The Government has announced an important change to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for buyers of residential property in England and Northern Ireland who are not resident in the UK. The change affects purchasers of residential property from 1 April 2021.
The new measure will mean an additional 2% surcharge on existing SDLT rates for those who purchase residential property in the UK but are not UK residents. It will also apply to some UK resident companies controlled directly or indirectly by non-resident persons. The surcharge will apply to both freehold and leasehold properties in England and Northern Ireland.
We’re reminding potential buyers of residential property in England and Northern Ireland who are not resident in the UK to be aware of the impending change if they could be affected, particularly considering the length of time that property purchases can take to complete.
For individuals, it’s worth remembering that a person’s residence status is determined by a simple and SDLT specific test which requires the individual to be present in the UK for a set number of days by reference to the effective date of the transaction.
You can also use the government’s online calculator at GOV.UK. This will allow you to work out your likely SDLT liability ahead of a potential purchase.
Categories: Budget, Money & Taxes