--- title: "First Time Buyer Stamp Duty UK 2026 — Rates, Thresholds & Relief | First Rung Now" description: "First time buyer stamp duty UK 2026: SDLT thresholds, LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales. Full rates, exemptions and worked examples for every price band." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com/logo-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 }, "description": "Independent UK mortgage education and broker matching service.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty", "description": "First time buyer stamp duty UK 2026: SDLT thresholds, LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales. Full rates, exemptions and worked examples for every price band.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "First Rung Now" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://firstrungnow.com/first-time-buyer-stamp-duty", "datePublished": "2026-06-15", "dateModified": "2026-06-15", "inLanguage": "en-GB" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://firstrungnow.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Mortgage Guides", "item": "https://firstrungnow.com/mortgage-guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty", "item": "https://firstrungnow.com/first-time-buyer-stamp-duty" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in England in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Only on properties over £300,000. Below £300,000 = 0% SDLT. Between £300,001 and £500,000 = 5% on the portion above £300,000. Above £500,000 the FTB relief is lost entirely and you pay standard SDLT rates on the whole purchase price." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What counts as a first-time buyer for stamp duty purposes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You must never have owned (in whole or in part) a freehold or leasehold interest in a residential property anywhere in the world. This includes inherited properties, holiday homes, buy-to-lets and gifts of property. If you're buying jointly, BOTH buyers must be first-time buyers — one previous owner disqualifies the whole purchase." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is FTB stamp duty different in Scotland and Wales?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). FTB relief means no tax up to £175,000. Above that, standard LBTT rates apply. Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT) — there is no dedicated FTB relief but the starting threshold (£225,000 for main residences) is generous." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I lose FTB stamp duty relief if my partner owned a home before?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. If you're buying jointly and either party has ever owned a residential property, the FTB relief is lost. The workaround — a JBSP mortgage where only you go on the deeds — preserves FTB status. See our JBSP guide." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I pay stamp duty on shared ownership?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You have two choices: pay SDLT on the full market value upfront (usually attracts FTB relief if eligible), or pay in stages as you staircase (initial payment based on share purchased). Most FTBs choose the market-value option to lock in the relief." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When do I pay first-time buyer stamp duty?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Within 14 days of completion. Your conveyancer files the SDLT return and pays HMRC on your behalf — you settle it with them alongside the completion balance. Failure to file within 14 days triggers a £100 penalty and interest." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [London 020 8088 2997 ](tel:02080882997)[National 0333 567 1185 ](tel:03335671185) [![First Rung Now](/assets/logo-mark-CNo3p3DP.png) First Rung Now UK Mortgage Guides ](/) - Mortgages - Remortgages - Buy To Let - Bad Credit - Calculators - Guides - [Find a Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) - [About](/about) [London 020 8088 2997 ](tel:02080882997)[National 0333 567 1185 ](tel:03335671185) [Speak to a Vetted Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Mortgage Guides](/mortgage-guides) 3. First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty UK Mortgage Guide # First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty 2026: England, Scotland, Wales & NI Stamp duty is often the largest single tax you'll pay as a first-time