• 76 King Street, Manchester, M2 4NH
  • 01616696732
  • 9AM - 5PM
  •    

What to Do If Stamp Duty Relief Was Missed on Your Property Purchase

Most property buyers rely on their solicitor or conveyancer to calculate and submit their Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to HMRC - and rightly so. But SDLT is a complex area of tax law, and not all reliefs are automatically applied using HMRC’s standard calculator. If a Stamp Duty relief was missed during your transaction, you could be eligible for a Stamp Duty refund, and it’s worth looking into.


At SCA Tax, we specialise in identifying and recovering overpaid SDLT through reliefs that are often overlooked in routine transactions.


Why Are Stamp Duty Reliefs Sometimes Missed?


Solicitors and conveyancers are experts in property law and play a vital role in handling the legal side of your transaction. However, they are not tax advisers, and many use HMRC’s standard SDLT calculator, which doesn’t account for more nuanced reliefs such as:


These reliefs often require a detailed analysis of the property’s use, layout, or legal classification - something outside the standard scope of conveyancing.


What Is Stamp Duty Relief?


Stamp Duty relief refers to a legitimate reduction or exemption in the amount of SDLT owed, based on specific qualifying criteria. Some of the most common reliefs include:

  • MDR (Multiple Dwellings Relief) – for purchases involving more than one dwelling
  • Mixed-Use Relief – when the property includes both residential and commercial elements
  • Uninhabitable Property Adjustments – when the property is not fit for use as a dwelling at the time of purchase
  • First-Time Buyer Relief
  • Group and Charity Reliefs


Missing these reliefs can result in significant overpayments, sometimes by tens of thousands of pounds.


Signs That an SDLT Relief May Have Been Missed


You may wish to have your SDLT reviewed if:

  • You bought a property with multiple buildings (e.g. an annexe or a cottage)
  • Part of the land was used commercially (e.g. stables, farmland, shops)
  • The property was in disrepair or deemed uninhabitable
  • You purchased as a company or as part of a group
  • You paid the full residential rate without being advised of alternatives


In many cases, these situations qualify for relief, but unless specifically identified and calculated, HMRC’s generic tool will apply the standard rates.


What You Can Do If You Think You Overpaid SDLT


1. Request a Specialist SDLT Review

Your first step should be to speak with a specialist in Stamp Duty relief - like our team at SCA Tax. 


We’ll:

  • Assess your transaction details
  • Identify whether any reliefs may have applied
  • Calculate any overpaid tax
  • Help you claim a Stamp Duty refund from HMRC

Our assessments are  free and can uncover thousands in potential savings.


2. Submit a Stamp Duty Refund Claim

If a relief was indeed missed, you can submit a refund request to HMRC. Depending on the circumstances, claims can be made:

  • Within 12 months of the original SDLT return submission
  • Or up to 4 years from the effective date of the property purchase

You’ll need supporting documentation, a revised calculation, and a clear explanation - all of which we can manage for you.


How SCA Tax Can Help


At SCA Tax, we work alongside solicitors, accountants, and property professionals to provide specialist SDLT insight to help ensure the correct amount of Stamp Duty is paid.

  • Free SDLT eligibility review
  •  No-win, no-fee available
  •  Specialist knowledge of HMRC guidance
  •  Support with complex and high-value claims


If you suspect that a Stamp Duty relief may have been missed, it’s worth checking. A quick review could lead to a Stamp Duty refund and peace of mind.


Start your free assessment here.

Contact Us

Have questions or need more information? Our team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us!

Address

76 King Street, M2 4NH

Call Now

01616696732