SDLTM23010 - Reliefs: Group, reconstruction or acquisition relief

Group relief: General overview FA03/SCH7/PART1

This schedule provides for relief from stamp duty land tax where land and buildings are transferred within a group of companies (or bodies corporate), where certain conditions are met. See SDLTM23020+.

This relief allows groups to move property for commercial reasons without having to consider stamp duty land tax implications.

If the purchaser and vendor of a chargeable interest are companies and, at the effective date of the land transaction, they are both members of the same group, relief from stamp duty land tax may be claimed by the purchaser.

This is so that stamp duty land tax is not paid on property transfers within groups. The purchasing company may choose to pay the tax by not claiming the relief.

There are certain restrictions on availability. See SDLTM23030+

Where group relief from stamp duty land tax has been claimed on a land transaction (the relevant transaction) any subsequent withdrawal of the relief must be reported by the purchaser on a new land transaction return. See SDLTM50400.

A new land transaction return should also be submitted if the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor

• before the end of a period of three years beginning with the effective date of the relevant land transaction
• in pursuance of, or in connection with, arrangements made before the end of a period of three years beginning with the effective date of the relevant land transaction