HMRC SDLT: SDLTM13050 – Calculation of stamp duty land tax: Deposit & loan arrangements: Example 2

Principles and Concepts of Stamp Duty Land Tax Calculation

This section of the HMRC internal manual provides guidance on the calculation of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) with a focus on deposit and loan arrangements. It includes Example 2, illustrating the application of SDLT rules in specific scenarios.

  • Explains the calculation process for SDLT in property transactions.
  • Focuses on deposit and loan arrangements.
  • Provides practical examples for better understanding.
  • Targets HMRC staff for internal reference.

Understanding Stamp Duty Land Tax Calculations: Deposit & Loan Arrangements

This article explains how to calculate the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in relation to property purchases involving different deposit and loan arrangements. It provides clear examples to illustrate how these calculations work.

What is Stamp Duty Land Tax?

Stamp Duty Land Tax, commonly known as SDLT, is a tax paid when you purchase property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. The amount of tax you pay depends on the price of the property or land.

Key Principles of SDLT

  • Tax Bands: SDLT is charged in bands. Different portions of the property price are taxed at different rates.
  • Property Price: The tax is calculated based on the total purchase price of the property.
  • First-Time Buyers: First-time buyers may benefit from SDLT relief, reducing the amount they need to pay.

Types of Financing in Property Purchases

When buying a property, the buyer often uses a mix of their own money (the deposit) and borrowed money (a mortgage) to fund the purchase. It’s important to understand how each part affects the SDLT calculation.

Deposit

The deposit is the upfront payment made by the buyer. Typically, this is a percentage of the property’s total price, often ranging from 5% to 20%. For example:

  • If the property price is £200,000 and the buyer puts down a 10% deposit, the deposit will be £20,000.

Loan Arrangement

The remainder of the property price is usually financed through a mortgage. Using the earlier example, if the total price of the property is £200,000 and the deposit is £20,000, the loan (mortgage) would be £180,000.

Example of Calculating SDLT

Let’s go through an example to clarify how SDLT is calculated based on deposit and loan arrangements.

Example Scenario

  • Property price: £300,000
  • Deposit: 10% (£30,000)
  • Loan (Mortgage): £270,000

To find out how much SDLT is owed, we need to assess the property price against the current SDLT rates. The rates typically work as follows:

  • 0% on the first £125,000
  • 2% on the next £125,000 (from £125,001 to £250,000)
  • 5% on anything above £250,000

Step-by-Step SDLT Calculation

1. Identify the Property Price: In our case, the price is £300,000.

2. Apply the SDLT Rates:

  • 0% on the first £125,000 = £0
  • 2% on the next £125,000 (£125,001 – £250,000) = £2,500
  • 5% on the amount above £250,000 (£300,001 – £300,000) = £2,500 (5% of £50,000)

3. Add the Calculated Amounts:

  • Total SDLT payable = £0 + £2,500 + £2,500 = £5,000

SDLT and First-Time Buyers

If you are a first-time buyer, there are special rules that could lower your SDLT bill. For properties costing £300,000 or less, first-time buyers pay no SDLT. However, if the purchase price exceeds £300,000, the relief starts to taper off.

In our example, if the buyer were a first-time buyer, they would not be eligible for any relief since the property price is above £300,000. Therefore, they would still pay £5,000 in SDLT.

What Happens With Lower Deposits?

Let’s consider a scenario where the buyer puts down a lower deposit. This might affect how the buyer finances the transaction but does not change the SDLT calculation.

Example Scenario with a Lower Deposit

  • Property price: £400,000
  • Deposit: 5% (£20,000)
  • Loan (Mortgage): £380,000

Following the same SDLT bands:

Step-by-Step SDLT Calculation Again

1. Identify the Property Price: Here, the property price is £400,000.

2. Apply the SDLT Rates:

  • 0% on the first £125,000 = £0
  • 2% on the next £125,000 (£125,001 – £250,000) = £2,500
  • 5% on the amount above £250,000 (£400,001 – £400,000) = £7,500 (5% of £150,000)

3. Add the Calculated Amounts:

  • Total SDLT payable = £0 + £2,500 + £7,500 = £10,000

Understanding Multiple Property Purchases

When buying more than one property, different SDLT rules and additional rates may apply. This can often lead to a higher SDLT due to the higher rates applied in additional purchase scenarios.

Example of Multiple Property Purchases

Assume the buyer purchases two properties worth £200,000 each. The purchaser will be subject to the higher rates of SDLT because the purchase is seen as buying an additional property.

Step-by-Step SDLT Calculation for Multiple Properties

  • Property 1 Price: £200,000
  • Property 2 Price: £200,000

1. Combine Property Prices: Total property price = £400,000.

2. Employ Relevant SDLT Rates:

  • 0% on the first £125,000 = £0
  • 2% on the next £125,000 (£125,001 – £250,000) = £2,500
  • 5% on the amount above £250,000 (£400,001 – £400,000) = £7,500 (5% of £150,000)

3. Apply Additional Properties Rate: An extra 3% of the total value may apply to buyers of additional properties.

In this case:

  • 3% on £200,000 (for each property) = £6,000
  • Total SDLT = £0 + £2,500 + £7,500 + £6,000 = £16,000

Conclusion

You have learned key ideas about calculating SDLT related to deposit and loan arrangements including different scenarios of property prices, and how SDLT

Useful article? You may find it helpful to read the original guidance here: HMRC SDLT: SDLTM13050 – Calculation of stamp duty land tax: Deposit & loan arrangements: Example 2

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