Does a first time buyer pay the SDLT return fee?

sugarbabe84

Can anyone please advise if first time buyers are excempt from the SDLT return fee of £90

davidmcn

The £90 isn't a charge by HMRC, it'll be your solicitor's fee for the time spent drafting and submitting the return. A return still needs to be submitted even if you're not actually liable to pay any SDLT.

sugarbabe84

davidmcn wrote: »

The £90 isn't a charge by HMRC, it'll be your solicitor's fee for the time spent drafting and submitting the return. A return still needs to be submitted even if you're not actually liable to pay any SDLT.

Thank you. Is it difficult to complete?

Just been reading about people who choose to complete it themselves

davidmcn

sugarbabe84 wrote: »

Thank you. Is it difficult to complete?

Just been reading about people who choose to complete it themselves

Not that difficult (which is why your solicitor is only charging £75 + VAT to do it) but assuming you are buying with a mortgage, your solicitor also has a duty to your lender to ensure a valid SDLT return is submitted - so in practice it needs to be them in charge of submitting the return at completion.