Do I have to pay stamp duty?
I'm currently a UK non-resident but I am considering buying a house in the UK. Do I have to pay stamp duty to the HMRC?
As with most tax questions, it will depend on your personal circumstances as to whether you are required to pay stamp duty when buying a house in the UK.
Unlike with other taxes, your tax residence status in the UK makes little to no difference whether you will have to pay stamp duty or not.
The conditions around how much stamp duty you will be required to pay depend on whether you own one or more properties in the UK or anywhere in the world.
For example, if you live abroad but don't own a UK property and currently rent, you will not be liable to pay the higher rate of stamp duty when buying a property.
However, if you own a property anywhere in the world, whether you live in it or not, and want to buy another UK property, you will be required top pay the higher rate of stamp duty.
Stamp Duty Calculator
We have created a stamp duty calculator for people in the UK and abroad who would like to know how much stamp duty they will have to pay in the UK when buying a property.
