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.
2 min read · Updated 7 August 2026 · By Dwellmark Editorial
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 | £0 |
| £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
Full page ↗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 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.
Stamp duty on a second home: the 5% surcharge explained
Buying a second property costs an extra 5% in Stamp Duty on top of the normal rates - but the main-residence replacement rule and the refund system save most movers. The full guide.
Stamp Duty Land Tax 2026: rates, thresholds and calculator
What you’ll actually pay in Stamp Duty in 2026 - current rates for every price band, first-time buyer relief, the 5% surcharge for second homes, and how to calculate your bill in under a minute.