Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT): Major Changes Coming in May 2026

From May 2026, new legislation will require all professionals submitting SDLT returns on behalf of clients to register as tax advisers with HMRC. This shift brings significant regulatory, operational and insurance implications for conveyancing firms across England and Wales.

Key Changes to Be Aware Of

• Mandatory tax adviser registration for anyone submitting SDLT returns from May 2026

• Eligibility requirements, including no outstanding tax, no relevant convictions, and AML supervision

• Annual declarations to HMRC certifying compliance with minimum standards

• Financial penalties for non-compliance: £5,000 for first breaches and £10,000 for repeat offences

• Increased risk of PI insurance premium rises or coverage exclusions for SDLT-related claims

What the Legislation Means for Conveyancing Firms

The Finance Bill introduces a fundamental change to how SDLT work is classified. Where firms once treated SDLT as an administrative step, it will now fall under regulated tax activity. Even if disclaimers are used to state that no tax advice is being given, those may carry less weight once the firm is registered as a tax adviser.

The compliance burden will not be light. In addition to registration, firms must ensure that all senior managers meet eligibility standards, maintain AML supervision, and implement systems to support ongoing compliance. There are also serious professional indemnity risks, with SDLT errors often surfacing years after completion.

Are These Changes Confirmed?

The SDLT tax adviser registration requirement forms part of the Finance Bill 2025-26, which is currently progressing through Parliament. HMRC has stated that implementation is planned for May 2026, with a three-month minimum transition period. Although some professional bodies have raised concerns, there is no indication of delay or cancellation. 

Freeing Up Capacity to Manage the Transition

If your firm chooses to retain SDLT submissions in-house, internal capacity will need to increase to meet new regulatory demands. An option to support this additional required capacity is to offload time consuming post-completion work - such as AP1 submissions, requisition responses and file tracking - to a trusted outsourcing partner.

Auxilio’s Post-Completion Support includes:

• Initial file review

• Preparation and submission of AP1 forms

• Recording evidence on case management platforms

• Managing requisitions

• Responding to Land Registry queries

• Updating lender portals

• Archiving and closing files

By outsourcing these repetitive tasks to Auxilio, your internal team is freed up to focus on higher-risk areas, including SDLT assessment and registration compliance.

Auxilio’s Post-Completion Support allows firms to:

• Reclaim fee-earner time by removing admin-heavy post-completion tasks

• Maintain control of SDLT internally without creating backlogs elsewhere

• Protect service levels and turnaround times, even during busy periods

Support for Firms Planning Their SDLT Strategy

The upcoming SDLT requirements will impact every conveyancing practice. Ensuring your team has the time and systems in place to stay compliant is essential.

Auxilio is already supporting conveyancers with end-to-end post-completion processing. By partnering with us, firms can relieve pressure on internal teams and manage SDLT changes without compromising on accuracy or turnaround.

To speak with our team about your post-completion requirements contact info@auxiliouk.com