Real Estate · UK

UK Stamp Duty Rates by Year (2014–2026): How SDLT Has Changed

UK Stamp Duty Land Tax has changed a lot in a decade — a structural reform in 2014, a surcharge in 2016, a pandemic holiday in 2020–21, a temporary threshold rise in 2022, and a reversion in 2025. If you're trying to work out what the rates were in a given year, this is the timeline, with the headline bands for each period. The figures below are for England & Northern Ireland (Scotland and Wales run their own systems).

2014: the "slice" reform

Until 3 December 2014, SDLT used a "slab" system — a single rate applied to the whole price, creating cliff-edges (£1 over a threshold could cost thousands). On 4 December 2014 it switched to progressive "slice" bands, like income tax, where each rate applies only to the portion of price within its band. Every period since has used slice bands; only the thresholds have moved.

2016: the 3% additional-property surcharge

From 1 April 2016, a 3% surcharge was added on top of every band for additional properties — second homes, holiday homes and buy-to-let. (This is the same surcharge that rose to 5% in October 2024.) The standard "slice" bands through 2016–2019 were:

Price band (2014–Jul 2020)	Standard rate
Up to £125,000	0%
£125,001 – £250,000	2%
£250,001 – £925,000	5%
£925,001 – £1.5m	10%
Above £1.5m	12%

So in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 the standard bands were the same as today — an additional-property buyer simply added 3% to each (now 5%).

2020–2021: the stamp duty holiday

To support the market through COVID, the nil-rate band was temporarily raised:

• 8 July 2020 – 30 June 2021: 0% up to £500,000 (a saving of up to £15,000).
• 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021: 0% up to £250,000 (the taper).
• 1 October 2021: back to the £125,000 nil-rate band.

2022: the mini-budget threshold rise

From 23 September 2022, the nil-rate band was raised again — this time presented as permanent — to £250,000, with first-time buyer relief lifted to £425,000 (on homes up to £625,000). This is why searches for "current stamp duty rates 2022" show a £250,000 starting threshold. These higher thresholds ran through 2023 and 2024.

Price band (23 Sep 2022 – 31 Mar 2025)	Standard rate
Up to £250,000	0%
£250,001 – £925,000	5%
£925,001 – £1.5m	10%
Above £1.5m	12%

2025–2026: back to £125,000

The 2022 thresholds were always time-limited and expired on 1 April 2025. The nil-rate band returned to £125,000 and first-time buyer relief to £300,000. Separately, the additional-property surcharge had already risen from 3% to 5% on 31 October 2024. These are the rates in force for 2026/27:

Price band (from 1 Apr 2025)	Standard	First-time buyer
Up to £125,000	0%	0% (to £300,000)
£125,001 – £250,000	2%	0%
£250,001 – £300,000	5%	0%
£300,001 – £500,000	5%	5%
£500,001 – £925,000	5%	standard rates
£925,001 – £1.5m	10%	standard rates
Above £1.5m	12%	standard rates

Frequently asked questions

What were the rates in 2016–2019?
The same slice bands as today (0/2/5/10/12%), plus the new 3% additional-property surcharge from April 2016.

What changed in 2022?
The nil-rate band rose to £250,000 (first-time buyers £425,000) from 23 September 2022.

What are the current 2026/27 rates?
0% to £125k, 2% to £250k, 5% to £925k, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above; first-time buyers 0% to £300k.

Stamp duty across the UK

• England & NI — SDLT guide · surcharges · calculator
• Scotland — LBTT guide · calculator
• Wales — LTT guide · calculator

Compare all three in the UK stamp duty hub.

Sources

• GOV.UK — Stamp Duty Land Tax rates from 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2025
• GOV.UK — SDLT rates 31 October 2024 to 31 March 2025; rates from 1 April 2025
• House of Commons Library — SDLT: developments since 2020

Figures for England & Northern Ireland; historical bands are summarised for the headline standard rates. Verify on GOV.UK before relying on them. General information, not regulated financial advice (FCA).