Electronic SDLT5 certificate and paper SDLT5 certificate

Electronic SDLT5 certificate and paper SDLT5 certificate

What is the electronic SDLT 5 certificate?

The submission receipt (received when you successfully send your land transaction return to us online) now acts as your electronic SDLT 5 certificate.

When will it be available?

From 1 November 2006.

What does the electronic SDLT 5 look like?

View the Stamp Taxes Online 'Electronic SDLT 5 Certificate'.

Should I keep a copy of my electronic SDLT 5 certificate?

Yes, we strongly advise you to do so. This submission receipt not only acts as your SDLT 5 certificate but also holds your successful submission data.

Can I use it to send to the registers?

Yes. Registers of Scotland [RoS], Land Registry of England & Wales [HMLR], and Land Registry Northern Ireland [NILR] have all agreed to accept it for registration purposes.

The electronic version of the paper SDLT 5 can be printed off and sent to the appropriate register [HMLR / RoS / NILR] (along with the necessary documents) for registration.

Can I submit my electronic SDLT 5 certificate to the appropriate register [HMLR / RoS / NILR] online or by email?

No. When using Stamp Taxes Online, you must print it off and send it to them.

Will the electronic SDLT 5 certificate list the addresses for all properties included in the transaction?

No. The Stamp Taxes Online certificate will only show the first property address for any transaction. If there are multiple addresses, copies of any SDLT 3s or 4s should be attached to it and sent to the appropriate register [HMRC / RoS / NILR]. You can print the PDF version of the SDLT 3s and 4s from the ‘View, print and store’ section of the online return.

I use Third Party Vendor (TPV) internet filing software. Will I receive an electronic SDLT 5 in the same way as customers using the free HMRC Online Return?

Yes. This facility is available to commercial internet filing software package providers. They will produce an HMRC approved electronic SDLT 5 certificate – but it may vary from the HMRC Stamp Taxes version. Ask your third party vendor software supplier for information about this.

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

What do I do if the registers refuse to accept my electronic SDLT 5 certificate?

Registers’ staff will only reject the receipt if:

  • the property and party details, etc. do not match the papers submitted with the application or
  • if the format of the receipt differs from the standard HMRC template or the officially recognised third party vendor versions.

Tell the appropriate register [HMLR / RoS / NILR] that you believe that the certificate conforms to all requirements. They will raise their concerns with HMRC direct.

Will I still get a paper SDLT 5 certificate through the post?

No. Your successful submission receipt also acts as your electronic SDLT 5 certificate. It is important to store this receipt/electronic SDLT5 certificate once you have viewed it, as a paper version will not be sent to you. If, under special circumstances, you require a paper certificate to be sent to you, you must contact our Stamp Taxes Helpline.

How do I access and print my electronic SDLT 5 certificate (submission receipt)?

When you successfully submit your land transaction return, you will receive a ‘Submission successful’ response.

a) Click on ‘View and save the Submission Receipt’
b) View ‘Submission Receipt – Privacy guidance’.
c) Click on ‘View and save submission receipt’
d) View your electronic SDLT 5 certificate (submission receipt).
e) Click on ‘Print’.

I tried to print my electronic SDLT 5 certificate after 30 days from submission and it was not there. Where do I get it from?

All submitted transactions are deleted after thirty days. It is important that the electronic certificate is saved and printed when it is received. If you require a SDLT 5 certificate after thirty days you will need to call the Stamp Taxes Helpline