Use this free first-time buyer stamp duty calculator to check if you qualify for relief, how much stamp duty you will pay and how much you save on your first home in England or Northern Ireland.
First-time buyer relief · 2026First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator
For England and Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales have their own first-time buyer rules.
Our free first-time buyer stamp duty calculator shows how much Stamp Duty Land Tax you will pay on your first home in England or Northern Ireland. First, enter the price. Then confirm that you qualify, and the calculator shows your stamp duty with relief, the amount at standard rates and how much you save.
How the First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator Works
First-time buyers get special, lower stamp duty bands. In other words, you pay less tax than someone moving home, as long as you meet the rules and the price is £500,000 or less.
First, the part of the price up to £300,000 is taxed at 0%.
Then the part between £300,001 and £500,000 is taxed at 5%.
Finally, above £500,000 you lose the relief and pay standard rates.
The formula
Stamp duty = (Price − £300,000) × 5% · for prices up to £500,000
Who Counts as a First-Time Buyer?
According to GOV.UK, you can only claim the relief if you meet all of these conditions:
- Never owned a home: you have never owned a home anywhere in the world, including one you inherited.
- Main residence: in addition, you must plan to live in the property as your main home.
- Every buyer qualifies: similarly, if you buy with someone else, they must also be a first-time buyer.
- Price limit: finally, the price must be £500,000 or less.
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator Examples
For example, here are three first-time buyers. In each case, they live in the UK and will live in the home.
She is buying a £250,000 flat, which is below the 0% limit.
- First: first-time rate £0
- Then: standard rate £2,500
- Finally: saving £2,500
They are both first-time buyers, so their £400,000 house qualifies.
- First: £100,000 × 5% £5,000
- Then: standard rate £10,000
- Finally: saving £5,000
However, his first home costs £510,000, so he loses the relief.
- First: first-time rate Not eligible
- Then: standard rate £15,500
- Finally: saving £0
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Table
This table compares first-time buyer and standard stamp duty at common prices. As you can see, the saving is largest at £300,000 to £500,000.
| Price | First-time buyer | Standard rate | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £0 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| £250,000 | £0 | £2,500 | £2,500 |
| £300,000 | £0 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| £350,000 | £2,500 | £7,500 | £5,000 |
| £400,000 | £5,000 | £10,000 | £5,000 |
| £450,000 | £7,500 | £12,500 | £5,000 |
| £500,000 | £10,000 | £15,000 | £5,000 |
| £550,000 | £17,500 | £17,500 | £0 |
At £550,000, no relief applies, so both amounts are the same.
The £500,000 Cliff Edge
The relief does not taper off gradually. Instead, it stops completely once the price goes over £500,000. For example, a £500,000 home costs a first-time buyer £10,000, but a £510,000 home costs £15,500. Therefore, it can be worth negotiating the price down to £500,000 or less.
Buying With a Partner
If you buy jointly, every person on the purchase must be a first-time buyer. So, if your partner has ever owned a home, even abroad or years ago, neither of you can claim the relief. However, if only you buy the home and your partner is not on the deed, you may still qualify.
Shared Ownership and Stamp Duty
First-time buyers can usually claim relief on shared ownership homes too. In that case, you can often choose to pay stamp duty on the full market value at the start, which is usually cheaper overall. Even so, the rules are complex, so ask your conveyancer before you complete.
How to Use the First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator
- First, enter the price of the home you want to buy.
- Next, confirm that everyone buying has never owned a home.
- Then confirm that it will be your main home, and tick the non-resident box if needed.
- Finally, press Calculate Stamp Duty to see what you pay and how much you save.
More Home Buying Calculators
These tools also help you plan your first home. Alternatively, browse all our financial calculators.
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Calculator FAQs
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty?
Not on homes up to £300,000. Above that, first-time buyers pay 5% on the part from £300,001 to £500,000. However, if the price is over £500,000, the relief is lost and standard rates apply.
What happens if I pay over £500,000?
You lose first-time buyer relief completely, so you pay standard rates on the whole price. For example, a £510,000 home costs £15,500 in stamp duty, compared with £10,000 at £500,000.
Can I get the relief if I owned a home abroad?
No. To qualify, you must never have owned a home anywhere in the world. That includes homes overseas and homes you inherited, even if you later sold them.
What if my partner has owned a home before?
If you buy together, every buyer must be a first-time buyer. Therefore, if your partner has owned a home, you both pay standard rates, even if you never have.
Does the relief apply to shared ownership?
It can. First-time buyers buying a shared ownership home can usually claim relief, as long as the market value is £500,000 or less. However, the rules are complex, so ask your conveyancer.
When did the first-time buyer threshold change?
On 1 April 2025, the 0% threshold fell from £425,000 to £300,000, and the price limit fell from £625,000 to £500,000. As a result, many buyers now pay some stamp duty.
Disclaimer: This calculator gives an estimate for general information only and is not tax advice. Your conveyancer will confirm whether you qualify. Moreover, rates can change, so check GOV.UK before you buy.