Almost 37,000 first-time buyers paid stamp duty in 2024/25 despite claiming first-time buyer relief, according to HMRC data. In total, 36,999 transactions that qualified for relief still resulted in a tax charge — roughly one in four cases. The average stamp duty bill was £4,073.
Nearly 25,000 buyers paid £2,000 or more, over 13,500 paid at least £5,000, and 1,285 paid the maximum £10,000.
Until April 2025, first-time buyers paid no stamp duty on properties up to £425,000 and benefited from reduced rates up to £625,000. From 1 April 2025, the nil-rate threshold dropped to £300,000 and relief was removed entirely for homes above £500,000. These changes are expected to increase tax costs, particularly in London and the South East.
Stamp duty receipts reached £12.3bn between January and October 2025 — up 21% year-on-year.
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