SDLT – Bolt from the Blue

• Posted onApril 13, 2016

In an unexpected move, as part of the 2016 Budget, the Chancellor announced changes to SDLT rates for commercial property transactions, which he described as “a big tax cut for small firms. All in a Budget that backs small business.”

From midnight on 16 March 2016, rather than paying the same rate on the whole value of the property, the new rates will only apply to the portion of the price that falls into a particular price bracket.

Previously paying just £1 more on a property price could result in a tax bill thousands of pounds higher because the price paid fell into a higher bracket.

Osborne said the new system would raise an extra £500m a year and only 9% of transactions would end up paying more tax than before.

How it all adds up on paper:

Old Rates – Freehold (based on freehold purchase price or leasehold premium) :-

0% – Up to £150,000 – freehold or leasehold premium with annual rent under £1,000

1% – Up to £150,000 – leasehold premium with annual rent of £1,000 or more

1% – £150,001 to £250,000

3% – £250,001 to £500,000

4% – Over £500,000

New Rates – Freehold:-

0% – Up to £150,000 – freehold or leasehold premium

2% – the portion from £150,001 to £250,000

5% – the portion above £250,000

For example, before, if you bought an industrial unit or retail premises in Gloucester worth £270,000, you would previously have paid over £8,000 in SDLT. Now you will pay just £3,000.

Old Rates – Leasehold (based on the value of the rent over the lifetime of the lease (the Net Present Value):-

0% – Up to £150,000

1% – the portion over £150,000

New Rates – Leasehold:-

0% – Up to £150,000

1% – the portion from £150,001 to £5,000,000

2% – the portion above £5,000,000

The changes here do not result in a difference unless the level of rent and thus the NPV is very high.

For legal advice on SDLT or any other commercial property matter please contact us or call 01452 411601.