Stamp duty for first-time buyers: the full 2026 guide
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty? Usually not - here’s who qualifies for the £300,000 relief, what happens above £500,000, and the traps that cost people thousands.
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The short answer: most first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland pay no stamp duty at all. Since April 2025, first-time buyer relief gives you a £300,000 nil-rate band - but only if the property is worth £500,000 or less. Everyone buying the property must also be a genuine first-time buyer.
Who qualifies
- You have never owned a residential property anywhere in the world - this includes inherited property and homes bought abroad
- Everyone on the purchase is a first-time buyer (joint buyers count as a group)
- The property costs £500,000 or less
What you pay
| Property price | SDLT bill |
|---|---|
| Up to £300,000 | £0 |
| £350,000 | £2,500 (5% on £50,000) |
| £425,000 | £6,250 (5% on £125,000) |
| £500,000 | £10,000 (5% on £200,000) |
| £501,000+ | Standard rates - relief lost |
Relief traps to avoid
- Buying with a partner who owns a home - you lose the relief for the whole purchase
- Inheriting a property - even a share counts, even if you never lived there
- Shared ownership - relief can still apply, but the rules work differently; get advice
- Not telling your conveyancer you’re a first-time buyer - they need to claim the relief on the SDLT return
Work out your exact bill
Stamp Duty calculator
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Your estimate
Estimated Stamp Duty
£2,500
✓ First-time buyer relief applied — you pay nothing on the first £300,000.
- 0% on first £300,000£0
- 5% on £50,000£2,500
Estimate for England & Northern Ireland. England & Northern Ireland only. Scotland (LBTT) and Wales (LTT) differ. Rates and rules last checked: 7 August 2026 (rules v3, sourced from GOV.UK). Your conveyancer calculates and pays the final amount.
Work out your exact Stamp Duty Land Tax bill in seconds - standard rates, first-time buyer relief and the additional-property surcharge. Rates sourced from GOV.UK.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How much stamp duty do I pay on a £300,000 house?
For a single property in England or Northern Ireland you pay 2% on the portion from £125,001 to £250,000 (£2,500) and 5% on the portion from £250,001 to £300,000 (£2,500) - £5,000 in total. If you are a first-time buyer, the bill is £0, because the £300,000 nil-rate band covers the full price.
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty?
Most don’t. First-time buyer relief gives a £300,000 nil-rate band on properties worth £500,000 or less, so most first homes under £300,000 are completely free of stamp duty. Above £300,000 you pay 5% on the excess, up to £500,000. Above £500,000 the relief is lost entirely.
Source: GOV.UK - Stamp Duty Land Tax: first-time buyers — Checked 7 August 2026
Full stamp duty rates guideEvery band, the second-home surcharge and worked examples.How much deposit do you need?Combine your SDLT saving with the right deposit strategy.
Sources
- GOV.UK - Stamp Duty Land Tax: first-time buyers - Checked 7 August 2026
Keep reading
Stamp Duty Land Tax reference 2026: rates, reliefs and examples
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rules can change, so this reference is dated and lists the rates, thresholds and reliefs verified against GOV.UK in August 2026.
Stamp duty on shared ownership: the rules explained
Shared ownership has its own SDLT rules, and the amount due can depend on how you choose to pay and when you buy extra shares. The rules, verified against HMRC guidance, cover approved qualifying bodies, the market value election and first-time buyer relief.
Stamp duty refunds: when and how to claim
Stamp Duty Land Tax refunds can apply in a limited set of situations, including some higher-rates purchases, some residency surcharge cases,
Devolved property taxes: LBTT (Scotland) and LTT (Wales) explained
LBTT and LTT are devolved taxes that replace SDLT in Scotland and Wales respectively.