England & Wales · Last reviewed: September 2026 · My Conveyancing Specialist
If you’re buying a home in Wales, you pay Land Transaction Tax (LTT) — Wales’s own version of Stamp Duty — to the Welsh Revenue Authority. It has its own thresholds and rates, and thanks to a £225,000 starting threshold, most buyers in Wales pay nothing at all. Here are the current rates, the higher rates for additional properties, and how it’s paid.
What is Land Transaction Tax?
Land Transaction Tax replaced Stamp Duty Land Tax in Wales on 1 April 2018 and is collected by the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). Like Stamp Duty, it’s charged in bands — you pay each rate only on the portion of the price that falls within that band, not on the whole price. Your conveyancer normally files the LTT return and pays the tax on your behalf after completion.
Current LTT rates in Wales (main residential)
These rates apply if you’re buying your only or main home and won’t own another property at the end of the transaction:
| Portion of the purchase price | LTT rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £225,000 | 0% |
| £225,001 to £400,000 | 6% |
| £400,001 to £750,000 | 7.5% |
| £750,001 to £1.5 million | 10% |
| Above £1.5 million | 12% |
Worked example — a home bought for £300,000: 0% on the first £225,000, then 6% on the remaining £75,000 = £4,500.
Because the nil-rate threshold of £225,000 is the highest of its kind in the UK — and close to the average Welsh house price — the majority of buyers in Wales pay no LTT at all.
Is there first-time buyer relief in Wales?
No. Unlike England, Wales does not have a separate first-time buyer rate. The Welsh Government’s position is that the high £225,000 nil-rate threshold already covers most first-time purchases, so a first-time buyer paying up to £225,000 pays nothing regardless.
LTT on second homes and buy-to-lets
If you’re buying an additional residential property — a second home or a buy-to-let — and you’ll own more than one property at the end of the day, higher rates apply. Wales does this differently from England: rather than adding a flat surcharge to the standard rates, it uses a separate banded structure, changed on 11 December 2024. The higher rates apply to the whole price (from the first pound) where the additional property costs £40,000 or more:
| Portion of the purchase price | Higher LTT rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £180,000 | 5% |
| £180,001 to £250,000 | 8.5% |
| £250,001 to £400,000 | 10% |
| £400,001 to £750,000 | 12.5% |
| £750,001 to £1.5 million | 15% |
| Above £1.5 million | 17% |
If you’re buying a new main home before selling your old one, you’ll pay the higher rates up front but can reclaim the difference if you sell your previous main residence within 36 months.
How and when LTT is paid
An LTT return must be filed and the tax paid to the Welsh Revenue Authority within 30 days of completion. In practice your conveyancing solicitor handles this for you through the WRA’s online system, then shows the amount on your completion statement. A return is still needed in many cases even where no tax is due; your conveyancer will confirm. Late filing can lead to automatic penalties and interest.
A note for cross-border and non-resident buyers
LTT applies to property in Wales; property in England is subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax instead, and where a single transaction straddles the border the price is apportioned. Wales does not charge an extra surcharge for non-UK residents — overseas buyers pay the same LTT rates as everyone else, though the higher rates for additional properties may still apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Stamp Duty in Wales? No. You pay Land Transaction Tax to the Welsh Revenue Authority instead. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies only in England and Northern Ireland.
How much is Land Transaction Tax in Wales? Nothing on the first £225,000, then 6% to £400,000, 7.5% to £750,000, 10% to £1.5 million and 12% above that — each rate applying only to the portion of the price in that band.
Do first-time buyers pay LTT in Wales? There’s no special first-time buyer rate, but because nothing is due below £225,000, most first-time buyers in Wales pay no LTT.
What are the higher rates for a second home in Wales? Since 11 December 2024 the higher rates run from 5% up to £180,000, then 8.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15% and 17%, applied to the whole price of an additional property costing £40,000 or more.
When is LTT paid? Within 30 days of completion. Your conveyancer normally files the return and pays it for you.
This guide is general information as at September 2026 and is not tax or legal advice. LTT rates and reliefs are set by the Welsh Government and can change, and the right figure depends on your circumstances — always confirm the current position with your conveyancer or the Welsh Revenue Authority’s LTT calculator.
Buying in Wales and want the tax handled properly as part of your move? See our Cardiff conveyancing solicitors or get a fixed-fee quote today →