Specialist Land Tax Advice: Indemnified and Evidence-Based
Stamp Duty laws are complex. Conveyancers are cautious. If your transaction falls outside the ordinary - such as mixed-use property, linked transactions, or uninhabitable dwellings - conveyancers often require a formal, specialist opinion before they feel safe filing a return.
Fee Structure
Professionally Indemnified Advice
GBP 350 - 750No VAT charged
Formal letters of advice for stamp duty matters including SDLT, LTT, and LBTT.
- Fully insured professional opinion
- Supports conveyancer submissions
- Evidence-based legal analysis
- Markel insurance up to £250,000 per claim
- Covers mixed-use, MDR, uninhabitable property
Fee Determinants
Complexity, HMRC risk level, and evidence volume (e.g., apportionment or multiple dwellings relief).
Stamp Duty Reclaims
15% - 25%Of amount successfully reclaimed
No Win, No Fee basis for retrospective claims.
- No upfront payment required
- Fee only charged on successful reclaim
- Refund paid directly to you
- Full case management included
- Fee returned if HMRC later reclaims and position cannot be defended
Fee Variation
Fees range from 15% to 25% depending on the contentiousness of the case and likelihood of HMRC inquiry.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
All advisory work is covered by a professional indemnity policy issued by Markel International Insurance Company Limited (up to GBP 250,000 per claim). This protects you and ensures any future HMRC enquiry can be defended using verified documentation.
The Function of Indemnified Advice
Conveyancers request my independent opinion to minimise their legal risk. An insured, specialist letter provides the necessary confidence that your tax position is correct and supported by relevant law (such as the Finance Act 2003).
My role is to provide that specialist analysis. I am the author of two books on Land Tax and an expert by experience, having successfully handled nearly 500 reclaim cases and hundreds of advisory matters across SDLT, LTT, and LBTT.
Service Process
If a formal engagement is required, the process is simple:
-
Review and Confer
I review your documents and outline the advice. We confer to ensure you are happy to proceed. -
Formal Estimate
I raise a fee estimate for your digital acceptance. -
Draft Advice
I draft the formal letter and send it to you for approval. -
Finalise and Invoice
Once you approve the draft, the final letter is issued and the invoice is generated. -
Submission
You provide the letter to your conveyancer to support your self-assessment.
Enhanced Support: Tax Agent Submission
For matters requiring a tax agent to submit the return, I offer access to Compass SDLT.
- Dual Protection: Two independent opinions (Mine + Compass)
- Full Submission: Compass acts as your Tax Agent to submit directly to HMRC
Common Reclaim Scenarios
Click any box below to learn more about specific stamp duty reclaim situations:
How to Start: Initial Assessment
Before engaging in the formal process, I need to understand your specific position. Please contact me via email with an outline of your circumstances.
I will give you a detailed explanation of your situation for free.
If you subsequently require indemnified advice, we can then discuss the next steps.
About Nick Garner
People usually come to me with complex questions their solicitor cannot answer, and after I clarify their position by email, they may leave a review or charitable donation, or, if a formal letter of advice is needed, I provide one for a fee that reflects both the expertise and the responsibility of defending that advice if a tax authority later enquires.
