STSM011040 - Introduction to Stamp Duty on shares and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT): Stamp duty and SDRT basics: documents formerly chargeable

Instruments that are chargeable to Stamp Duty include:
  • Stock Transfer Forms
  • Other instruments (documents) transferring a beneficial interest in stock or marketable securities
  • Companies House returns (Form SH03) for Purchase of Own Shares
  • Issue of Bearer Instruments (where executed prior to 1 January 2024 – see STSM061060)
  • Sale of a Partnership Interest
  • Certain Court Orders that act as an instrument of transfer
Other instruments dated prior to 1 December 2003 that are chargeable to Stamp Duty include:
  • Contracts for the sale of land with a consideration over £10M (per section 115 FA2002)
  • Conveyance or Transfer of Land
  • Leases and Agreements for Lease (or tack)
  • Deed of Exchange (or Excambion)
  • Trust Deeds
  • Agreement for sale of a business
  • Companies House form 88(3) (contract not reduced to writing)
  • Dissolution of Partnership
  • Sale of Intellectual Property (IP), including attached goodwill (abolished 28 March 2000)
  • Sale of ‘loose’ goodwill (abolished 23 April 2002)
  • Tenancy agreements


Information on the application of Stamp Duty to these categories of instrument may be found in the archived Stamp Taxes Manual (The National Archives Website)

Any query not covered by the information on this page should be addressed to the Stamp Duty Team at the address below and include, where possible, a copy of the instrument and full information regarding the transaction:

  • email: [email protected] 
  • post: BT- Stamp Duty
                HM Revenue and Customs
                BX9 1HD
                United Kingdom
Further Information
  • See STSM011045 where the transfer of IP and/or goodwill is effected by an instrument which also transfers the beneficial interest in stock or marketable securities.
  • See STSM021260 for more information on the purchase of own shares by a company.