Draft legislation has been published for the new Securities Transfer Tax (STT) regime, as part of the Government’s “modernisation of the Stamp Taxes on Shares framework”.
STT will operate as a single tax, replacing stamp duty (which applies to instruments of transfer) and stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT, which in practice is principally paid on purchases of publicly traded securities). The Government aims to introduce STT in 2027.
The draft legislation largely appears to achieve its aim of simplifying the stamp duty and SDRT regimes into a “single, clear, self-assessed and digital first tax”, retaining the key reliefs and exemptions relied on in practice.
What will the STT charge apply to?