Stamp duty revenue rises sharply

December 28, 2025 by Brendan O'Neill

Property Market

The tax revenues brought in by stamp duty rose sharply during the last financial year, according to the latest figures to be released.

These figures are taken from a report published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). What they show is a rise of 23% in the stamp duty revenues for the most recent financial year. The government brought in £18.2 billion from that tax in the year ending April 2025, compared with £14.8 billion for the previous financial year.

One key factor is being cited by the ONS as the reason for this spike: the desire among purchasers to complete property transactions before the changes to stamp duty were brought in, which happened in April. This resulted in a real surge in completions during that period.

This is not the sole reason for the revenue spike. Another factor that is certain to have influenced the situation is the second home stamp duty surcharge. In late October last year, this was increased to 5% from 3%.

Revenues from the purchase of both residential and commercial properties rose. In the case of the former, it was a rise of 21% to £10.4 billion. For the latter, there was a 15% increase to £3.5 billion.

In response to the figures, Ian Futcher from Quilter said that they showed transaction numbers holding strong, but also an increasingly onerous tax burden. He added that this was making moving house ever more expensive.

This is something that those with the CeMAP mortgage advisor qualification will be well aware of.