Stamp Duty Land Tax (Temporary Relief) Act 2020 (2020 c. 15)

1 Reduced rates of SDLT on residential property for an initial temporary period

[F1] Words in s. 1 heading substituted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), s. 87(2)(c)

(1) This section makes modifications of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003 in relation to any land transaction the effective date of which falls in the period (“the initial temporary relief period”)—

[F2] Words in s. 1(1) substituted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), s. 87(2)(b)

(a) beginning with 8 July 2020, and

(b) ending with 30 June 2021.

[F3] Words in s. 1(1)(b) substituted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), s. 87(2)(a)

(2) Section 55(1B) (amount of stamp duty land tax chargeable: general) has effect as if for Table A there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALPart of relevant considerationPercentageSo much as does not exceed £500,0000%So much as exceeds £500,000 but does not exceed £925,0005%So much as exceeds £925,000 but does not exceed £1,500,00010%The remainder (if any)12%.

(3) Schedule 4ZA (higher rates of stamp duty land tax for additional dwellings etc) has effect as if for the Table A in section 55(1B) mentioned in paragraph 1(2) there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALPart of relevant considerationPercentageSo much as does not exceed £500,0003%So much as exceeds £500,000 but does not exceed £925,0008%So much as exceeds £925,000 but does not exceed £1,500,00013%The remainder (if any)15%.

(4) Paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 5 (amount of SDLT chargeable in respect of rent) has effect as if for Table A there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALRate bandsPercentage£0 to £500,0000%Over £500,0001%.

(5) Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003 has effect as if section 57B and Schedule 6ZA (which concern relief for first-time buyers) were omitted (and, accordingly, Schedule 9 is to have effect as if paragraphs 15 to 16 were omitted).

(6) In a case where—

(a) as a result of section 44(4) of the Finance Act 2003 the effective date of a land transaction falls in the initial temporary relief period, and

[F4] Words in s. 1(6)(a) substituted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), s. 87(2)(b)

(b) the contract concerned is completed by a conveyance after that period ends,

section 44(8) of that Act is not to apply in relation to that conveyance if the sole reason that (but for this subsection) it would have applied is the reason given by subsection (6A).

[F5] Words in s. 1(6) substituted (20.3.2025) by Finance Act 2025 (c. 8), s. 52(2)(a)

(6A) For this purpose, the sole reason is either—

(a) that the modifications made by subsections (2) to (5) have no effect in relation to that conveyance, or

(b) that both paragraph (a) applies and the increased rates provided for by section 51 of the Finance Act 2025 would have had effect in relation to that conveyance.

(7) Section 44(10) of the Finance Act 2003 applies for the purposes of subsection (6).

1A Further period for reduced rates of SDLT on residential property

[F7] S. 1A inserted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), s. 87(3)

(1) This section makes modifications of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003 in relation to any land transaction the effective date of which falls in the period (“the further temporary relief period”)—

(a) beginning with 1 July 2021, and

(b) ending with 30 September 2021.

(2) Section 55(1B) (amount of stamp duty land tax chargeable: general) has effect as if for Table A there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALPart of relevant considerationPercentageSo much as does not exceed £250,0000%So much as exceeds £250,000 but does not exceed £925,0005%So much as exceeds £925,000 but does not exceed £1,500,00010%The remainder (if any)12%.

(3) Schedule 4ZA (higher rates of stamp duty land tax for additional dwellings etc) has effect as if for the Table A in section 55(1B) mentioned in paragraph 1(2) there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALPart of relevant considerationPercentageSo much as does not exceed £250,0003%So much as exceeds £250,000 but does not exceed £925,0008%So much as exceeds £925,000 but does not exceed £1,500,00013%The remainder (if any)15%.

(4) Paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 5 (amount of SDLT chargeable in respect of rent) has effect as if for Table A there were substituted—TABLE A: RESIDENTIALRate bandsPercentage£0 to £250,0000%Over £250,0001%.

(5) In a case where—

(a) as a result of section 44(4) of the Finance Act 2003 the effective date of a land transaction falls in the further temporary relief period, and

(b) the contract concerned is completed by a conveyance after that period ends,

section 44(8) of that Act is not to apply in relation to that conveyance if the sole reason that (but for this subsection) it would have applied is the reason given by subsection (5A).

[F8] Words in s. 1A(5) substituted (20.3.2025) by Finance Act 2025 (c. 8), s. 52(3)(a)

(5A) For this purpose, the sole reason is either—

(a) that the modifications made by this section have no effect in relation to that conveyance, or

(b) that both paragraph (a) applies and the increased rates provided for by section 50 or 51 of the Finance Act 2025 would have had effect in relation to that conveyance.

(6) Section 44(10) of the Finance Act 2003 applies for the purposes of subsection (5).

2 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Temporary Relief) Act 2020.