buyer — but it's also the tax with the most generous first-time buyer relief. Since April 2025 the rules in England and Northern Ireland changed sharply, and Scotland and Wales operate entirely different tax regimes. Get the calculation wrong and you either overpay by thousands or trigger an HMRC investigation. This guide gives you the exact 2026 numbers for every price point, every UK region. First Rung Now Editorial Updated 15 June 2026 7 min read On this page 1. [Key takeaways](#key-takeaways) 2. [England & Northern Ireland: SDLT for first-time buyers](#england-northern-ireland-sdlt-for-first-time-buyers) 3. [Worked examples (England/NI, first-time buyer)](#worked-examples-englandni-first-time-buyer) 4. [Speak with a vetted mortgage broker about first-time buyer stamp duty planning and completion costs](#speak-with-a-vetted-mortgage-broker-about-first-time-buyer-stamp-duty-planning-and-completion-costs) 5. [Scotland: LBTT for first-time buyers](#scotland-lbtt-for-first-time-buyers) 6. [Wales: LTT for first-time buyers](#wales-ltt-for-first-time-buyers) 7. [Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?](#who-qualifies-as-a-first-time-buyer) 8. [The JBSP workaround for mixed couples](#the-jbsp-workaround-for-mixed-couples) 9. [Shared ownership: two SDLT choices](#shared-ownership-two-sdlt-choices) 10. [How and when it's paid](#how-and-when-its-paid) 11. [Common FTB stamp duty mistakes](#common-ftb-stamp-duty-mistakes) 12. [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions) 13. [Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in England in 2026?](#do-first-time-buyers-pay-stamp-duty-in-england-in-2026) 14. [What counts as a first-time buyer for stamp duty purposes?](#what-counts-as-a-first-time-buyer-for-stamp-duty-purposes) 15. [How is FTB stamp duty different in Scotland and Wales?](#how-is-ftb-stamp-duty-different-in-scotland-and-wales) 16. [Do I lose FTB stamp duty relief if my partner owned a home before?](#do-i-lose-ftb-stamp-duty-relief-if-my-partner-owned-a-home-before) 17. [Do I pay stamp duty on shared ownership?](#do-i-pay-stamp-duty-on-shared-ownership) 18. [When do I pay first-time buyer stamp duty?](#when-do-i-pay-first-time-buyer-stamp-duty) 19. [Related guides](#related-guides) 20. [First-Time Buyer Guide UK](#first-time-buyer-guide-uk) 21. [First-Time Buyer Costs](#first-time-buyer-costs) 22. [JBSP Mortgage](#jbsp-mortgage) 23. [Shared Ownership for FTBs](#shared-ownership-for-ftbs) 24. [First-Time Buyer Deposit](#first-time-buyer-deposit) ### First-time buyers — related reads MIPs, deposits, schemes and the UK buying process. - [Does an MIP include your deposit? Why your MIP is the loan only, and how to work out your real purchase budget. ](/mortgage-in-principle-deposit) - [House buying timeline What actually happens — and how long it takes — between offer accepted and keys. ](/house-buying-timeline) - [£300k home loan Salary, deposit, monthly cost and stamp duty for a £300,000 mortgage. ](/300k-home-loan) - [Help to Buy calculator Equity loan repayment maths and the schemes that replaced Help to Buy in England. ](/help-to-buy-calculator-mortgage) - [No deposit mortgage Every active UK 100% LTV product and the trade-offs that decide fit. ](/no-deposit-mortgage) Explore the hubs [Mortgages explained](/mortgages)[Remortgages](/remortgages)[Buy-to-let mortgages](/buy-to-let)[Bad credit mortgages](/bad-credit-mortgages)[Mortgage calculators](/mortgage-calculators)[All mortgage guides](/mortgage-guides)[Find a mortgage broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ## Key takeaways - England/NI: 0% SDLT to £300,000; 5% on £300k–£500k; no relief above £500k. - Scotland: LBTT FTB relief to £175,000; standard rates thereafter. - Wales: no dedicated FTB relief but £225,000 starting threshold applies to everyone. - Both buyers must be genuine FTBs — one previous owner disqualifies the joint purchase. - Filed within 14 days of completion by your conveyancer. ## England & Northern Ireland: SDLT for first-time buyers Want a vetted broker to help with England & Northern Ireland: SDLT for first-time buyers? