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SDLT Advisers for Lawyers and Law Firms

SDLT Advisers for Lawyers & Law Firms

SDLT Accountants & Advisers for Law Firms

Our proactive approach helps firms manage risk through structured SDLT procedures, internal audit support, and recommendations designed to strengthen compliance and reduce exposure to negligence claims. Compliance is vital for law firms, and our expertise in taxation, regulatory matters, and the legal market ensures your legal practice is well-positioned for success. We have experience handling complex SDLT case scenarios, including those involving the date of purchase, date of transfer, and date of disposal, and we regularly assist with business structuring, shareholders agreement, and past changes in SDLT regulations.

By partnering with us, your legal practice gains peace of mind, time savings, and confidence that SDLT treatment is correct and thoroughly documented. Our service is tailored to law firms, providing skilled advice and expert advice on SDLT matters. We have assisted many law firms and other firms in the sector with complex SDLT matters, helping clients achieve compliance and efficiency, create value, and reduce the burden of SDLT compliance.

 

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    Our team acts as a partner to your legal team, supporting a range of client structures including company and limited liability partnership, and has experience working with the law society and other legal organizations. We understand the unique nature of legal sector accounting and the importance of the date of property transactions, and we can quote additional work separately in relation to the original service.

    Our experience extends to supporting clients with shareholders agreement, handling complex deal structures, and advising on SDLT surcharges related to other property. We stay ahead of the evolving legal market, drawing on our past experience and sector knowledge to deliver proactive, skilled advice that meets your specific needs.

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    Why UK Law Firms Choose as SDLT Advice

    We are a UK-based accounting firm specialising in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for the legal sector, providing a proactive service tailored to the specific needs of each client. As a trusted partner to legal practices, we offer skilled advice and deep expertise in the legal market.

    We work exclusively with:

    • Individual solicitors and fee earners
    • High-street and boutique law firms
    • Medium and larger multi-office practices
    • In-house legal teams and conveyancers
    • Companies
    • Limited liability partnerships
    • Businesses

    Our role is simple: make SDLT clear, accurate and defensible, so you can focus on legal work while we handle the tax detail.

    Why SDLT needs Specialist Support

    SDLT is no longer a simple “rate and band” calculation. Constant changes, reliefs, and complex rules have increased the regulatory risks and taxation complexity for law firms. The burden of compliance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA Accounts Rules, and other accounts rules is significant, making it vital for legal practices to manage their finances and compliance obligations effectively. Even experienced conveyancers can be exposed to:

    • Underpayment risks and HMRC enquiries
    • Overpayments and missed reliefs
    • Professional negligence exposure
    • Complaints and reputational damage

    We take a proactive approach to identifying risks, providing skilled advice tailored to the unique nature of legal sector accounting and your legal practice. Our support helps your business manage compliance, improve financial performance, and handle complex deal structures. With our expert advice on SDLT matters, we help you achieve compliance and efficiency.

    We help you:

    • Identify where SDLT risk sits in your files
    • Ensure the right amount of SDLT is paid
    • Justify your position clearly if challenged
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    Who we work with

    We tailor our service to the specific needs of each client, acting as a trusted partner to legal practices.

    Individual Lawyers

    • Sole practitioners and consultants
    • Fee earners needing a “second pair of eyes”
    • Lawyers stepping into higher-value or complex property work

    Law Firms

    • Conveyancing teams with high volume caseloads
    • Commercial real estate teams
    • Private client and tax departments
    • New or growing property departments needing a structured SDLT process

    We also work with:

    • Companies
    • Limited liability partnerships
    • In-house legal teams
    • Businesses
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    Our SDLT Services for Legal Sectors

    SDLT File Reviews

    • Our SDLT service is tailored to law firms, providing pre-completion and post-completion SDLT file reviews.
    • Detailed analysis of transaction structure and client profile, including the date of purchase, date of transfer, and ownership of other property, to determine SDLT surcharges.
    • Confirmation of liability or identification of alternative treatment, with skilled advice and expert advice on complex SDLT case scenarios.
    • Written SDLT opinion suitable for file and client records, ensuring compliance with taxation and legal services requirements.

    Relief and Exemption Reviews

    • Multiple dwellings relief (MDR)
    • Mixed-use and non-residential treatment
    • First-time buyer relief
    • Shared ownership, lease extensions and variations
    • Group, reconstruction and acquisition reliefs, with consideration of the date of transaction and relation to other property ownership.

