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Stamp duty on a £250,000 house is £0 for first-time buyers or £2,500 for home movers.

Stamp Duty Summary

Buyer Type Stamp Duty Effective Rate
First-time buyer £0 0%
Home mover £2,500 1.0%
Second home/BTL £10,000 4.0%

How Stamp Duty is Calculated

Home Movers (Standard Rates)

Band Rate Taxable Amount Tax
£0 - £125,000 0% £125,000 £0
£125,001 - £250,000 2% £125,000 £2,500
Total £2,500

First-Time Buyers

Band Rate Taxable Amount Tax
£0 - £425,000 0% £250,000 £0
Total £0

Second Home / Buy-to-Let (3% Surcharge)

Band Rate Taxable Amount Tax
£0 - £125,000 3% £125,000 £3,750
£125,001 - £250,000 5% £125,000 £6,250
Total £10,000

Total Purchase Costs at £250K

Cost First-Time Buyer Home Mover
House price £250,000 £250,000
Deposit (10%) £25,000 £25,000
Stamp duty £0 £2,500
Solicitor £1,600 £1,600
Survey £450 £450
Total upfront £27,050 £29,550

When to Pay Stamp Duty

  • Due: Within 14 days of completion
  • Who pays: Usually handled by your solicitor
  • Payment method: Electronic transfer to HMRC
  • Late payment: Interest and penalties apply

First-Time Buyer Rules

To qualify for first-time buyer relief:

  • Never owned property in the UK or abroad
  • Property price up to £625,000
  • Full relief up to £425,000
  • 5% on portion between £425,001-£625,000
  • The property must be your main residence

Joint purchases: All buyers must be first-time buyers to qualify.

Sources

  • HM Revenue & Customs. “Income Tax Rates and Personal Allowances.” gov.uk/income-tax-rates
  • Office for National Statistics. “UK Statistical Data and Analysis.” ons.gov.uk
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