Stamp Duty Advice for Property Traders: Why Pre-Completion Planning Saves You Money

If you’re a property trader, you know margins are tight and every pound matters. But here’s something many traders overlook: you could be overpaying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on your purchases, simply because you didn’t get advice before completion.

At SCA Tax, we specialise in helping traders cut down their SDLT costs. By reviewing your deal before you complete, we can often apply reliefs that most conveyancers won’t even mention - saving you money upfront and protecting your profit.

Why Property Traders Need Pre-Completion SDLT Advice

Once a deal has gone through, your options for reducing SDLT are more limited. Refunds can still be claimed, but the biggest wins happen when planning takes place before exchange.

Getting pre-completion advice means:

• Healthier cash flow: no waiting months for refunds.
• Stronger margins: less tax paid upfront, more profit left in the deal.
• Fewer headaches: clarity on your SDLT position before you commit.

In the fast-paced world of trading, knowing your SDLT costs upfront can be the difference between a deal stacking up or falling flat.

Common SDLT Reliefs for Property Traders

We won’t reveal all our strategies here, but two reliefs that often apply to traders include:

1. Probate Property Purchases

Buying from an estate? Probate properties can attract SDLT reliefs in certain circumstances, and with the right advice, you could pay less than expected.

2. Save the Chain Reliefs

Traders who step in to “rescue” a broken property chain sometimes qualify for SDLT reliefs that are almost always missed by standard conveyancers. This can be a game-changer for traders who rely on fast, profitable deals.

These are just two examples - there are many other ways property traders can legally reduce SDLT with the right planning.

How SCA Tax Helps Property Traders

We work with traders and developers across the UK who want to keep SDLT costs under control. Here’s what you can expect from us:

• Pre-completion reviews - quick checks before you commit to a purchase.
• Clear advice - no jargon, just practical steps that apply to your deal.
• Ongoing support - ensuring every future purchase is structured correctly for SDLT.

Don’t Let SDLT Eat Into Your Profit

Stamp Duty is one of the biggest costs property traders face. Get it wrong, and it takes a big chunk out of your margin. Get it right, and you’ve got more cash to reinvest in your next opportunity.

If you’re about to exchange on a deal, don’t leave SDLT to chance. Speak to SCA Tax about pre-completion Stamp Duty advice for property traders - and let’s make sure you only pay what you need to.