    SDLT Return Preparation and Support

    • Calculating SDLT due, taking into account the nature of the transaction and any past changes in SDLT regulations.
    • Advising on correct codes and descriptions in relation to the original service, and supporting your legal team with completion of the SDLT1.
    • Guidance on amending previous returns where necessary, alleviating the burden of SDLT compliance.

    HMRC Enquiry and Disclosure Support

    • Responding to HMRC enquiries and information requests, including those relating to accounts rules, SRA Accounts Rules, and regulatory requirements set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
    • Preparing technical responses and supporting calculations.
    • Assisting with voluntary disclosures and corrections.
    • Helping minimise penalties and interest where issues arise, drawing on our experience assisting other firms.

    Risk Management for Firms

    • SDLT risk reviews across sample or targeted files, ensuring compliance with accounts rules and SRA Accounts Rules.
    • Recommendations to tighten procedures and checklists in line with regulatory standards.
    • Integration of SDLT checks into your existing workflows, supporting your legal practice in achieving compliance.
    • Support for internal file audits and external quality reviews, as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

    Training for Lawyers and Teams

    • Tailored SDLT training for fee earners, support staff, and your in-house legal team.
    • Live or online sessions using your own case examples, reflecting the unique nature of legal sector accounting.
    • Practical checklists and templates for day-to-day use.
    • Refresher sessions to cover recent and past SDLT changes.

    White-Label and Behind-the-Scenes Support

    • We can provide advice in your name or behind the scenes, acting as a partner to your legal practice.
    • Clear written notes you can share directly with clients, with additional work quoted separately in relation to the original service.
    • Fast turnaround to fit your transaction timelines, helping your business, company, or limited liability partnership create value, achieve compliance, and maintain a proactive approach in the evolving legal market.
    • Our vital support has assisted many law firms, including those involved in complex deal structures, shareholders agreement matters, and sector collaborations with the law society and other firms.
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    How we work with you?

    Our service is tailored to law firms, providing expert support for your legal practice.

    1. Initial conversation: We discuss your current SDLT challenges, risk areas, and typical matters, collaborating closely with your in-house legal team to understand your business, company, or limited liability partnership needs.
    2. Clear scope and pricing : We agree the level of support you need, from one-off opinions to ongoing panel-style arrangements. Additional work may be quoted separately in relation to the original service.
    3. Simple referral process: You send us key documents (contract, title, replies to enquiries, client details). As your partner, we tell you exactly what we need and when, ensuring a smooth process for your legal practice.
    4. Technical review and advice: We analyse the transaction, confirm the SDLT position, and set everything out in clear, practical language. Our skilled advice and proactive approach help you achieve compliance and efficiency, whether you are a business, company, or limited liability partnership. We have assisted many law firms in handling complex deal structures.
    5. Ongoing partnership: We stay available for follow-up questions, HMRC correspondence, and future matters, continuing to support your legal team and legal practice as a trusted partner.

    Benefits for Lawyers and Law Firms

    • Confidence: Know that your SDLT position is technically robust and fully documented, with skilled advice and expert advice from our experienced team.
    • Risk reduction: Reduce the chance of underpayments, overpayments and negligence claims, and ensure compliance with accounts rules, SRA Accounts Rules, and regulatory requirements set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
    • Time saved: Free up fee earners and your in-house legal team to focus on clients and completing transactions, while we reduce the burden of SDLT compliance and administrative tasks.
    • Client value: Demonstrate that you have explored all appropriate reliefs and options, and create value for your legal practice, business, company, or limited liability partnership through our proactive and tailored service.
    • Support in difficult cases: Have a specialist ready when you face complex SDLT case structures, deal scenarios, or HMRC scrutiny. We have assisted many law firms and other firms in the evolving legal market, including support with shareholders agreement, taxation, and legal services.
    • Vital compliance: Compliance is vital for law firms. We help you achieve efficiency and regulatory adherence, drawing on our experience with the unique nature of legal sector accounting, past changes in SDLT regulations, and our involvement with the law society.
    • Additional support: We act as a partner to your legal practice, providing support in relation to additional work that may be quoted separately from the original service, and advising on the impact of other property ownership on SDLT surcharges.
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    Typical matters we assist with

