Stamp Duty

[gino]

i've a friend who owns a property overseas - lived in it 2+ years ago.
living in the UK 2 years renting.
wants to buy new home in the UK. She is a FTB in the UK.
is she liable for the higher 3% stamp duty?
understand she won't qualify for the FTV exemption due to other property in the background.
TIA.

[des8]

Hi and welcome.

Your friend does not qualify as a first time buyer.
Quote from HMRC "Stamp Duty Land Tax: Relief for first time buyers" (https://assets.publishing.service.go...ime_buyers.pdf)
"In order to count as a first time buyer, a purchaser must not, either alone or with others, have previously acquired a major interest in a dwelling or an equivalent interest in land situated anywhere in the world."

The same rule applies to surcharge on a second home,.... even abroad it is taken into consideration....if it was at one time the main home

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-man...ual/sdltm09800

Rules are complicated and keep changing!