Welsh government plans to tweak relief for buyers
The draft Welsh Budget 2026/27 confirmed there would be no changes in the rates of land transaction tax. However, it did reveal some related changes are being planned. What’s the full story?
Land transaction tax (LTT) is the devolved equivalent of stamp duty land tax in Wales. It operates in a broadly similar way, but the Welsh Government has the power to set the rates and bands. The draft Budget document confirms that there is no intention to change the rates and bands for residential and non-residential property. However, there will be changes to other parts of LTT.
Firstly, a new “equalisation” rule will be introduced to the multiple dwellings relief rules. It appears this will provide for an adjustment where properties subject to a claim are chargeable at both the main and higher rates. More detail is expected next month. There will also be an increase in the minimum tax rule rate from 1% to 3%. This rule sets a floor so that the amount of tax collected cannot be less than the specified percentage. Finally, an additional refund rule will apply to higher rate transactions where a landlord leases the property to a local authority in Wales via the Leasing Scheme Wales. This will allow the buyer to obtain a refund of the additional charge in a similar way to someone replacing their main residence.
It is expected that, if approved, the changes will apply from April 2026.
Related Topics
-
HMRC checks directors’ loans are paid up
HMRC is writing to agents to check corporation tax returns for previous years are correct as it used to be possible to add a future date for an anticipated loan repayment. What’s the issue and what should you do if your advisor receives a letter?
-
Government quietly confirms change to key tax deduction
The headlines for individuals at last week's Budget were all about the income tax hikes. But the small print contained confirmation of another important change. What’s the full story?
-
MONTHLY FOCUS: UNDERSTANDING FURTHER CONCEPTS WITH IR35
A focus taking a deeper look at the practical aspects of IR35. This month, we look at dealing with HMRC, the tax and NI regulations, and the IR35 calculations.
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.