff just over £500,000.

How much stamp duty does a first-time buyer pay?

As of October 2026, a first-time buyer in England or Northern Ireland pays no stamp duty up to £300,000 and 5% on the part from £300,001 to £500,000: £5,000 on £400,000 and £10,000 on £500,000. Above £500,000 the relief is lost entirely, so at £500,001 the tax is £15,000.

Updated

The price you're paying for the home.

Which describes you?
Is any buyer not resident in the UK?

For SDLT, not resident means not in the UK for at least 183 days in the 12 months before buying.

The SDLT on this purchase

Enter the price to see the tax, worked out band by band.

First-time buyer stamp duty at each price

SDLT at each price: First-time buyer compared with a home mover (England and Northern Ireland)
  • £250,000
  • £300,000
  • £350,000
  • £400,000
  • £450,000
  • £500,000
  • £525,000
  • £550,000
  • £600,000

First-time buyer Home mover

PriceFirst-time buyerHome moverDifference
£250,000£0£2,500−£2,500
£300,000£0£5,000−£5,000
£350,000£2,500£7,500−£5,000
£400,000£5,000£10,000−£5,000
£450,000£7,500£12,500−£5,000
£500,000£10,000£15,000−£5,000
£525,000£16,250£16,250None
£550,000£17,500£17,500None
£600,000£20,000£20,000None

The £500,000 cliff

The relief isn't tapered. One pound over £500,000 and the whole price is taxed at the standard rates, which adds £5,000 to the bill (HMRC). A price that includes contents, which aren't land, can be split, but the split must be just and reasonable (see the TA10 guide).

You can claim the relief if you and everyone you are buying with are first-time buyers: someone who has never owned a home, in the UK or anywhere else, and who intends to live in the one they are buying (HMRC). Scotland has its own Land and Buildings Transaction Tax with a first-time buyer relief to £175,000. Wales hasLand Transaction Tax with no separate first-time buyer relief; the starting band applies to everyone.

Buying in Wales or Scotland? See the Land Transaction Tax and LBTT calculators. For the other costs of buying, see the conveyancing fees calculator.

Questions

How much stamp duty does a first-time buyer pay?
In England and Northern Ireland, nothing on a price up to £300,000, and 5% on the part from £300,001 to £500,000. On £400,000 that's £5,000. Above £500,000 the relief doesn't apply at all and the standard rates are charged on the whole price.
What happens if a first-time buyer pays over £500,000?
The relief is lost entirely, not just on the part above £500,000. At £500,000 a first-time buyer pays £10,000; at £500,001 the standard rates apply and the tax is £15,000.
Who counts as a first-time buyer for stamp duty?
Someone who has never owned a home, in the UK or anywhere else, and who intends to live in the one they're buying. If you buy with someone, all of you must be first-time buyers for the relief to apply.
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in Scotland or Wales?
Scotland has its own Land and Buildings Transaction Tax with a first-time buyer relief to £175,000. Wales has Land Transaction Tax with no separate first-time buyer relief; the starting band applies to everyone.

Sources

Rates checked against these sources on 30 October 2026. Updated . This is a calculation, not legal or tax advice: Instrukt is not a law firm or a tax adviser.

Buying, selling or remortgaging in England or Wales?

For a home in England or Wales, tell us about it and we'll introduce you to an independent SRA-regulated solicitor, who sends you their own quote before you commit to anything.

Get introduced to a conveyancing solicitor

Buying in Northern Ireland? Conveyancing there is done by solicitors regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland; Instrukt can't introduce one.