Stamp Duty

[annoyed1971]

Wasn't sure where to file this post so apologies if this is the wrong place. Thought this might be useful to anyone who has bought property in the last couple of years or who is planning on buying at some point in the near future.

We've just discovered that we should not have paid stamp duty when we bought this flat as it's in an area covered by "Disadvantaged Area relief". The Solicitor we used at the time was not local and never thought to check if we should be paying it or not....he just automtically sent the money to the Inland revenue. We tried to claim it back from inaldn revenue but there is a 2 year tme limit on claims. Our new Solicitor is now in the process of claiming it back from our old solicitor. My brother lives just up the road in an almost new estate but because they have the same postcode as some less desirable areas of town, he can re-claim his stamp duty too! :thumbs:

Here is the Inland revenue page that contains details of what post codes are covered. (Sorry couldn't get this to post as a link)

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/so/pcode_search.htm

Hope this is of use to someone out there! ;)

[JJ]

Thanks for that annoyed!!!..... :D .

I personally hate stamp duty...... just another indirect form of taxation!!!!


hope you get your money back!!!!


JJ

[Matthew]

Interesting info, thanks annoyed1971. :D Good luck with the claim back. B)

[Matthew]

PS: I've added the "http://" part to your link - the forum then automatically makes it a clickable link. :D

[annoyed1971]

Just wanted to let you know that we have today received a cheque for £700 from our Solicitors. Apparently, our original Solicitors had called him to say they were very sorry and very embarassed about the mix up.

The cheque is from our solicitors bank rather than the original solicitors so I'm not sure if they have paid him more to cover his costs or not...we'll need to wait until we get our bill before we know if we've been charged for him pursuing the claim. Even if we have, it's better than nothing!

According to our solicitor, the original solicitor did not have a leg to stand on so if anyone else is in a similar position don't hesitate to try to claim it back....you can do this directly by going straight to your solicitor so there is no need to incur any additional costs.

Hope this hels anyone else out there who may have been charged Stamp Duty in error.

[hollygolightly]

I was aware of it, but hopefully it will be of assistance to other members. :D

Thanks for posting the details. :)

Holly :D