Stamp Duty savings for homebuyers

In September, the government announced a permanent Stamp Duty cut in England and Northern Ireland, which means no tax will be paid on the purchase of properties up to £250,000. Although most of the policies from the ‘mini-budget’ have since been scrapped, this one has stayed in place.

Back to the pandemic

During the summer of 2021, a government scheme to cut Stamp Duty helped fuel frenzied demand and record-breaking sales. The new measure was announced by then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng almost a year after the pandemic-era Stamp Duty holiday ended and took effect immediately.

Higher base

The first £250,000 of a property’s value is now exempt from Stamp Duty, up from £125,000 previously. As a result, 200,000 more people will be taken out of paying the tax altogether, the government claims

Beyond that, buyers will pay 5% of the value of the home from £250,001 and 10% on the portion between £925,001 and £1.5m.

First-Time Buyers

The threshold for first-time buyers having to pay Stamp duty has also risen from £300,000 to £425,000. Moreover, first-time buyer relief is now applicable to properties worth up to £625,000, compared with the previous £500,000.

As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments.