LBTT Rates

LBTT is payable when you buy or lease a building or land over a certain price.

LBTT rates

Along with the rest of the UK, buyers of residential property in Scotland pay tax on amounts between bands, not on the full purchase price. Different LBTT rates are set for each band with the higher bands having the highest LBTT rates.

There are different LBTT rates for residential and non residential property transactions.

Residential LBTT rates

A dwelling is regarded as being "residential" if it complies with certain criteria. In most cases the definition of a residential dwelling applies to:

1. Any building that is used or is suitable for use as a dwelling, or is in the process of being constructed or adapted for such use.
2. Land that is or forms part of the garden or grounds of a dwelling (including any building or other structure on such land).
3. An interest in or right over land that subsists for the benefit of a building within a dwelling, or of land within a dwelling.

Standard and additional dwelling LBTT rates

Freehold residential LBTT rates are shown in the table below. The table shows both standard LBTT rates, and the higher LBTT rates which include the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS).

Tax Band	Standard Rate	Additional Dwelling *
less than £145k	0%	6%**
£145k to £250k	2%	8%
£250k to £325k	5%	11%
£325k to £750k	10%	16%
rest over £750k	12%	18%
* Percentage figures show LBTT and ADS rates combined. ADS is calculated in addition to LBTT and is applied at 6% to the total purchase price above £40k. ** An additional dwelling purchased for less than £40k will attract 0% tax. For purchases from £40k to £145k the rate will be 6% on the full purchase price.

An additional dwelling supplement (ADS) is applied to all standard rate bands above an initial threshold of £40,000. Additional dwelling types include buy to let investments and second homes. From 16th December 2022 ADS has increased from 4% to 6%.

LBTT rates for first time buyers

The Scottish Government introduced LBTT first time buyers relief from June 2018, the new thresholds are shown in the table below.

Tax Band	First Time Buyer Rate
less than £175k	0%
£175k to £250k	2%
£250k to £325k	5%
£325k to £750k	10%
rest over £750k	12%
The Scottish Government have introduced first time buyer relief from June 2018.

By increasing the initial LBTT threshold for first time buyers to £175k, the Scottish Government predict the majority of first time buyer transactions will attract no tax.

First time purchases above £175k will also benefit from the first time buyers relief on the portion below the £175k threshold.