Stamp duty land tax (SDLT)

Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is becoming an ever more complex area of taxation.

Purchasing residential property, in particular, can mean two purchasers will pay two completely different liabilities based on who the purchaser is, the ownership of other residential properties and its intended use.

There are a number of reliefs (just for residential property acquisitions) available to both individuals and corporate purchasers, some of which can be very generous but most of which have to be claimed. A specialist will help you to maximise the claimed relief.

In certain circumstances those reliefs can be withdrawn, an ongoing review of your circumstances is therefore essential.

We advise:

• Solicitors
• Private individuals
• Property developers
• Accountants
• Corporates
• Charities
• Other parties interested in acquiring property

Our Stamp Duty Land Tax experts advise on a wide variety of situations including:

• Residential and non-residential transactions
• Availability of reliefs
• Linked transactions and connected party transactions
• Leases
• Partnerships
• Contingent, deferred consideration and overage
• Group transactions
• Corporate reorganisations and reorganisations
• High-value dwellings purchased through corporate structures
• Non-monetary consideration

I am a landlord with three buy-to-let properties. I have an appreciation of finance but my career was in marketing not in accountancy. I have taken advice from various accountants... More and so-called tax experts in the nine years I have been a landlord, and have always done my self-assessment tax returns myself. I recently saw a presentation by Jo White, a Tax Consultant with Kreston Reeves, and it immediately became clear that here was someone who really understands the tax affairs of landlords – capital allowances, allowable expenses, and exactly how to fill in tax returns. I had a free initial consultation which only confirmed my thoughts. I am going to pay for Jo to re-do my last tax return, and she has already mentioned things which I didn’t realise I could claim for, which will more than pay for their fee. She will also be helping me minimise the Capital Gains Tax which will arise when I start to sell my properties. I would thoroughly recommend Jo White of Kreston Reeves to any landlord. David Horton, Landlord