Advanced Taxation (UK) · Statutory obligations, time limits and the implications of non-compliance

Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

SDLT on non-residential property is charged in slices: 0% to £150,000, 2% on the next £100,000 and 5% above £250,000. The return and payment are due within 14 days of completion. Stamp duty on share transfers is 0.5% of consideration, paid by the buyer. Late compliance can bring penalties and interest.

Understand Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines

Stamp taxes are transaction taxes. You pay them once, when you buy something, not every year. In ATX-UK you meet two: stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on land and buildings, and stamp duty on transfers of shares.

For non-residential property (shops, offices, factories, land), SDLT is a slice tax, like income tax. Each band of the price is taxed at its own rate. The price is the chargeable consideration. If VAT is charged on the sale, the VAT is part of the consideration, so SDLT is worked out on the VAT-inclusive price.

The buyer is responsible for SDLT. The buyer files an SDLT return and pays the tax within 14 days of the effective date, which is normally completion. The deadline is the same for filing and paying. Missing it can bring penalties and interest. The tax tables give the interest rates: 8.50% on underpaid tax and 3.50% on overpaid tax. They do not set out penalty amounts, so use any figures the question gives you. Pay attention to the date in the question. Many marks come from simply stating the right deadline.

Stamp duty on shares is much simpler. It is charged at a flat 0.5% of the consideration on a transfer of shares, and the buyer pays it. The duty is rounded up to the nearest £5. The tax tables give only the 0.5% rate, so use any dates or figures the question gives you for the timing of payment. Electronic share trades on the market are normally dealt with through stamp duty reserve tax at the same 0.5% rate, which is covered in a separate topic.

In the exam you are usually asked to calculate the tax, give the deadline, and explain the consequences of late compliance. Always link the answer to the facts, such as the completion date and the price.

Key rules to remember

SDLT rates on non-residential property: £0 – £150,000: 0%; £150,001 – £250,000: 2%; £250,001 and above: 5%; Slice basis. Apply each rate only to the part of the price in that band. These rates are in the ACCA tax tables.
SDLT on a price above £250,000: SDLT = £2,000 + 5% × (price − £250,000); The £2,000 is 2% × £100,000 for the middle band. The nil band gives nothing.
SDLT on a price between £150,000 and £250,000: SDLT = 2% × (price − £150,000); Use only the 2% slice.
SDLT return and payment deadline: Effective date (usually completion) + 14 days; File the return and pay the tax by this date. The deadline is not in the tax tables, so learn it.
Stamp duty on shares: 0.5% × consideration, rounded up to the nearest £5; Paid by the buyer. The 0.5% rate is in the tax tables. The rounding up to the nearest £5 is not in the tables, so show it as a separate step.
Late SDLT compliance: Penalties and interest can arise. Interest rates in the tax tables: 8.50% on underpaid tax, 3.50% on overpaid tax; The tax tables do not give SDLT penalty amounts. Use any figures provided in the question rather than relying on memorised amounts.

How to solve Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines questions

Use this method for any question on SDLT or stamp duty compliance. Show each step so you pick up method marks even if a number slips.

1Identify the transaction: land or buildings (SDLT) or a transfer of shares (stamp duty). Check whether the property is non-residential.
2Establish the chargeable consideration. If VAT is charged on the sale, include it. Note the completion date.
3For SDLT, split the price into bands: first £150,000 at 0%, next £100,000 at 2%, the rest at 5%. Calculate each slice and add them.
4For shares, multiply the consideration by 0.5% and round up to the nearest £5.
5State the deadline. For SDLT, add 14 days to completion for both return and payment. For shares, the tax tables give only the 0.5% rate, so use any date given in the question.
6State who is liable. In both cases it is the buyer.
7Explain the consequences of late compliance: penalties and interest can arise. Use the interest rates in the tax tables (8.50% on underpaid tax) if the question gives amounts and periods, and do not assert penalty amounts that the question does not give.
8Close with a clear conclusion linked to the facts, such as the exact date and the amount due.

Quickest way: Three-line SDLT shortcut

When to use it: Use when the price is above £250,000 and you are short of time.

Write £2,000 for the 2% band (it is always £100,000 × 2% when the price exceeds £250,000).
Take the price above £250,000 and multiply by 5%.
Add the two figures, then add 14 days to completion for the deadline.

