Stamp Duty in 2026: What Surrey Buyers Need to Know

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is one of the biggest upfront costs of buying a property in England, and in a higher-value market like Windlesham, Ascot and Sunningdale, it's worth understanding properly before you start house-hunting — it can meaningfully affect what you can actually afford to offer.

SDLT is charged in bands: you pay a percentage on the portion of the purchase price that falls within each band, not a flat rate on the whole amount. Rates step up as the price increases, which means a property just over a band threshold costs proportionally more in tax than one just under it — worth bearing in mind when you're deciding how to structure an offer near a round number.

First-time buyers get relief on properties up to a certain value, which can make a meaningful difference — always worth checking whether you qualify before assuming the standard rates apply.

If you already own a property and are buying an additional one — a second home, a buy-to-let, or you haven't yet sold your current home — an additional surcharge applies on top of the standard rates. This catches people out more often than any other part of SDLT, particularly buyers who are purchasing before their existing sale has completed.

Our free Stamp Duty calculator gives you an instant, accurate figure based on current rates — genuinely useful for budgeting before you start viewing, since SDLT is due within 14 days of completion and needs to be planned for alongside your deposit and legal costs, not treated as an afterthought.

Rates and thresholds do change, so always confirm the current position with your solicitor before exchange — but the calculator is a solid, reliable starting point for working out what you'll actually need.