29 Aug 2023

Land Transaction Tax: stamp duty in Wales

Find out the current Land Transaction Tax (LTT) rates and use our LTT calculator to work out how much you'll need to pay when buying a property in Wales.

Danielle Richardson

In this article

LTT (Welsh stamp duty) calculator

Use our calculator to find out how much LTT you'll need to pay when you buy a property in Wales.

What is Land Transaction Tax (LTT)?

Land Transaction Tax (LTT) is the tax paid on property transactions in Wales.

It's the Welsh equivalent of the stamp duty that people pay in England and Northern Ireland, or Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in Scotland.

LTT is one of the tax liabilities that has been devolved from the Westminster government, and it replaced stamp duty land tax in Wales in 2018.

LTT rates for home movers

Under the LTT system, if you're buying a property you intend to live in as your main residence, tax will only be payable if the property costs more than £225,000. The threshold was previously £180,000, before being increased on 10 October 2022.

However, first time buyers in Wales don't get any discounts or exemptions, unlike those buying their first home in the rest of the UK.

Rates from 10 October 2022


£0-£225,000	0%
£225,001-£400,000	6%
£400,001-£750,000	7.5%
£750,001-£1.5m	10%
£1.5m+	12%

Buy-to-let LTT rates (also applies to second/holiday homes)

If you buy a second home or buy-to-let property in Wales, you'll need to pay an LTT surcharge of 4% on the normal residential rates.

The 4% surcharge was introduced on 22 December 2020. Before this date, a 3% surcharge applied.

Additional LTT paid at the higher rates can be refunded if you sell your main residence and the property you paid higher rates on becomes your main residence within 36 months of completion.

First-time buyers purchasing a buy-to-let property will only need to pay the standard home-buyer rates.


£0-£180,000	4%
£180,001-£250,000	7.5%
£250,001-£400,000	9%
£400,001-£750,000	11.5%
£750,001-£1.5m	14%
£1.5m+	16%

LTT for first-time buyers

First-time buyers are currently charged the same rate of LTT as home movers.

This is in contrast to the stamp duty system in England, where people buying a first home costing £300,000 or less are exempt, and those buying a property between £301,000 and £500,000 are charged a reduced rate.

However, first-time buyers purchasing buy-to-let properties will be charged the standard home-buyer rates of LTT, escaping the buy-to-let surcharge.

How to pay LTT

LTT is collected by the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA).

Your solicitor will usually deal with the LTT return as part of the property transaction, but it's your responsibility to make sure it's submitted on time.

The LTT return must have been sent to WRA, and the tax paid, within 30 days after completion .

If your solicitor doesn't do this for you, you can do it yourself using a paper return.