If you do not want your conveyancing solicitor to handle your Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return, and you want the SDLT position to be supported by a formal, indemnified letter of advice, then you can use Compass SDLT in place of your conveyancing solicitor to submit the SDLT return.

This achieves two things at the same time:

• It removes SDLT filing responsibility and specialist tax liability from your conveyancing solicitor.
• It allows the SDLT return to be submitted on the correct legal basis, rather than a defensive or over-cautious position.

In short: your solicitor is satisfied because they are no longer acting as tax agent, and you are satisfied because the correct amount of SDLT is paid.

How the Process Normally Works

Most people come to me with a question about their SDLT position. For example:

• Is higher rate SDLT really due?
• Is the property genuinely residential?
• Does mixed-use apply?
• Is the dwelling suitable for use?

My role at that stage is to:

• Review the facts of the transaction.
• Explain how the legislation and case law apply.
• Set out the correct SDLT position and the reasoning behind it.

Once that position is clear, the question becomes who submits the SDLT return.

Your Two Submission Options

Option 1: Your Conveyancing Solicitor Submits

If your conveyancing solicitor is comfortable acting as tax agent, they can submit the SDLT return themselves using the clarified position.

In practice, many solicitors are unwilling to do this where the SDLT position involves judgement, interpretation or case law risk.

Option 2: Compass SDLT Submits Instead

If your solicitor does not want to submit the SDLT return, you can appoint

Compass SDLT

to act as tax agent instead.

In that scenario:

• Your conveyancing solicitor remains responsible only for the conveyancing.
• Compass SDLT acts as the SDLT tax agent.
• The SDLT return is submitted using the agreed legal analysis.
• The SDLT position is supported by an indemnified letter of advice.

This cleanly separates conveyancing from tax, removes liability from the solicitor, and avoids unnecessary overpayment of SDLT.

Next Steps

If your SDLT position is not straightforward and your solicitor does not want to submit the return, the next step is simple.

Use the Compass SDLT quotation and onboarding page below, or email me first if you want clarity on whether this structure is appropriate for your transaction.

Get a Fixed-Fee SDLT Quote via Compass