UK stamp duty rates by year: how the bands changed (2014–2025)
UK stamp duty (Stamp Duty Land Tax, or SDLT) has been rewritten repeatedly over the last decade — a structural overhaul in 2014, new surcharges, first-time buyer relief, a pandemic "holiday", and temporary thresholds that have since expired. This guide sets out what the rates were, year by year, and why they changed. If you just want today's numbers, see our guide on how UK stamp duty works or jump straight to the stamp duty calculator.
The big change: slab rates → sliced rates (December 2014)
Until 4 December 2014, SDLT used a "slab" system: a single percentage applied to the entire purchase price, based on which band the total fell into. That created brutal cliff edges — buying at £250,001 rather than £250,000 could add thousands, because the whole price jumped to the next rate.
From December 2014 the tax switched to the sliced (marginal) system still used today, where each rate applies only to the portion of the price within its band — exactly like income tax. This is the single most important thing to understand when comparing old and new rates: pre-2014 percentages look lower, but they hit the whole price.
Timeline of changes since 2014
- 4 December 2014 — Slab rates replaced by the sliced system: 0% to £125,000, 2% to £250,000, 5% to £925,000, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above.
- 1 April 2016 — A 3% surcharge on additional properties (second homes and buy-to-lets) was introduced, on top of every band.
- 22 November 2017 — First-time buyer relief introduced: 0% to £300,000 and 5% on £300,001–£500,000, with no relief above £500,000.
- 8 July 2020 — The stamp duty holiday began: the nil-rate band was temporarily raised to £500,000 during the pandemic.
- 1 July 2021 — The holiday started to taper: nil-rate band cut to £250,000.
- 1 October 2021 — Nil-rate band returned to the normal £125,000.
- 23 September 2022 — The nil-rate band was doubled to £250,000, and the first-time buyer threshold raised to £425,000 (with relief available on properties up to £625,000). These were later confirmed as temporary.
- 31 October 2024 — The additional-property surcharge rose from 3% to 5%.
- 1 April 2025 — The temporary thresholds ended: nil-rate band back to £125,000 and first-time buyer relief back to £300,000 / £500,000.
What the rates were in a given year
A quick reference for the standard (main-home) bands people most often search for. The additional-property surcharge and first-time buyer relief apply on top, per the timeline above.
2018 & 2019: sliced rates (0% to £125k, 2% to £250k, 5% to £925k, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above), plus the 3% additional-property surcharge and first-time buyer relief to £300k.
Late 2020 – June 2021: stamp duty holiday — 0% up to £500,000 for standard purchases; the 3% surcharge still applied to additional properties.
July – September 2021: nil-rate band £250,000 during the taper.
Late 2022 – March 2025: nil-rate band £250,000; first-time buyer threshold £425,000 (relief up to £625,000). Surcharge 3%, then 5% from 31 October 2024.
From April 2025 (2025/26): nil-rate band £125,000; first-time buyer relief 0% to £300,000; additional-property surcharge 5%.
Work out your bill
Stamp Duty Calculator
Our calculator uses the current 2025/26 rates. Enter your price and buyer type for a band-by-band breakdown of exactly what you'll pay today.
Open the calculator →Why the rates keep changing
Stamp duty is a favourite lever for governments because it's quick to adjust and directly affects the housing market. Surcharges (2016, 2024) are used to cool demand from landlords and second-home buyers; reliefs and holidays (2017, 2020) are used to help first-time buyers or stimulate activity; and temporary thresholds are often introduced to be quietly withdrawn later, as happened in April 2025. The practical takeaway for buyers is simple: always check the rate for your completion date, not the date you agreed the purchase.
Related guides
- How UK stamp duty works — the current rates, bands and rules in full.
- Stamp duty for first-time buyers — the £300,000 relief and the £500,000 cliff edge.
- Stamp duty on second homes and buy-to-let — the 5% additional-property surcharge.
Frequently asked questions
What were the UK stamp duty rates in 2018?
In 2018 the sliced-rate system introduced in December 2014 was in force: 0% up to £125,000, 2% from £125,001 to £250,000, 5% from £250,001 to £925,000, 10% from £925,001 to £1.5 million and 12% above that. The 3% additional-property surcharge (from April 2016) and first-time buyer relief (from November 2017, 0% to £300,000) also applied. These are historical rates and don't apply to purchases completing today.
When did stamp duty change from slab rates to bands?
On 4 December 2014. Before then, stamp duty used a "slab" system where a single rate applied to the whole price, causing large jumps at each threshold. Since December 2014 it has worked in slices, like income tax, so each rate applies only to the portion of the price within its band.
What was the stamp duty holiday in 2020 and 2021?
From 8 July 2020 the nil-rate band was temporarily raised to £500,000 to support the housing market during the pandemic. From 1 July 2021 it tapered to £250,000, and from 1 October 2021 it returned to the normal £125,000.
Do old stamp duty rates still apply to my purchase?
No. Stamp duty is charged at the rates in force on the date your purchase completes, so only the current 2025/26 rates apply to a purchase completing now. Historical rates are useful for context and old transactions, but shouldn't be used to estimate a current bill.