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11 July 2019 / David Hannah
Issue: 7842 / Categories: Features , Tax , Property
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Tax and conveyancing, time for a divorce?

Solicitors are an undeniably crucial component of the conveyancing process. Without them, existing and aspiring property owners would be at a loss. 

As well as facilitating the core legal dialogue between vendors and purchasers, it has long been the norm for solicitors to advise on the correct level of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) payable to HMRC in England Wales and Northern Ireland, Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales or Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) to Revenue Scotland, north of the tax border.

However, owing to the ever increasing complexity of the tax that requires a complete knowledge of not only the property but also its use, the clients’ other properties and business affairs and, in some cases, the vendors–conveyancing practitioners are, quite understandably, getting these calculations wrong. The opaque and often misleading HMRC online calculator and the less than completely helpful SDLT Helpline mean that non-tax specialists are increasingly being called upon to make a “judgement call” on Land Tax matters that are beyond their experience and

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

NEWS
A time-restricted bank tax, a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’, extension to parental leave, entrepreneur’s relief and a giveaway on energy bills for households are the headlines in Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey’s 2026 Autumn Budget
A Court of Appeal judge has lamented the ‘very concerning’ state of the law on employee inventor compensation after a chemist’s case took five-and-a-half years to reach court, eventually being listed for a 37-day trial next year
The Law Society has emphasised that responsibility remains human, in a practice note on artificial intelligence (AI)
Respect orders, which enable police, councils, housing associations, transport networks and other authorities to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour, have come into force across England and Wales
The Land Registry has launched two consultations aimed at making its information more publicly accessible, ‘Restructuring HM Land Registry fees’, and ‘Future of access to HM Land Registry information’
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