Tax Guide

Stamp Duty Changes in 2026: What You Need to Know

Everything you need to know about the April 2025 stamp duty changes and how they affect first-time buyers, home movers, and buy-to-let investors.

February 2026

7 min read

MortgageLens Team

Key Takeaways

1First-time buyer 0% threshold reverted from £425,000 to £300,000 as of April 2025
2Standard 0% band dropped from £250,000 to £125,000 — home movers pay significantly more
3Additional property surcharge increased from 3% to 5% for second homes and buy-to-let
4Scotland (LBTT) and Wales (LTT) have their own rates and thresholds
5FTB relief no longer applies to properties over £500,000

The stamp duty landscape shifted significantly in April 2025. Here's what changed:

First-time buyer threshold

Reverted from £425,000 to £300,000 for 0% rate. Properties over £500,000 no longer qualify for relief.

Standard threshold

Reverted from £250,000 to £125,000 for 0% rate. Means more tax on lower-value properties.

Additional property surcharge

Increased from 3% to 5% in October 2024. Applies to second homes and buy-to-let properties.

*FTB relief only applies to properties up to £500,000. Above this, standard rates apply.

Use our calculator to see exactly what you'll pay on your property purchase.

£250,000 Property

First-time buyer£0

Home mover£2,500

Additional property£15,000

£400,000 Property

First-time buyer£5,000

Home mover£10,000

Additional property£30,000

Scotland and Wales have their own property taxes with different rates:

Scotland: LBTT

First-time buyers pay 0% up to £175,000. Additional dwelling supplement is 6% (highest in UK).

Wales: LTT

No first-time buyer relief. 0% up to £225,000 for all buyers. Higher rates surcharge is 4%.

Use our affordability calculator to see what you can borrow, then calculate your monthly payments.