Stamp Duty - can I pay HMRC directly

nirmalkishore

Hello
first time on this forum, apologies if this the wrong section for my question.
I am a first-time buyer, just exchanged contracts. Completion is due to happen in about 3 weeks, and I am now preparing myself for the stamp duty. My solicitors have asked me to transfer the money to their account along with the SDLT form, and they would forward that on to HMRC. All sounds fine and I have no issue with doing that, buttt!! I'd like to be able to pay the Stamp Duty using my credit card but the solicitors insist the payment has to happen via them. I spoke to HMRC and they have advised that I can pay it directly, that I can pay using a credit card, and that I can split my payment into 2 types i.e. part by card, part by bank transfer. In the words of the HMRC customer service guy - 'it doesn't really matter how you pay as long as you use the same reference number'.

My solicitor however continues to insist that they have to do this - as they are acting on behalf of me - I am confused -- why would the solicitors want to do this when the HMRC allow for the buyer to pay them directly? Oh yeah my solicitor was also being a bit cheeky by suggesting that their money laundering checks show that I have enough funds to pay the stamp duty.. I though the purpose of the money-laundering checks was to check if all my funds are from genuine traceable sources, and not to check my affordability?

my other question I guess to those experienced folks out there is whether there is something 'by law' that would stop me from paying directly?

please advise

chanz4

No your sol wants his fee really

Yorkie1

The sol is almost certainly on a fixed fee and so chanz4's comment would not apply.

The lender may have requirements of the sol in this regard.

kingstreet

If there's a mortgage, the CML Handbook insists cleared funds, to include stamp duty, are in the solicitor's hands before completion.

The option of paying stamp duty upto thirty days after completion applies only to those paying cash.

StuC75

Are you paying the solicitor to complete the SDLT return form for you? or are you doing that yourself? If the solicitor has completed it then they are likely to want to pay that to ensure that all loose ends are tied up in one go..