Wales Stamp Duty (LTT) 2026 - Rates, Calculator & Guide
Wales charges Land Transaction Tax (LTT) with a nil-rate band of £225,000. Rates changed in December 2024.
Wales charges Land Transaction Tax (LTT) instead of stamp duty. Rates are set by the Welsh Government and collected by the Welsh Revenue Authority. No specific first-time buyer relief applies.
Wales LTT Calculator
LTT Rates 2026
Standard Residential Rates
| Band | Rate |
|---|---|
| £0 - £225,000 | 0% |
| £225,001 - £400,000 | 6% |
| £400,001 - £750,000 | 7.5% |
| £750,001 - £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% |
Higher Rates (Additional Properties) - New December 2024 Structure
| Band | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| £0 - £180,000 | 5% | On full price if over £40,000 |
| £180,001 - £250,000 | 8.5% | |
| £250,001 - £400,000 | 10% | |
| £400,001 - £750,000 | 12.5% | |
| £750,001 - £1,500,000 | 15% | |
| Over £1,500,000 | 17% |
December 2024 Changes to Wales Higher Rates
Wales replaced its flat 4% additional property surcharge with a new banded higher rate structure from December 2024. The new rates are significantly higher for most additional property purchases.
| Property price | Before Dec 2024 (old surcharge) | From Dec 2024 (new higher rates) |
|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £8,000 (4% on full price) | £10,000 |
| £300,000 | £12,000 (4% on full price) | £18,000 |
| £500,000 | £20,000 (4% on full price) | ~£35,700 |
Wales vs England: Standard Buyer Comparison
| Property price | Wales LTT | England SDLT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £0 | £1,500 | Wales cheaper: £1,500 |
| £300,000 | £4,500 | £5,000 | Wales cheaper: £500 |
| £400,000 | £10,500 | £10,000 | Wales more expensive: £500 |
| £500,000 | £18,000 | £17,500 | Wales more expensive: £500 |
No First-Time Buyer Relief in Wales
Wales does not offer a specific first-time buyer LTT relief. However, the higher nil-rate band of £225,000 (vs £125,000 in England for standard buyers) means that first-time buyers purchasing under £225,000 pay zero LTT anyway. This covers a large proportion of first-time buyer purchases in Wales, where average house prices are around £220,000-£240,000.
FAQs
What is stamp duty called in Wales?
Wales charges Land Transaction Tax (LTT) instead of stamp duty. It is collected by the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). LTT applies to residential property transactions in Wales. Always select Wales in our calculator for accurate results - do not use the England figures.
Is stamp duty cheaper in Wales than England?
For standard buyers at lower price points (below around £300,000), Wales is generally cheaper because of the higher nil-rate band (£225,000 vs £125,000 in England). At £200,000, a Wales buyer pays nothing, while an England standard buyer pays £1,500.
Above around £400,000, Wales starts to become comparable or slightly more expensive due to the 6% rate that applies from £225,001, which is higher than England's 2% rate from £125,001. Use the calculator above for a precise comparison.
How to pay LTT in Wales?
LTT is paid to the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA), not HMRC. The same 14-day deadline from completion applies. Your solicitor or conveyancer will handle the payment and file the LTT return on your behalf. The process is practically identical to paying SDLT in England - your solicitor collects funds before completion and submits payment to the WRA.