DIY Stamp Duty Refund Claim vs Using a Solicitor — Which Saves More?

The Good News — Most Claims Are Straightforward

The HMRC online portal for SDLT refund claims is genuinely user-friendly. If your situation is clear-cut — you paid the surcharge when buying your new home, you sold your previous home within 36 months, and you have the basic documents — you can typically complete the online claim in under 30 minutes.

There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor, conveyancer, or any other professional to make the claim. The process involves:

1. Logging in to your Government Gateway account (or creating one)

2. Entering the Unique Transaction Reference from your SDLT5 certificate

3. Confirming the details of the original purchase and the subsequent disposal

4. Providing your bank details for the repayment

5. Submitting the claim

That is it. HMRC processes straightforward online claims within approximately 15 working days.

What Does It Cost to DIY?

Nothing. The HMRC online portal is free to use. If you gather your documents, create a Government Gateway account, and submit the claim yourself, the entire refund comes back to you.

When a Solicitor Adds Genuine Value

A solicitor or conveyancer adds genuine value in the following situations:

**Complex qualifying questions:** If you are unsure whether your previous property genuinely qualifies as your "main home" for SDLT purposes — for example, if you had two properties for a period and are not certain which counts as the main home — a solicitor can advise on the legal position before you submit the claim.

**Disputed refund situations:** If HMRC questions or rejects your claim, a solicitor can help you respond to HMRC's queries, gather evidence, and represent you through the review or appeal process.

**Large amounts where a mistake is costly:** For surcharges of £50,000 or more, the cost of getting it wrong is significant enough that paying for professional review of the claim before submission is worth it.

**Time pressure or complexity:** If the 36-month deadline is approaching and circumstances are unusual, a solicitor can ensure the claim is submitted correctly and promptly.

What About SDLT Refund Claim Companies?

In recent years, a cottage industry of "SDLT reclaim" companies has grown up, offering to make stamp duty refund claims on behalf of buyers for a percentage of the refund received — typically 20–30% including VAT.

For a straightforward refund of £15,000, this would cost you £3,000–£4,500 in fees — money you would keep if you made the claim yourself. These companies perform exactly the same function as the free HMRC online portal, but charge handsomely for doing so.

**HMRC's own guidance makes clear that you do not need to use a third party to make the claim.**

There have also been cases where these companies have made incorrect or unsupported claims on clients' behalf, resulting in HMRC investigations. Be particularly wary of any company that approaches you unsolicited suggesting you may have overpaid SDLT — cold-calling in this area is a known indicator of less reputable operators.

When a Refund Company Could Theoretically Be Justified

If you are genuinely unable to use the internet, do not have a Government Gateway account and cannot create one, and have no solicitor relationship, a refund company might be the only practical route. Even then, consider asking your original conveyancing solicitor — who already knows your transaction — to handle the claim for a fixed fee, which will almost certainly be less than 20% of the refund.

Our Recommendation

For the vast majority of buyers with a standard surcharge refund entitlement: use the HMRC online portal and keep 100% of your refund. Use our Stamp Duty Refund Calculator at Property Passport UK to confirm exactly how much you should be claiming — then go to the HMRC portal and claim it yourself.