First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty Checklist
Tick-box action plan for claiming first-time buyer relief. Covers eligibility, documents to gather, action steps before you offer, and the price sweet spots that maximise your saving.
Download PDF (164 KB)FTB Checklist
Print-ready PDF
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Why you need a checklist
First-time buyer relief is valuable but surprisingly easy to lose. All co-buyers must be first-time buyers. The property must be your main residence. The price must be under £500,000 (England/NI) or the relief is withdrawn completely. If your solicitor forgets to tick the FTB box on the return, you could pay thousands more than you should. This checklist walks you through every step to make sure the relief actually lands in your conveyancer's file.
Preview: eligibility check
The PDF opens with a simple eligibility screener. If any box is unchecked, you cannot claim FTB relief and should plan for standard rates instead.
Watch out: the £500,000 cliff edge
If you pay even £1 over £500,000 in England or Northern Ireland, you lose first-time buyer relief entirely and revert to standard rates on the whole price. Buying at £500,000 costs £10,000; buying at £501,000 costs £15,050. The checklist includes a sweet-spot table to help you avoid this trap.
First-time buyer thresholds by nation
From 1 April 2025, first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland pay no stamp duty up to £300,000, then 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. No relief is available at all if the purchase price exceeds £500,000. In Scotland, first-time buyer relief raises the LBTT nil-rate threshold from £145,000 to £175,000, and there is no upper price limit on the claim. Wales does not offer a separate first-time buyer relief, so the standard LTT nil-rate band of £225,000 applies to everyone.
| Nation | Nil-rate threshold | Maximum saving | Cliff edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| England / NI (from 1 April 2025) | £300,000 | £5,000 | £500,000 |
| Scotland LBTT | £175,000 | £600 | No cliff edge |
| Wales LTT | £225,000 (standard) | No separate FTB relief | n/a |
Buying soon? Get your stamp duty checked before you commit
A specialist can confirm the right figure and flag any reliefs you qualify for.
Documents to gather (from the PDF)
Price sweet spots table
| Price | FTB SDLT | Standard SDLT | FTB 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 |
| £501,000 | £15,050 | £15,050 | £0, relief lost |
Download the full checklist
Print it, tick through it, take it to your conveyancer.
Download PDFReviewed by
Julie White
ACASDLT Expert since 1999Stamp Duty Land Tax Specialist
ACA and Tax Adviser with a career spanning nearly four decades, specialising in SDLT planning and advisory work since 1999.