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UK Stamp Duty Rates: A 2010-2026 Timeline

How UK stamp duty has changed over the last 16 years: the December 2014 reform from slab to marginal bands, the introduction of the 3% additional-property surcharge in 2016, first-time buyer relief in 2017, the COVID holiday, the mini-Budget threshold rise, the surcharge increase to 5% in 2024, and the April 2025 threshold reversion.

Timeline verified May 2026

Standard SDLT residential band schedule by era

How a standard buyer's SDLT band schedule has changed since the 2014 reform to marginal bands.

Era0% to2% band5% band10% band12% above
Dec 2014 - Jul 2020£125k£125-250k£250-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+
Jul 2020 - Jun 2021 (COVID)£500kn/a£500-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+
Jul - Sep 2021 (taper)£250kn/a£250-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022£125k£125-250k£250-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+
Sep 2022 - Mar 2025 (mini-Budget)£250kn/a£250-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+
April 2025 onwards (current)£125k£125-250k£250-925k£925k-1.5m£1.5m+

Key reform moments

2014-2025 (the modern era of marginal bands)
In the Autumn Statement 2014 (effective 4 December 2014), the SDLT regime moved from a slab structure (where one rate applied to the whole price) to the current marginal band structure. The change was permanent and applies to every regime in 2026.
April 2016 - October 2024 (3% additional-property surcharge era)
The 3% surcharge on additional residential property was introduced on 1 April 2016. It applied marginally on top of every band. The surcharge was raised to 5% on 31 October 2024. Many older calculators and conveyancing pages still reference the 3% figure; in 2026 the figure is 5% across England and Northern Ireland.
November 2017 - April 2025 (FTB relief era 1)
First-time buyer relief was introduced in the November 2017 Budget with a £300,000 nil-rate band and a £500,000 cliff. The thresholds were raised on 23 September 2022 to £425,000 nil-rate and £625,000 cliff. They reverted to £300,000 / £500,000 on 1 April 2025.
July 2020 - September 2021 (COVID nil-rate holiday)
From 8 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 the SDLT nil-rate band was raised to £500,000 as a COVID stimulus. From 1 July to 30 September 2021 it was tapered to £250,000. From 1 October 2021 it returned to £125,000. The holiday cut SDLT to zero for most buyers under £500,000 during that window.
23 September 2022 - 31 March 2025 (mini-Budget temporary thresholds)
The mini-Budget on 23 September 2022 raised the SDLT nil-rate band to £250,000 (from £125,000) and the FTB nil-rate to £425,000 (from £300,000). Most of the mini-Budget was reversed within weeks, but the SDLT changes were retained as temporary measures and finally expired on 1 April 2025.
31 October 2024 (surcharge change)
The Autumn Budget 2024 increased the additional-property surcharge from 3% to 5% with effect from 31 October 2024. Buyers who exchanged before this date but completed after were given transitional protection in some cases. From 31 October 2024 onwards, every second-home or buy-to-let completion in England and Northern Ireland pays the 5% surcharge.
1 April 2025 (threshold reversion)
The September 2022 mini-Budget temporary thresholds finally expired. Standard nil-rate dropped from £250,000 to £125,000. FTB nil-rate dropped from £425,000 to £300,000. FTB cliff dropped from £625,000 to £500,000. Most current SDLT increases at the lower end of the market trace to this date. The 2026 rates page reflects these reverted bands.

Pre-2014 slab system (historical context)

Before 4 December 2014, SDLT used a slab structure: one rate applied to the entire purchase price based on which band the price fell into. The thresholds at the time were £125k, £250k, £500k, £1m and £2m, with rates of 0%, 1%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 7%.

The slab system created sharp cliff edges: a £250,001 purchase paid 3% on the full amount (£7,500) while a £250,000 purchase paid 1% (£2,500). The £5,000 jump for £1 of price was structurally indefensible and was abolished in the 2014 reform. The modern marginal band system fixes the problem (any £1 of price increase adds at most that £1 multiplied by the band rate to SDLT).

Note: the same cliff-edge problem persists in two places in the modern system: the £500,000 FTB cliff (where £1 of price costs £5,000 in lost relief) and Scotland's ADS at 8% flat-on-full-price for second homes. The 2014 reform did not fix these because they apply only to specific buyer types and are seen as policy levers rather than structural anomalies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the stamp duty rates in 2018?

The 2018 SDLT residential band schedule was 0% to £125,000; 2% to £250,000; 5% to £925,000; 10% to £1.5m; 12% above. FTB relief had been introduced in November 2017 (£300,000 nil-rate, £500,000 cliff). The additional-property surcharge was 3% (introduced April 2016).

What were the stamp duty rates in 2022?

From 23 September 2022 (the mini-Budget) until 31 March 2025, the SDLT residential nil-rate band was £250,000 and the FTB nil-rate was £425,000 (£625,000 cliff). The additional-property surcharge was 3% throughout 2022.

When did stamp duty thresholds last change?

Two material changes hit in 2024-25. The additional-property surcharge increased from 3% to 5% on 31 October 2024. On 1 April 2025 the September 2022 mini-Budget temporary thresholds reverted: standard nil-rate £250k to £125k; FTB nil-rate £425k to £300k; FTB cliff £625k to £500k.

Related guides

Current Rate Tables 2026
Today's SDLT, LBTT and LTT bands for every buyer type.
First-Time Buyer Relief
Current FTB rules and the £500k cliff.
Additional Property
Current 5% surcharge for investors and landlords.
Methodology
Full source list and statutory references.

Updated 2026-05-11