About
SDLT Refunds is a division of Cornerstone Tax, the UK’s leading Stamp Duty experts. Our advisers have specialised exclusively in SDLT advice for over 16 years, and in that time have helped thousands of clients.
We are recognised as experts in the field of Stamp Duty Land Tax and our opinions are regularly sought by property professionals. We also often appear in both the specialist and regular press speaking about Stamp Duty and related topics.
Once you contact us, our expert advisers will work with you to establish whether a claim exists on a no-fee, no-obligation basis.
If we find there is a claim and you decide to proceed, we will make that claim on your behalf quickly and easily.
Contact UsCall or email us now to see if HMRC could owe YOU money.
How are you involved with property?
Please select which type of property purchaser you are
Developer
I (or my company) has purchased land or property for development, to be used for residential or commercial use.
Learn MoreIt’s as easy as 1 2 3…
We’ve made it quick and easy to see if you are eligible for a Stamp Duty Land Tax refund from HMRC, if you have purchased U.K property of any kind.
Submit your personal and property details to us.
We’ll assess your case within 48 hours, and contact you if we require more information about your purchase.
We’ll claim on your behalf!
Why might I have overpaid on Stamp Duty in the first place?
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax which is not widely understood. When paying Stamp Duty, many people refer to their solicitors to find out how much Stamp Duty they owe.
The solicitor will in turn refer to HMRC’s very own Stamp Duty Calculator to find the amount owed, which is very often incorrect as it does not take into account factors such as residential property in commercial use.
There are over 50 reliefs and exemptions of Stamp Duty, many of which are often missed by solicitors and conveyancers.
HMRC’s Stamp Duty Calculator is – by their own admission – merely a ‘guide’ on how much you should have to pay.
Tax Changes
Legislation governing SDLT has been subject to multiple alterations. These changes are made when governments wish to make a change of policy or to somehow affect the movement of the property market, ‘surcharge’ on additional residential properties, designed to reduce the number of BTL purchasers and free up smaller properties for first-time buyers.
As a result, Stamp Duty is constantly changing, and solicitors and conveyancers are not tax experts.
HMRC Calculator
There are serious shortcomings in the HMRC SDLT calculator, which is not designed with anything beyond the very basic transaction in mind. It is a simple, functional tool, designed to give estimates based on very narrow criteria. Without the correct input, it is prone to give wrong answers, and with the complexity of Stamp Duty and the lack of understanding of its various facets, that input is often lacking.
HMRC themselves have admitted to a national newspaper that the calculator is there to serve as ‘merely a guide’.
Solicitors unsupported
Conveyancing solicitors are seldom tax specialists, yet they are expected to deal with what is a self-assessment tax return for every client in the form of their SDLT Return. This involves them calculating the correct amount of tax on the client’s behalf, and completing a complex, lengthy return for the client to sign.
With a faulty calculator, very little in the way of proactive education by HMRC on changes made to the legislation and telephone and written support which can often take a month or longer to provide answers.
In the news
Feature titles such as Forbes and Financial Times to discuss the issue of Stamp Duty overpayment. SDLT Refunds is a division of Cornerstone Tax.
Common HMRC mistake saw one business owner scoop £18.5k refund
The tax specialists at Cornerstone claim Peter isn’t the only person who has paid stamp duty when they didn’t need to and on average overpayments to HMRC currently sit at £27,000 One homeowner has shared how they managed to receive...
Read more
Landlords Experience Significant Losses When Exiting The Property Market
Recent data indicates that UK landlords are now facing an average loss of £10,000 when disposing of their properties. This downturn in fortunes comes in the wake of rising interest rates and the forthcoming Renters Reform Bill, factors that have...
Read more
Can Stamp Duty be reclaimed after registration?
You may have read about how often errors can be made with Stamp Duty payments, but the question remains – Can you obtain a refund after registration has taken place, or is it a case of once it’s done it’s...
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2023 interest rates rise
The Bank of England has raised interest rates to their highest levels in almost 15 years. Seven members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase the base interest rate to 4.5 per cent from 4.25...
Read more
How to solve the UK's housing crisis
The UK housing market is currently facing an overwhelming supply and demand imbalance. The National Housing Federation estimates that 340,000 new homes must be built annually to meet the current demand as the past pledges of 300,000 new homes being...
Read more
The worst time to buy property in 150 years –...
Q1 of the property market has been one stained with instability. The knock-on effect of the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates to 3.5% and again to 4% to keep up with inflation, has resulted in dramatic increases...
Read moreWe’ve made it quick and easy to see if you are eligible for a stamp duty refund from HMRC.
Contact UsWhat our clients say
We have gained our clients over Millions over the course of our business in overpaid Stamp Duty.
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Begin your Stamp Duty refund enquiry
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