How to Claim a Stamp Duty Refund

How to Claim a Stamp Duty Refund: A Step-by-Step Guide

Many property buyers in the UK unknowingly overpay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), often because they miss out on available reliefs or their property was incorrectly classified at the time of purchase.

The good news? You may be entitled to a Stamp Duty refund, and if so, SCA Tax can help you claim it.

In this guide, we’ll explain who might be eligible for a refund and why getting professional advice is essential to maximising your chances of success.

What Is a Stamp Duty Refund?

A Stamp Duty refund is a repayment from HMRC for SDLT that was overpaid during a property transaction. This can happen for several reasons, often due to missed reliefs, incorrect rate bands, or property features that were not properly accounted for.

Thousands of property buyers are owed money without realising it, especially if they:

Bought a mixed-use property
Purchased a property with an annexe or outbuildings
Were eligible for Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR)
Paid the 3% second home surcharge in error
Used standard conveyancing services with no SDLT expertise

Is There a Time Limit to Claim?

Yes. You generally have up to 4 years from the effective date of the property transaction to claim a Stamp Duty refund.

If you're unsure when this was, it’s typically the completion date, but we can help you determine eligibility and deadlines based on your specific case.

How the Stamp Duty Refund Process Works

While there is a formal process to claim a Stamp Duty refund from HMRC, it can be highly technical, and success depends on providing precise evidence, clear legal reasoning, and responding correctly to any HMRC enquiries.

At SCA Tax, we manage the entire process on your behalf:

We conduct a detailed review of your property transaction
We identify whether you’re eligible for a refund
If so, we prepare and submit a claim to HMRC for you
We liaise with HMRC directly, so you don’t have to

Why Use SCA Tax to Claim Your Stamp Duty Refund?

We're one of the UK's leading SDLT advisory firms, with a proven track record of successfully reclaiming overpaid Stamp Duty for individuals, investors, and businesses.

With SCA Tax, you benefit from:

A free initial assessment of your SDLT position
Accurate identification of missed reliefs or errors
A fully managed refund process, start to finish
No-win, no-fee for refund claims

Our specialist team ensures your claim is presented in the strongest possible way, giving you the best chance of success with no upfront cost.

“I Think I Overpaid – What Should I Do?"

If you’ve bought a property in the last four years and suspect you may have overpaid SDLT, don’t delay. Even if your solicitor didn’t flag it, you could still be eligible for a refund.

Let us check for you - at no cost and no obligation.