If you've received a letter, seen an advert, or been referred to a stamp duty refund firm, your first question is probably: "Can I trust them?" It's a reasonable question. The stamp duty claims industry is largely unregulated, firms come and go, and the quality of service varies enormously.
This guide helps you evaluate any stamp duty refund firm — whether they contacted you or you found them. We cover what to look for, what to avoid, how fee structures work, and when you might be better off handling the claim yourself.
Why so many firms exist
The stamp duty refund industry exists because of a structural gap in the conveyancing process. When you buy a property, your solicitor files the SDLT return based on the full purchase price without deducting the value of moveable items (chattels). HMRC's forms don't prompt for chattel values. The result: millions of homeowners have overpaid.
The raw data that powers these firms is freely available. The Land Registrypublishes details of every property transaction in England and Wales — the address, the sale price, and the date. Claims firms purchase this data, filter for properties sold above the SDLT threshold within the last 4 years, and contact the owners.
There's nothing illegal about this. Land Registry data is public. The underlying tax relief is legitimate. But the sheer volume of firms competing for your business means quality varies dramatically.
What to look for in a reputable firm
A trustworthy stamp duty refund firm will typically have most or all of the following:
Look for firms regulated by recognised professional bodies: RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) for valuations, CIOT (Chartered Institute of Taxation) or ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants) for tax advice. Regulated firms are subject to professional standards, complaints procedures, and disciplinary processes.
This is essential. If the firm's advice turns out to be wrong — if HMRC challenges a valuation and you face penalties — professional indemnity insurance provides a mechanism for you to recover losses. Ask for proof of PI cover before signing up. Firms without it are offering advice without any financial backstop if things go wrong.
Before you sign anything, you should have a clear written breakdown of: the percentage they charge, whether VAT is added on top, whether there's a minimum fee, when the fee is payable (on submission or on receipt of refund), and what happens to the fee if HMRC later claws back the refund.
A reputable firm will explain exactly what they're claiming for — typically chattels (carpets, curtains, white goods, furniture). Be cautious if they propose uninhabitable property claims or mixed-use reclassifications without a detailed, independent survey. These claim types carry significantly higher risk.
Good firms are happy to liaise with your conveyancing solicitor and to have their work reviewed by your own adviser. Firms that insist on bypassing your solicitor or ask you to sign documents without independent review should be treated with caution.
What to avoid
- Firms that promise specific refund amounts upfront. No reputable firm can tell you exactly how much you'll get back before reviewing your property details, the TA10 form, and conducting a proper valuation. Headline figures in marketing letters are almost always inflated.
- Firms that won't explain their methodology. If a firm can't or won't tell you how they value chattels, what evidence they submit to HMRC, and how they calculate the revised SDLT, that's a red flag.
- Firms that pressure you to sign immediately. The 4-year deadline provides ample time to research and compare. Any firm creating artificial urgency ("sign within 7 days") is trying to prevent you from shopping around.
- Firms with no traceable professional qualifications. Check Companies House. Look up the directors. Verify any claimed professional memberships directly with the relevant body. If the firm has no qualifications and no regulatory oversight, your recourse if something goes wrong is limited.
- Long-term exclusive agreements. Some firms lock clients into 12-month exclusive contracts, preventing you from using another firm or claiming yourself. Avoid these unless the terms are clearly reasonable.
Fee structures compared
Most stamp duty refund firms use one of three fee models:
Percentage of refund (most common)
Typically 25-50% of the refund secured. Some charge VAT on top. On a £2,000 refund at 35% + VAT, you'd pay £840 and keep £1,160. This model aligns incentives — the firm only earns if you get money back — but can be expensive for smaller refunds.
Fixed fee
A flat fee regardless of refund size, typically £200-£500. Better value for larger refunds, but you pay whether or not the claim succeeds. Less common in the consumer market.
Hybrid
A small upfront fee plus a lower percentage. For example, £100 upfront + 20% of the refund. This can be the most cost-effective model but is relatively rare.
Key question to ask
"What happens to your fee if HMRC later opens a compliance check and claws back the refund?" Most firms will tell you the fee is non-refundable. Understanding this upfront is essential.
The DIY option
You don't have to use a firm at all. HMRC's overpayment relief process is open to anyone, and for straightforward chattels claims, you can handle it yourself. This makes most sense when:
- Your estimated refund is under £500 (a firm's percentage would significantly erode the saving)
- The chattels are straightforward (carpets, curtains, white goods — no borderline items)
- You're comfortable writing a formal letter to HMRC
- You have time to research comparable second-hand values for your chattels
Our step-by-step claiming guide walks you through the entire process, from gathering documents to posting the claim to HMRC.
Our approach
StampDutyBack is not a claims firm. We're an independent educational resource that provides free tools — our SDLT calculator and refund estimator — so you can understand your situation before making any decisions.
When users want professional help, we connect them with vetted specialists who are qualified, insured, and transparent about their fees. We only work with firms that meet our standards for professional conduct.
The bottom line
A good stamp duty refund firm can save you time, ensure correct valuations, and handle the HMRC process professionally. But the industry includes firms that overcharge, underdeliver, or push risky claims. Do your due diligence: check qualifications, understand fees, verify insurance, and always get a realistic estimate yourself before committing.
Start with a free estimate
Know your numbers before talking to any firm. Our estimator takes under 2 minutes.