STSM142060 - Stamp duty and SDRT Administration: SDRT Administration: liable person and accountable person

Liable Person

For the principal 0.5% charge to Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) under section 87 FA1986, the liable person is always the purchaser/transferee (section 91 FA1986 refers).

Accountable Person

However, the Stamp Duty Reserve Tax Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1711) make an “accountable person� responsible for accounting for the SDRT. Under regulation 4 the accountable person has to notify HMRC of an SDRT charge and to pay the tax on or before the “accountable date� (unless “different arrangements� are made with HMRC).

In respect of the principal 0.5% SDRT charge under section 87 FA1986, the accountable person is usually an exchange member or, failing that, a “qualified dealer�.

SI 1986/1711 regulation 2 sets out the order in which the accountable person is identified:

  1. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp purchaser if they are an exchange member, or if the purchaser is not an exchange member then an exchange member acting on behalf of the purchaser; or failing that
  2. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp seller if they are an exchange member, or if the seller is not an exchange member then an exchange member acting on behalf of the seller; or failing that
  3. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp purchaser if they are a qualified dealer, or if the purchaser is not a qualified dealer then a qualified dealer acting on behalf of the purchaser; or failing that
  4. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp seller if they are a qualified dealer, or if the seller is not a qualified dealer then a qualified dealer acting on behalf of the seller; or failing that
  5. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp purchaser (i.e. the liable person).

A “qualified dealer� is defined in regulation 2 as a person who, while not being an exchange member:

  1. is a person who has permission under Part 4 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to carry on investment business, or
  2. is authorised under a legislative provision of the government of a territory outside the United Kingdom to carry on investment business, or
  3. while not required to be authorised to do so, carries on investment business.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre are different accountability rules in regulation 2 for the other (not section 87 FA1986) SDRT heads of charge.