First-time buyer stamp duty — when you pay nothing
If you have never owned a home, you may pay little or no property-purchase tax on your first one. In England & Northern Ireland first-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000 and 5% on the slice up to £500,000 — but the relief disappears completely above £500,000. Figures verified 30 June 2026.
First-time buyer SDLT bands (England & NI)
| Portion of price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £300,000 | 0% |
| £300,001 to £500,000 | 5% |
| Above £500,000 | No relief — standard rates apply to the whole price |
Worked examples
Estimated tax for a first-time buyer of a main home. Scotland uses the higher £175,000 LBTT nil-rate band.
| Price | SDLT (Eng/NI) | LBTT (Scotland) |
|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £0 | £500 |
| £250,000 | £0 | £1,500 |
| £300,000 | £0 | £4,000 |
| £425,000 | £6,250 | £15,250 |
| £500,000 | £10,000 | £22,750 |
| £600,000 | £20,000 | £32,750 |
What about Wales?
Wales has no separate first-time-buyer relief for Land Transaction Tax. Instead, the main LTT nil-rate band (£225,000) is higher than the standard English threshold, so many lower-priced purchases already pay nothing regardless of whether the buyer is a first-timer. See the Wales LTT page for the full bands.
Frequently asked questions
- Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty?
- In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay no SDLT on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. If the price is above £500,000 the relief is lost entirely and standard rates apply to the whole price. In Scotland, first-time buyers get a higher £175,000 nil-rate band for LBTT. Wales has no first-time-buyer relief.
- What counts as a first-time buyer?
- Broadly, someone who has never owned a residential property anywhere in the world, and who is buying the property to live in as their only or main home. If more than one person is buying, every buyer must usually be a first-time buyer to qualify.
- What is the maximum price for first-time buyer relief?
- In England and Northern Ireland the relief is available only up to £500,000. Buy above that and you pay the standard rates on the full price with no first-time-buyer discount.
Sources: HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK), Revenue Scotland, Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES). Rates verified 30 June 2026. Estimates only — not tax advice.