stamp duty

[geordieminx]

bit of a strange one..

If two parties were to straight swap their houses then would they be liable to pay stamp duty? House prices both £240k

hmm - tricky one

Just found this link which looks encouraging...

Do you mean just live in each others houses or formally change the name on the deeds. If the latter then yes I think stamp duty must be paid. The government will weedle it out of you somehow.

This link suggests you do have to, since a recent change in the law : news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4259990.stm

Thanks for that.

Thats a bit of a bummer. It would be a straight swap, with potentially no estate agents involved, just thought that it might be do-able, should have known the tax man would still want his cut

What I can't understand, wht with the slowdown in the housing market, is why they haven't changed the increments on the stamp duty.

It's not as if they're getting any money from this particular tax at the moment.

Because they are robbing b@stards