How to avoid stamp duty

The new rules on stamp duty have muddied the waters. Sarah Moore explains what they mean, and how you can cut your tax bill.

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A novel way to escape the taxman
(Image credit: Akabei)

The new stamp-duty rules that came into effect last year, which impose an additional 3% tax on purchases of second homes, were brought in to discourage buy-to-let landlords from expanding their property portfolios. However, as with many new taxes, the rules created plenty of complications, so earlier this year the government published some much-needed guidance. These clarified some situations both common and uncommon in which the higher rate does not apply.

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Sarah is MoneyWeek's investment editor. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA in English and History, before going on to complete a graduate diploma in law at the College of Law in Guildford. She joined MoneyWeek in 2014 and writes on funds, personal finance, pensions and property.