Property tax
Stamp duty for first-time buyers
Each UK nation has its own tax on buying a home. Here's what a first-time buyer pays in each, with the bands and examples. Checked 2026-10-01.
- England: First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
- Northern Ireland: First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
- Scotland: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate because the relief is built into the bands: nothing is due on the first £175,000, then 2% on the part above it, rising in bands.
- Wales: Land Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate: nothing is due on the first £225,000, then 6% on the part above it, rising in bands.
Got a price in mind? The stamp duty calculator works it out band by band, for first-time buyers and people moving home.
England: Stamp Duty
First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £300,000 | 0% |
| £300,001 to £500,000 | 5% |
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% |
What a first-time buyer would pay
Your solicitor pays it from your money. It's due within 14 days of completing.
Northern Ireland: Stamp Duty
First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £300,000 | 0% |
| £300,001 to £500,000 | 5% |
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% |
What a first-time buyer would pay
Your solicitor pays it from your money. It's due within 14 days of completing.
Scotland: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate because the relief is built into the bands: nothing is due on the first £175,000, then 2% on the part above it, rising in bands.
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £175,000 | 0% |
| £175,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £325,000 | 5% |
| £325,001 to £750,000 | 10% |
| Over £750,000 | 12% |
What a first-time buyer would pay
Your solicitor pays it from your money. It's due within 30 days of completing.
Wales: Land Transaction Tax
Land Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate: nothing is due on the first £225,000, then 6% on the part above it, rising in bands.
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £225,000 | 0% |
| £225,001 to £400,000 | 6% |
| £400,001 to £750,000 | 7.5% |
| £750,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% |
What a first-time buyer would pay
Your solicitor pays it from your money. It's due within 30 days of completing.
Common questions
- Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in England?
- First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
- Is Northern Ireland the same as England?
- Yes. Northern Ireland uses Stamp Duty Land Tax with the same rates and the same first-time buyer relief as England.
- What do first-time buyers pay in Scotland?
- Scotland has Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) instead of stamp duty. Land and Buildings Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate because the relief is built into the bands: nothing is due on the first £175,000, then 2% on the part above it, rising in bands.
- What do first-time buyers pay in Wales?
- Wales has Land Transaction Tax (LTT) instead of stamp duty. Land Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate: nothing is due on the first £225,000, then 6% on the part above it, rising in bands.
- How much is it on a £300,000 first home?
- About £0 in England or Northern Ireland, £4,000 in Scotland, and £4,500 in Wales, before any other costs.
- When is it paid?
- Your solicitor sends the return and pays it from your money when you complete. It's due within 14 days in England and Northern Ireland, and 30 days in Scotland and Wales.
- Can I add it to my mortgage?
- Usually not. It's paid from your own money at completion, so count it in the cash you need on day one, alongside the deposit, legal fees, searches and a survey.
Want your exact figure? The costs calculator works it out for any price, with the deposit and fees too.
A guide, not tax advice. Rates change; we check them against official guidance and show the date. Your solicitor will confirm the figure for your purchase.