Stamp duty is payable in the UK when you purchase a residential property. The amount that you pay in stamp duty depends on whether the property you buy is subject to standard stamp duty amounts for your main residential property (and there are a lot of circumstances where this can be the case) or if it is classed as a second property.
You have to pay the stamp duty at the point where you complete on your property so you will need to have this extra money available. The money is usually paid to HMRC through your solicitor. Currently it must be paid within 14 days of the transaction.
Stamp Duty on a £250,000 Property (updated September 2022)
So if you are looking for the amount of stamp duty that is payable on a £250,000 property then you have the following options:
The Stamp duty payable on a £250k residential property that is classed as your main residence would be zero. Prior to September 2022 you would have had to pay £2,500.
The Stamp duty payable on a £250k residential property that is classed as a second home would be £7,500. This is worked out as per the main residence above plus an additional 3% on the whole of the purchase price.
So as you can see there is a big difference in the cost of stamp duty in different situations. In some cases, there is the possibility of recouping the extra money paid if you subsequently sell your main property and the new purchase is then your main residence, always check your own situation with your solicitor if you are in any doubt.
You can also calculate the amount of stamp duty due on different purchase prices if you use our stamp duty calculator. The calculator includes figures for standard purchases and those where the extra 3% is payable.
Other Factors
If you are a first time buyer then you may be entitled to a reduced (or zero) rate of stamp duty on your property purchase – you can find details of that here.