    • Residential acquisitions with multiple buyers or complex circumstances, including challenging SDLT case scenarios and the impact of the date of purchase, transfer, or disposal on SDLT reliefs and surcharges.
    • Purchases involving company, trust, or limited liability partnership clients, with expert advice on structuring and compliance.
    • Mixed-use properties and commercial transactions, reflecting the unique nature of legal sector accounting and taxation.
    • Portfolio purchases and bulk deal structures, including collaboration with your in-house legal team and experience working with other firms in the legal market.
    • Lease premiums, variations, surrenders, and re-grants, with skilled advice on regulatory and SRA Accounts Rules compliance.
    • Transfers of equity and connected party transactions, including the importance of other property ownership for SDLT surcharges and the relevance of the date of transaction.
    • Incorporation of property businesses, support for business clients, and assistance with shareholders agreement and legal practice structuring.
    • Additional work may be quoted separately in relation to the original service, reducing the burden of SDLT compliance and helping you achieve efficiency.
    • The firm acts as a proactive partner to law firms, has assisted many legal practices, and provides vital legal services, regulatory guidance, and involvement with the law society and Solicitors Regulation Authority.
    • Our approach helps create value, ensures compliance with accounts rules and SRA Accounts Rules, and adapts to past changes in SDLT regulations.
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    Working Agreements

    We offer a service tailored to law firms, providing:

    • Ad-hoc support for individual matters
    • Preferred panel arrangements for ongoing volume work
    • Fixed fees where scope is clear
    • Hourly or blended pricing for complex or uncertain cases
    • Skilled advice and a proactive approach to legal sector challenges
    • Support as a partner to your legal practice
    • Collaboration with your in-house legal team
    • Assistance for business, company, and limited liability partnership clients
    • Guidance to help your legal practice achieve compliance and efficiency
    • A track record of having assisted many law firms
    • Additional work may be quoted separately in relation to the original service

    We are happy to work directly with:

    • Partners and heads of department
    • Individual fee earners
    • Compliance and risk teams
    • Practice managers

    WHY CHOOSE US FOR SDLT

    • Highly experienced team with specialist knowledge of SDLT and property tax
    • Skilled advice and expert advice tailored to the unique nature of legal sector accounting
    • Service designed to reduce the burden of SDLT compliance for your legal team, business, company, or limited liability partnership
    • Deep familiarity with how law firms, legal practices, and the legal market work day to day, including experience working with other firms
    • Proactive and pragmatic approach – not just theory – to help you achieve compliance and efficiency, and create value for your practice
    • Responsive support aligned with transaction deadlines, and a trusted partner to your legal practice
    • Vital focus on regulatory compliance, including SRA Accounts Rules, Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements, and taxation matters
    • Assisted many law firms with complex deal structures, SDLT case scenarios, and shareholders agreement support
    • Clear written advice suitable for your files and for clients, with additional work quoted separately in relation to the original service
    • Involvement with the law society and up-to-date knowledge of past and current SDLT regulations, including the impact of other property on surcharges

    Specialist SDLT Advice for Individual Lawyers and Law Firms in the UK

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    why you should consult our SDLT experts?

    1
    SDLT rules are complex
    SDLT rules are complex and constantly changing specialist advice protects you from costly errors.
    2
    Dedicated SDLT adviser
    A dedicated SDLT adviser helps law firms reduce risk, avoid negligence claims and stay fully compliant.
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    3
    Specialist Expertise
    Specialist expertise ensures your clients never overpay or underpay Stamp Duty Land Tax.
    4
    Complex transactions
    Gain peace of mind with a personalised plan for your home, assets and legacy.
    5
    Make confident decisions

    Working with an SDLT specialist strengthens your legal service, enhances client confidence and safeguards your reputation.

    FAQ

    Why should a law firm use a specialist SDLT adviser instead of handling SDLT in-house?

    SDLT legislation is highly technical and frequently updated, meaning even experienced conveyancers can overlook reliefs or misinterpret rules. A specialist ensures accuracy, reduces risk and strengthens overall compliance.

    Incorrect SDLT calculations or missed reliefs can lead to underpayments, overpayments and HMRC challenges. A specialist provides expert analysis and documented advice, giving your firm a defensible position and significantly lowering professional risk.

    Yes. A specialist helps ensure your clients pay the correct amount of SDLT no more and no less while exploring all eligible reliefs. This enhances client satisfaction and demonstrates thorough due diligence.

    Even straightforward purchases can involve complications such as mixed-use elements, multiple buyers, annexes, trusts or corporate ownership. An SDLT adviser quickly identifies these issues and applies the correct technical treatment.

    If HMRC questions a transaction, a specialist can prepare responses, explain the legal basis for the SDLT position taken and help manage the enquiry process saving your firm time and avoiding unnecessary penalties.