Common mistakes in Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines

Applying one rate to the whole price, for example 5% × £400,000.
Students confuse the slice system with a slab system, where one rate covers the whole price.
Fix: Treat non-residential SDLT like income tax bands. Tax each slice at its own rate and add the results.
Giving a 30-day deadline for the SDLT return and payment.
Students mix this up with other time limits they have seen, or guess a round number.
Fix: Use 14 days from the effective date (usually completion) for both filing and paying.
Ignoring VAT in the price.
Students use the net price because VAT is usually recoverable in their mind.
Fix: SDLT is charged on the VAT-inclusive consideration where VAT is charged. Check whether the question quotes prices plus VAT.
Using the SDLT bands for a share purchase, or 0.5% for a property purchase.
Students mix up the two stamp taxes because both are paid by the buyer on a purchase.
Fix: Land and buildings use the SDLT slices. Transfers of shares use the flat 0.5% rate, rounded up to the nearest £5.
Saying the seller pays SDLT or stamp duty.
Students link tax on a sale to the person making the disposal, as with capital gains tax.
Fix: State clearly that the buyer is liable for both taxes.
Listing penalties without applying them to the scenario.
Students learn a list and write it out without checking the facts.
Fix: Work out the actual deadline, say whether it was missed, and then say that penalties and interest can arise. Apply the tax table interest rate if the question gives figures.

Worked examples

Example 1

Wright Ltd buys an office building for £400,000 (no VAT charged). Completion is on 10 June 2027. Calculate the SDLT and state when the return and payment are due.

Show the solution

The property is non-residential, so use the slice rates: 0% to £150,000, 2% on £150,001 to £250,000, 5% above £250,000.
First £150,000 at 0% = £0.
Next £100,000 at 2% = £2,000.
Remaining £150,000 (£400,000 − £250,000) at 5% = £7,500.
Total SDLT = £0 + £2,000 + £7,500 = £9,500.
Deadline: 14 days after completion on 10 June 2027 is 24 June 2027. Both the return and the payment are due by then.
Wright Ltd, as buyer, is liable.

Answer: SDLT is £9,500. The return and payment are both due by 24 June 2027.

Example 2

Anita buys shares in a UK company for £48,350. She wants to know the stamp duty and who must pay it. She also asks what happens if the duty is paid late.

Show the solution

Stamp duty on shares is 0.5% of the consideration.
£48,350 × 0.5% = £241.75.
Round up to the nearest £5: £245.
The buyer, Anita, is liable.
The tax tables give no time limit or penalty amounts for stamp duty on shares. Use any dates in the question. If the duty is paid late, penalties and interest can arise, so she should deal with it promptly.

Answer: Stamp duty is £245, payable by Anita as buyer. Late payment can lead to penalties and interest.

Exam tips

Learn the 14-day SDLT deadline. It is not in the tax tables, but it is often needed for the compliance part of a question.
Copy the SDLT bands from the tax tables into your answer plan before calculating. This avoids slips under pressure.
Show each band's calculation on a separate line. If you make one error, you still score for method.
Always add the date. Write the completion date, then the deadline date. Examiners reward application to the scenario.
If the question includes VAT, say clearly whether you include it in the SDLT consideration.

Practice questions from Statutory obligations, time limits and the implications of non-compliance

Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

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Stamp Duty Land Tax and Stamp Duty Filing Deadlines: frequently asked questions

What is the SDLT return deadline for non-residential property?

The return and the payment are both due within 14 days of the effective date, which is normally completion. Missing the deadline can lead to penalties and interest on late tax.

What are the SDLT rates on non-residential property in ATX-UK?

They are 0% up to £150,000, 2% on the slice from £150,001 to £250,000, and 5% above £250,000. The rates apply to each slice, not the whole price. They are given in the ACCA tax tables.

When is stamp duty on shares payable at 0.5%?

It is payable by the buyer on a transfer of shares, at 0.5% of the consideration, usually rounded up to the nearest £5. Electronic trades are normally dealt with through stamp duty reserve tax instead.

Is VAT included when calculating SDLT?

Yes. Where VAT is charged on the sale, it forms part of the chargeable consideration, so SDLT is worked out on the VAT-inclusive price.

How do I calculate SDLT on commercial property quickly?

For a price above £250,000, take £2,000 plus 5% of the excess over £250,000. For a price between £150,000 and £250,000, take 2% of the excess over £150,000.