Stamp Duty on Shares 2025: SDRT Calculator and Rates

SDRT (shares) calculator

SDRT, not SDLT: the basic distinction

Most investors searching for a stamp duty on shares calculator are looking for SDRT, not SDLT. SDLT is Stamp Duty Land Tax on land and property in England and Northern Ireland. SDRT is Stamp Duty Reserve Tax on electronic agreements to transfer chargeable securities, most commonly UK shares.

The two taxes share a name history but have different rules, rates, collection systems and exemptions. A property stamp duty calculator should not be used for shares, and a shares calculator should not be used for property.

The 0.5% SDRT rate

The normal SDRT rate is 0.5% of the purchase price. For electronic broker purchases, the calculation is straightforward: purchase price multiplied by 0.005, rounded to the nearest penny.

In everyday retail investing, the broker normally deducts SDRT automatically. It appears as a separate line on the contract note or is included in the cash required to settle the transaction.

The calculator should still show the charge because investors often underestimate transaction costs when buying UK shares outside spread-bet, CFD or non-chargeable structures.

Worked example: buying £10,000 of shares

An investor buys £10,000 of chargeable UK shares electronically through a broker. SDRT is charged at 0.5%.

The calculation is £10,000 × 0.005 = £50.00. The broker will normally collect the £50.00 automatically through CREST.

Worked example: buying £85,000 of shares

An investor buys £85,000 of chargeable UK shares electronically. SDRT is again charged at 0.5%.

The calculation is £85,000 × 0.005 = £425.00. Because this is an electronic purchase, the rounding is to the nearest penny, not to the nearest £5.

Paper share transfers: 0.5% rounded up to nearest £5

Paper transfers use Stamp Duty rather than SDRT. The usual rate is also 0.5%, but the rounding rule is different: Stamp Duty on a paper stock transfer is rounded up to the nearest £5.

Stamp Duty normally applies to paper share transfers with consideration above £1,000. A stock transfer form must be completed and submitted for stamping where required.

This is why a shares calculator needs a transfer method toggle. A £12,345 paper transfer produces £61.73 before rounding, but Stamp Duty rounds up to £65.00. The electronic SDRT equivalent would be £61.73.

AIM shares and growth market exemptions

Many eligible AIM shares and recognised growth market securities are exempt from Stamp Duty and SDRT where the security is traded on a recognised growth market and not also listed on another recognised stock exchange.

The exemption is security-specific. The calculator can include an AIM toggle, but it should display a warning: confirm the security is on the relevant exempt list before assuming 0%.

ISA, gifts and other exemption edge cases

The ISA point is often misunderstood. Holding shares in a stocks and shares ISA can shelter income and gains from income tax and capital gains tax, but buying chargeable UK shares inside an ISA can still incur SDRT. The ISA wrapper is not a blanket SDRT exemption.

Transferring an ISA between providers is different from buying new shares. A genuine gift of shares with no chargeable consideration is usually outside the 0.5% purchase charge. Transfers involving debt, connected companies, reorganisations, intermediaries, repurchases, stock lending or overseas clearance systems can have special rules.

For a consumer-facing calculator, the safest treatment is: calculate ordinary purchase tax, flag possible exemptions and tell users to check with their broker, registrar or adviser.

When SDRT is collected

For normal electronic purchases, SDRT is collected automatically through CREST. The investor does not usually file a separate tax return or send a form to HMRC for a standard broker trade.

Paper stock transfers are different. If Stamp Duty is due, the stock transfer form must be stamped by HMRC within the relevant deadline. The company registrar may refuse to update the share register until the form is stamped or an exemption is self-certified.

Stamp duty on property vs stamp duty on shares

Property stamp duty and share stamp duty should be kept completely separate in UX and SEO. Property buyers need SDLT, LBTT or LTT depending on location. Share investors need SDRT or Stamp Duty depending on whether the transaction is electronic or paper.

The terms overlap in search behaviour, which is why the page should explicitly route users. If the user is buying a shop, office, buy-to-let or home, send them to the property stamp duty calculator. If they are buying UK shares, use this page.