If you buy property in the UK, you may have to pay a property transaction tax. The tax depends on where the property is located:
-England: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
-Northern Ireland: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
-Scotland: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
-Wales: Land Transaction Tax (LTT)
Rates and rules differ between the four nations.
England and Northern Ireland
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) applies to certain property and land transactions. The amount you pay depends on the purchase price and your circumstances. Different rules can apply if you are a first-time buyer, already own another property or are treated as non-UK resident under the SDLT rules.
A 2 percentage-point surcharge can apply to some non-UK-resident purchases of residential property. The SDLT non-UK-residence test is separate from the general UK tax-residence rules.
For current rates and information, see HMRC's Stamp Duty Land Tax guidance. If you are buying residential property and may be non-UK resident, check the HMRC guidance on the SDLT non-UK-resident surcharge.
Scotland
Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) instead of SDLT.
Different rates apply depending on the property price and your circumstances. An Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) can apply when buying an additional residential property.
Check the latest rates and rules through Revenue Scotland's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax guidance.
Wales
Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT) instead of SDLT. Different rates apply depending on the property price and your circumstances. Higher rates can apply when buying an additional residential property.
Check the latest rates and rules through Welsh Government's Land Transaction Tax guidance.
If you are an international researcher
Your nationality or immigration status does not, by itself, determine which property tax you pay. Before buying property, check the rules for the nation where the property is located and whether you qualify for any reliefs or whether higher rates apply.
You should also budget for other costs of buying a property, such as legal fees, mortgage fees and surveys. Tax and property rules can change. Check the latest information from the relevant government authority before completing a purchase.
This information is a general guide and is not a substitute for professional legal, tax or financial advice.