SDLT Practitioners’ Newsletter Issue 13 - Electronic SDLT5 certificate

No more waiting for paper copies - the electronic SDLT 5 Certificate has arrived!

From 1 November 2006, the submission receipt that online customers receive when they successfully submit their returns to us will also become the electronic version of the SDLT5.

It can be printed off and sent to the appropriate land register, along with the necessary documents, for registration.

This has been made possible through close liaison with HM Land Registry (England & Wales) (HMLR), Registers of Scotland (RoS) and Northern Ireland Land Registry (NILR) who have all agreed to accept the electronic certificate for registration purposes.

An example copy of the Stamp Taxes Online SDLT 5 certificate (PDF 20K) has been provided for viewing.

Commercial 3rd party software suppliers are also producing versions of the electronic SDLT 5, which must pass an HMRC approval process, further information can be found at Stamp Duty Land Tax Online: Software and online forms. We are very grateful to the TPVs for their energy and commitment to this work. Their certificates will also be accepted from 1 November 2006.

Multiple addresses

The electronic certificate will only show the first property address for any transaction. If there are multiple addresses, copies of any SDLT3s or 4s should be attached to it and sent to the appropriate register.

Third party software will use a version of the SDLT 5 schedule (in place of copies of SDLT 3s and 4s) for multiple property addresses, which should be sent, with the certificate, for registration.

Paper versions

Even though online filers get their electronic certificate shortly after successful submission, they will still receive a paper copy by post. The paper certificate can either be sent to the purchaser for their information, kept in your records, or destroyed. It must not be sent to the land registries if you have used the electronic version for registration purposes.

This Stamp Taxes Online development fits well with RoS, HMLR and NILR e-Conveyancing projects which enable immediate registration with no requirement for a paper certificate.

The 2 day personal presentation service and 16 day urgency service that we provide at Edinburgh Stamp Office for purchasers in Scotland only will continue as normal.

Find out more about SDLT Online.

Find out more about 3rd party software suppliers.