Stamp Duty Advice Bureau has developed a valuable partnership with Kyle Kam from UK Property Box (Press release).

Together, we’ve been fortunate to assist many Hong Kong Chinese investors to reclaim overpaid stamp duty.

We make this process straightforward, providing clear and simple guidance every step of the way.

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Are you a property investor from Hong Kong who’s been purchasing buy-to-let properties in the UK? If so, it’s crucial to understand how the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) applies to your investments, particularly those properties in poor condition at the time of purchase. You may be overpaying on your SDLT without even realising it.

SDLT, a tax on property transactions in the UK, is often incorrectly assessed for residential properties that are not in a livable state at the time of purchase. Despite their poor condition, these properties are often mistakenly classified as residential, resulting in higher tax rates.

But did you know that the UK law provides the means to re-assess SDLT within four years from the date of property purchase? The Finance Act 2003, a key piece of legislation, outlines the specific process for this.

The Finance Act 2003 states that if you’ve overpaid tax due to a mistake in your SDLT return, you can amend it. The law gives you one year from the original filing date to do this. Also, the Act permits you to claim a refund of any overpaid tax within four years from the date it was paid.

34(1)This paragraph applies where—
(a) a person has paid an amount by way of tax but believes that the tax was not due, or
(b) a person has been assessed as liable to pay an amount by way of tax, or there has been a determination to that effect, but the person believes that the tax is not due.
(2) The person may make a claim to the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for repayment or discharge of the amount.

A noteworthy case on this topic is PN Bewley vs HMRC. This legal case set a precedent in the First-Tier Tribunal for arguing that a property’s condition at the time of the transaction should determine its tax classification. In this case, the Tribunal ruled that if a property is not habitable at the time of the effective transaction, it should not be considered as residential for SDLT purposes.

So, what does this mean for you, the investor? Simply put, the PN Bewley case gives you, and any other investor, a strong legal basis for claiming that a property in poor condition should not be classified as residential. Therefore, if you’ve been paying the full residential rate of SDLT for such properties, you could be eligible to reclaim some, if not all, of that overpayment.

In conclusion, it’s clear that UK law, as exemplified by the Finance Act 2003 and the PN Bewley case, fully supports anyone reclaiming overpaid SDLT on the basis of property condition. However, navigating tax legislation can be complex, and seeking professional advice can help you reclaim any overpaid tax effectively.

Remember, knowledge is power. So, stay informed and make the most of your property investments in the UK.

To see how much money you could reclaim, use the calculator below: