Answers · UK 2025/26
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in England in 2026?
First-time buyers in England pay 0% SDLT up to GBP 300,000 and 5% on the portion from GBP 300,001 to GBP 500,000. Above GBP 500,000 no relief applies and standard rates are used. On a GBP 400,000 first home you pay GBP 5,000.
Full answer
First-time buyer relief in England and Northern Ireland gives a 0% SDLT rate on the first GBP 300,000 of a home, then 5% on the slice between GBP 300,001 and GBP 500,000. The relief is only available if the purchase price is GBP 500,000 or less and every buyer is a first-time buyer who will occupy the property as their only or main residence. If the price exceeds GBP 500,000, you get no relief and pay the standard rates (0% to GBP 125,000, 2% to GBP 250,000, 5% to GBP 925,000, and so on). Worked example: a first-time buyer purchasing for GBP 400,000 pays 0% on the first GBP 300,000 = GBP 0, then 5% on the next GBP 100,000 = GBP 5,000, a total of GBP 5,000. By comparison, a non-first-time buyer would pay GBP 7,500 on the same price under standard rates. You count as a first-time buyer only if you have never owned a residential property anywhere in the world. Use the stamp-duty calculator to compare first-time-buyer and standard rates for your price, and verify eligibility conditions on gov.uk.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.