Stamp Duty On A Derelict Property
Stamp Duty Land Tax is payable by anyone who buys a property in England or Northern Ireland.
The amount of tax payable depends upon the price of the property and it applies to both freehold and leasehold homes, buildings and land. The rules for Scotland and Wales are different.
In Scotland the tax is titled Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and in Wales it is a Land Transaction Tax for any sale completed after 1 April 2018. Properties below the price threshold are not liable to pay Stamp Duty.
If you buy a derelict property for sale in the UK, the rules are more complex.
Why Do I Have To Pay Stamp Duty?
The Stamp Duty tax was originally introduced in 1694 to raise money to pay for war. Now it is a major source of revenue for the government.
The rates of Stamp Duty have changed over the years and in the past only wealthier buyers were the ones who had to pay it. However, as the price of properties in the UK have drastically risen in recent decades, now more people are finding that they fall into the category of people due to pay the tax.
When Is Stamp Duty Payable?
Stamp Duty is payable within 30 days of taking possession of a property. Your solicitor or conveyancer should ensure that you are aware of this obligation so that you do not miss the deadline. Failure to pay on time means you will incur a penalty to HMRC.
How much are stamp duty penalties?
Penalties vary depending upon how late the submission of documents.
If the payment is late by up to 12 months the fee is 10% of the duty and there is a cap of £300. The fees rise if the payment is delayed by longer than 12 months. There is an an appeal process and HMRC will consider reasonable excuses for lateness.
Non Residential Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is payable on non-residential property such as agricultural land for sale, forests and woodland for sale, shops and offices.
Mixed property such as one that has a flat and a shop or office is also liable to the tax.
If you buy a new leasehold non-residential property the tax is payable on both the purchase price and the annual rent. Stamp Duty on a derelict property also applies to non-residential purchases.
Rates for non-residential properties are complex and can the worked out using the SDLT calculator on the HMRC website. Your lawyer will be able to help with this.
Is There Any Way To Reduce Stamp Duty?
Although there are several specialist companies which claim they can reduce your Stamp Duty obligations, schemes like this are very high risk. One common tactic to reduce stamp duty is to transfer the property to the buyer in stages so that the buyer does not pay over the threshold price at any one time.
Another gambit is to inflate the price of fixtures and fitting and pay for these in a separate transaction. It is important to note that HMRC will carefully examine any property sale that falls just below the threshold and there are severe penalties for any attempted fraud that results in tax avoidance.
What Kind Of Property Is Exempt From Stamp Duty?
Any property that is sold at less than the Stamp Duty threshold value is exempt from Stamp Duty. Additionally, first time buyers either for a full purchase or purchase of a shared property can claim relief for properties bought after November 2017.
There is SDLT relief for multiple dwellings and for a property trader or developer who buys an existing house whilst building the seller a new home. Employers who buy a house from an employee because they are being moved elsewhere can also claim exemption if certain conditions are met.
The full list of stamp duty exemptions is shown on the gov.uk website.
Surcharges On Stamp Duty
In April 2016 the government introduced a surcharge on Stamp Duty for second homes or buy-to-let purchases for individuals and any properties bought by a company. The surcharge is 3% above the normal stamp duty rate applied to any property.
This surcharge also applies a derelict property for sale at auction. However, abandoned properties priced below £40,000 are exempt.
Developers buying up properties for renovation still have to pay the surcharge. In addition, if you are buying a property with someone else who already owns another home, the surcharge is payable.
Stamp Duty On A Derelict Property
Paying Stamp Duty on a derelict property has been the subject of much controversy. A property in need of renovation or development may be uninhabitable.
In this instance council tax can be waived but if the value of the property is over the price threshold then Stamp Duty surcharge is payable.
Conclusions – Stamp Duty On A Derelict Property
Stamp Duty is payable for any property purchase that falls above the threshold price. At the moment this threshold is £500,000 as long as the property is not a second home.
Rates for properties valued over this sum increase gradually up to the value of £1.5 million which is 12% and the highest rate payable.
If the derelict property or run-down house you want to buy is below £500,000 no Stamp Duty is due unless you already own another property. If the property is a second purchase and is valued at over £40,000 Stamp Duty and the surcharge may apply.
Although Stamp Duty for a derelict property has been challenged under the uninhabitable ruling, each case is individual so do not assume that Stamp Duty will not be payable when you purchase a derelict property.
A solicitor will be able to provide professional advice concerning Stamp Duty on a derelict property.
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