Guides

Plain-English guides to stamp duty and UK pay, checked against gov.uk and linked to our free calculators.

Stamp duty for first-time buyers in 2026How first-time buyer stamp duty relief works in 2026: 0% up to £300,000 and 5% to £500,000 in England & NI, LBTT relief in Scotland, and why Wales has none.
Stamp duty on a second home or buy-to-letSecond home and buy-to-let stamp duty in 2026: the 5% surcharge in England & NI, Scotland's 8% ADS, Welsh higher rates and the 3-year refund rule.
Do you pay stamp duty on a shared ownership home?Stamp duty on shared ownership homes in England & NI: paying in stages vs a market value election, staircasing over 80%, rent and first-time buyer relief explained.
SDLT vs LBTT vs LTT: stamp duty across the UKHow stamp duty differs across the UK in 2026: SDLT in England & NI, LBTT in Scotland and LTT in Wales, with bands, reliefs and side-by-side examples.
When and how do you pay stamp duty?When and how stamp duty is paid in 2026: the 14-day SDLT deadline, 30 days for LBTT and LTT, who files the return and what happens if it's late.
Stamp duty for non-UK residents: the 2% surchargeThe 2% stamp duty surcharge for non-UK resident buyers in England & Northern Ireland: who pays it, how residence is tested, and how to claim it back.
How is redundancy pay taxed?How redundancy pay is taxed in 2026/27: the first £30,000 is tax-free, but notice pay, holiday pay and wages are taxed as normal. With examples and gov.uk sources.
£40,000 salary: what you take home in 2026/27On £40,000 in 2026/27 you take home £2,693.30 a month after tax and NI. See the breakdown, Scotland, pension and student loan figures.
The 60% tax trap between £100,000 and £125,140Why income between £100,000 and £125,140 is effectively taxed at 60% in the UK, how much you keep from a pay rise, and how pension contributions can help.
Student loan repayments explained (2026/27)How much you repay on your student loan in 2026/27: thresholds for Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and postgraduate loans, how it's taken from pay, and worked examples.
Salary sacrifice vs net pay pension: what's the difference?Salary sacrifice vs net pay arrangement pensions explained: both give income tax relief, but salary sacrifice also saves National Insurance. Worked 2026/27 example.