A level playing field for all the home nations?

This is no longer the case in the world of tax and the way that the surcharge on stamp duty land tax (SDLT – England, Wales or Northern Ireland) or the land and buildings transaction tax (LBIT – Scotland) is applied is quite different.

For example, both regimes impose an up front charge and rebate system but in Scotland the old main residence has to be disposed of within 18 months to get the surcharge back.

The SDLT surcharge will not apply to a non-residential transactions even if they include an element of residential property while in Scotland it is payable using a just and reasonable apportionment of the purchase price.

On the other hand in Scotland if six or more properties are purchased at once, there is a specific relief and also a more generous apportioned relief for the replacement of a main residence within a multiple dwelling transaction.