Precision Utility
First-Time Buyer
Stamp Duty Calculator
Tax Year
2025/26
FTB Threshold
£300,000
Find out exactly how much stamp duty you will pay as a first-time buyer in England, Scotland or Wales. Enter the property price, select the country and see your FTB relief savings compared with standard buyer rates. The calculator uses the April 2025 tax bands so you can budget with confidence.
Property Details
Your Stamp Duty
£0
Savings vs Standard
£0
Effective Rate
0.0%
Eligibility
Eligible
FTB Stamp Duty
£0
Standard Stamp Duty
£0
FTB Savings
£0
Effective Rate
0.0%
How the first-time buyer calculator works
Enter the full purchase price of the property you are looking to buy. Use the slider or type the amount directly into the input field. The calculator accepts values from £0 up to £2,000,000.
Next, select the country where the property is located. England, Scotland and Wales each have different stamp duty systems with separate thresholds and rates. England uses Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), and Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
Finally, confirm whether you have ever owned property before. If you select "No", the calculator applies first-time buyer relief rates. If you select "Yes", standard rates are used instead. The result card instantly shows your stamp duty bill, how much you save compared with a standard buyer, your effective tax rate and whether you qualify for FTB relief.
The band breakdown section shows exactly how the tax is split across each threshold, so you can see precisely where every pound of your stamp duty comes from.
What you need to know about first-time buyer relief
First-time buyer stamp duty relief was introduced to help people get onto the property ladder by reducing the upfront tax cost of buying a home. The relief is available across England, Scotland and Wales, although each country has its own rules.
England (SDLT)
- First-time buyers pay 0% on the first £300,000 and 5% from £300,001 to £500,000
- If the property price exceeds £500,000, FTB relief is not available and standard rates apply to the entire purchase
- Standard rates: 0% to £125,000, 2% to £250,000, 5% to £925,000, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above
Scotland (LBTT)
- First-time buyers benefit from a nil-rate band of £175,000 (vs £145,000 for standard buyers)
- Rates above: 2% to £250,000, 5% to £325,000, 10% to £750,000, 12% above £750,000
- There is no price cap — the higher nil-rate threshold applies at any purchase price
Wales (LTT)
- Wales does not offer separate first-time buyer relief
- All buyers pay the same rates: 0% to £225,000, 6% to £400,000, 7.5% to £750,000, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above
All purchasers on the transaction must be first-time buyers to qualify for relief. If buying jointly and one person has owned property before, the relief cannot be claimed. Your solicitor or conveyancer will handle the claim when submitting the tax return after completion.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies as a first-time buyer for stamp duty relief?
You qualify as a first-time buyer if you have never owned a freehold or leasehold interest in a residential property anywhere in the world. This applies to both the property you are buying and any property you have previously owned, including inherited property. All purchasers named on the transaction must be first-time buyers.
What happens if the property costs more than £500,000?
In England, if the property price exceeds £500,000, first-time buyer relief does not apply at all. You will pay stamp duty at the standard rates on the entire purchase price. There is no tapering — the relief is simply unavailable above the £500,000 threshold.
Can joint purchasers claim first-time buyer relief?
Yes, but only if every person named on the purchase is a first-time buyer. If one purchaser has previously owned property and the other has not, the relief cannot be claimed. The transaction will be taxed at standard rates for the whole purchase price.
How is stamp duty different for first-time buyers in Scotland?
Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) instead of SDLT. First-time buyers in Scotland benefit from a higher nil-rate threshold of £175,000 compared with £145,000 for standard buyers. The remaining LBTT bands and rates are the same for both buyer types. Unlike England, there is no price cap for the relief.
Do first-time buyers get relief on shared ownership properties?
Yes. First-time buyers purchasing through a shared ownership scheme can claim relief. You can either pay stamp duty on the full market value of the property at completion, or elect to pay on the share you are purchasing. If you pay on the market value, FTB relief applies if the total is £500,000 or less.
How do I claim first-time buyer stamp duty relief?
Your solicitor or conveyancer claims the relief on your behalf when they submit the SDLT return to HMRC after completion. You do not need to apply separately. Make sure you tell your solicitor that you are a first-time buyer before the transaction completes so they can apply the correct rates.