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) From 1 April 2025 the England and NI Stamp Duty Land Tax thresholds returned to their pre-2022 levels. First-time buyer relief now works as follows: Purchase price SDLT rate (FTB) £0 – £300,000 0% £300,001 – £500,000 5% on the portion above £300,000 Above £500,000 Standard SDLT applies to whole price — no FTB relief Standard (non-FTB) SDLT bands in England/NI for 2026: - £0 – £125,000: 0% - £125,001 – £250,000: 2% - £250,001 – £925,000: 5% - £925,001 – £1.5m: 10% - Above £1.5m: 12% ### Worked examples (England/NI, first-time buyer) - **£185,000 home:** £0 SDLT. Full relief. - **£280,000 home:** £0 SDLT. - **£350,000 home:** 5% × (£350,000 − £300,000) = £2,500. - **£425,000 home:** 5% × (£425,000 − £300,000) = £6,250. - **£500,000 home:** 5% × £200,000 = £10,000 (maximum saving vs standard = £5,000). - **£520,000 home:** Relief lost. Standard SDLT = £13,500 (0% to £125k, 2% to £250k, 5% to £520k). Notice the cliff edge at £500,000. Buying at £499,999 saves you £3,500 versus buying at £500,001. Don't lose the relief for the sake of a few thousand pounds on the purchase price — negotiate below £500,000 wherever possible. Vetted UK Broker Match ### Speak with a vetted mortgage broker about first-time buyer stamp duty planning and completion costs Free, no-obligation introduction to an FCA-regulated adviser with experience in your specific scenario. We've done the due diligence so you don't have to. - FCA-regulated only - Typical reply in 1 working day - No upfront fees [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ## Scotland: LBTT for first-time buyers Related · keep reading - [Bad credit mortgage checker Place your situation on the lender severity scale and see what a specialist will accept. ](/bad-credit-mortgage-checker) - [Bad credit second mortgage Secured second charges as an alternative to remortgaging when credit has slipped. ](/bad-credit-second-mortgage) Browse the full hub: [All mortgage guides](/mortgage-guides) Want a vetted broker to help with Scotland: LBTT for first-time buyers? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) replaced SDLT in Scotland in 2015. Revenue Scotland administers it. FTB relief in Scotland works differently: rather than a nil-rate up to £300k, it lifts your personal starting threshold to £175,000. Portion of price LBTT rate (FTB) £0 – £175,000 0% £175,001 – £250,000 2% £250,001 – £325,000 5% £325,001 – £750,000 10% Above £750,000 12% Scottish FTB examples: - £160,000 home: £0 LBTT. - £220,000 home: 2% × £45,000 = £900. - £280,000 home: 2% × £75,000 + 5% × £30,000 = £3,000. - £350,000 home: 2% × £75,000 + 5% × £75,000 + 10% × £25,000 = £7,750. See our [Edinburgh](/mortgage-broker-edinburgh), [Glasgow](/mortgage-broker-glasgow) and [Aberdeen](/mortgage-broker-aberdeen) guides for Scottish-specific FTB advice. ## Wales: LTT for first-time buyers Want a vetted broker to help with Wales: LTT for first-time buyers? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) Wales operates Land Transaction Tax (LTT) via the Welsh Revenue Authority. There is no dedicated FTB relief because the general starting threshold (£225,000) is high enough to shelter most FTB purchases. Portion of price LTT rate £0 – £225,000 0% £225,001 – £400,000 6% £400,001 – £750,000 7.5% £750,001 – £1.5m 10% Above £1.5m 12% Welsh examples: - £210,000 home: £0 LTT. - £265,000 home: 6% × £40,000 = £2,400. - £320,000 home: 6% × £95,000 = £5,700. ## Who qualifies as a first-time buyer? Related · keep reading - [Bad credit with a large deposit How a 25%+ deposit unlocks rates adverse-credit borrowers thought were closed. ](/mortgage-with-bad-credit-but-large-deposit) - [Contractor mortgages with bad credit Day-rate and limited-company contractors: which specialist lenders will look at you. ](/mortgages-for-contractors-with-bad-credit) Browse the full hub: [All mortgage guides](/mortgage-guides) Want a vetted broker to help with Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) The definition is stricter than most people realise. You are **not** a first-time buyer if you have ever: - Owned a freehold or leasehold interest in a residential property, anywhere in the world. - Been named on the deeds of an inherited property (even a partial share). - Been gifted a residential property or share thereof. - Owned a home in trust that you were the beneficiary of. - Been a joint owner with a spouse/partner/friend/relative. Commercial property ownership does not disqualify you. Being on a rental contract as a tenant does not disqualify you. Being merely a mortgage guarantor (without name on the deeds) does not disqualify you. For a joint purchase — both buyers must qualify. One previous owner among two applicants eliminates the FTB relief entirely. ## The JBSP workaround for mixed couples Want a vetted broker to help with The JBSP workaround for mixed couples? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) If you (an FTB) are buying with a partner who previously owned property, using a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) mortgage can preserve your FTB status for SDLT purposes. You are the sole legal owner on the deeds; your partner supports affordability as a joint borrower on the loan. See our [JBSP guide](/joint-borrower-sole-proprietor-mortgage). ## Shared ownership: two SDLT choices Related · keep reading - [Poor credit mortgage lenders The specialist UK lenders most willing to price recent adverse credit. ](/poor-credit-mortgage-lenders) - [MIP with bad credit Getting a credible MIP when your file shows defaults, CCJs or missed payments. ](/mortgage-in-principle-bad-credit) Browse the full hub: [All mortgage guides](/mortgage-guides) Want a vetted broker to help with Shared ownership: two SDLT choices? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) For shared ownership properties, you can: 1. **Pay in stages:** Only pay SDLT on the share you initially buy. Simple but you pay each time you staircase above 80%. 2. **Market-value election:** Pay SDLT on the full market value upfront using FTB relief. Usually cheaper long-term for FTBs. See our [shared ownership FTB guide](/shared-ownership-first-time-buyer). ## How and when it's paid Want a vetted broker to help with How and when it's paid? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) Your conveyancer files the SDLT/LBTT/LTT return within 14 days of completion. You send them the tax amount as part of the completion funds. Miss the 14-day window and HMRC (or Revenue Scotland / Welsh Revenue Authority) applies: - £100 fixed penalty (immediate). - £200 further penalty after 3 months. - Daily penalties after 6 months. - Interest on the unpaid tax. ## Common FTB stamp duty mistakes Related · keep reading - [First-time buyer with adverse credit How first-time buyers with credit issues get onto the ladder in 2026. ](/first-time-buyer-adverse-credit-mortgages) - [Bad credit bridging loan Short-term asset-backed lending when adverse credit closes high-street doors. ](/bad-credit-bridging-loan) Browse the full hub: [All mortgage guides](/mortgage-guides) Want a vetted broker to help with Common FTB stamp duty mistakes? Free FCA-regulated introduction. We carefully check the broker matches your scenario — no pressure, no upfront fees. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) 1. Assuming any previous property ownership doesn't count if it was overseas — it does. 2. Buying jointly with a non-FTB partner without exploring JBSP first. 3. Ignoring the £500,000 cliff edge in England/NI. 4. Forgetting that shared ownership needs an active election choice. 5. Confusing SDLT with LBTT/LTT when buying across borders. 6. Not budgeting for the tax in the deposit calculation. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in England in 2026? ### What counts as a first-time buyer for stamp duty purposes? ### How is FTB stamp duty different in Scotland and Wales? ### Do I lose FTB stamp duty relief if my partner owned a home before? ### Do I pay stamp duty on shared ownership? ### When do I pay first-time buyer stamp duty? ## Related guides [ ### First-Time Buyer Guide UK The full FTB journey end-to-end. Read guide ](/first-time-buyer-guide-uk)[ ### First-Time Buyer Costs Every completion cost, not just tax. Read guide ](/first-time-buyer-costs)[ ### JBSP Mortgage Preserve FTB status with a non-FTB partner. Read guide ](/joint-borrower-sole-proprietor-mortgage)[ ### Shared Ownership for FTBs Two-tier SDLT rules explained. Read guide ](/shared-ownership-first-time-buyer)[ ### First-Time Buyer Deposit How much to save before you start. Read guide ](/first-time-buyer-deposit) First-Time Buyer Match ### Get matched with a first-time buyer mortgage specialist Free, no-obligation introduction to an FCA-regulated broker who works with first-time buyers every day — whatever your stage, deposit or credit profile. - FCA-regulated brokers only - Typical reply in 1 working day - No upfront fees — your data goes to one broker only Full name Email Phone Postcode Where are you in your journey? Select your stage… Just researching Saving my deposit Ready to get a mortgage in principle Have an MIP, viewing properties Had an offer accepted Anything else? (optional) Match me with a broker By submitting you agree to be contacted by First Rung Now and one matched FCA-regulated broker. 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