Documents You Need for an SDLT Refund Claim
Get your paperwork in order — it is the single biggest thing that speeds up a refund.
Why this matters
Getting your documents in order before you submit is the single biggest thing you can do to speed up your refund and reduce the chance of HMRC asking questions. A well-evidenced claim is paid faster and is far less likely to trigger a compliance check. Use the two checklists below — one for an additional-dwelling surcharge refund, one for a chattels claim.
Section A — Documents for an HRAD surcharge refund
Route A: reclaiming the additional-dwelling surcharge after selling your previous main home.
Essential
- SDLT5 certificate — the SDLT confirmation HMRC sent your solicitor when the SDLT return was filed. It carries the UTRN that uniquely identifies your transaction. Your solicitor should have sent this after completion. Why HMRC cares: the UTRN is the unique reference HMRC uses to locate your original return — without it, HMRC cannot match a refund request to the underlying transaction.
- Completion statement for the new property — from your solicitor, showing the purchase price and SDLT paid. Why HMRC cares: contemporaneous record of the price paid and SDLT charged — HMRC checks this against the SDLT5 to confirm the refund baseline.
- TR1 or transfer deed for the new property — confirms the effective date. Why HMRC cares: establishes the effective date of the new purchase, which is the anchor for the HRAD replacement window.
- Solicitor's completion letter for the sale of the old property — confirms the date of sale. Why HMRC cares: fixes the date of disposal of the previous main residence — the second leg of the replacement test under Schedule 4ZA, Finance Act 2003.
- Land Registry title register for the old property — confirms you were the registered owner (download from gov.uk for £7). Why HMRC cares: confirms you were the registered owner of the property you say you sold; HMRC cross-checks against their own data.
- Evidence of main residence at the old property — at least two of: council tax bill, utility bill, electoral roll entry, GP registration, bank statement. Dated within 12 months of your new purchase. Why HMRC cares: the replacement test is not just "did you sell a property" — it requires the disposed property to have been your only or main residence, and this is what proves it.
Helpful but not always required
- Mortgage statement for the old property confirming it was your main residence. Why HMRC cares: corroborates the residence claim by showing residential rather than buy-to-let terms — useful where council-tax or electoral-roll evidence is thin.
- Insurance documents for the old property. Why HMRC cares: an owner-occupier policy is a third-party contemporaneous record that the property was your home — supports the residence claim where other proofs are limited.
Section B — Documents for a chattels claim
Route B: reclaiming SDLT overpaid on moveable items included in your purchase.
Essential
- SDLT5 certificate — as above, this carries your UTRN. Why HMRC cares: identifies the original return by UTRN; a chattels claim is an overpayment relief amendment under Schedule 10, Finance Act 2003 to that specific return.
- Completed chattel schedule (Annex A from the DIY Claim Pack) — signed by all purchasers. Why HMRC cares: itemises the moveable items and their values — the basis for the SDLT recalculation. Without an itemised list HMRC has no figure to test.
- Estate agent particulars — these often reference carpets, curtains, and white goods included in the sale. Why HMRC cares: pre-completion document listing contents — strong contemporaneous evidence that chattels were included in the headline price, not added retrospectively.
- Solicitor's memorandum of sale or completion documents — check for any reference to "fixtures, fittings and contents". Why HMRC cares: references to "fixtures, fittings and contents" tie the chattel apportionment to the transaction itself rather than a later reconstruction.
Strongly recommended
- Photographs of the chattels taken at or around the time of purchase — dated photos are best. Why HMRC cares: dated photos show the items existed in the property at the relevant time — the question HMRC asks if values are challenged.
- eBay or Gumtree "sold" listings for comparable items — screenshot and save the URLs. Why HMRC cares: independent valuation evidence. HMRC routinely challenges chattel claims as inflated, and second-hand market comparables answer the "is this value defensible" question directly.
- Any inventory provided by the seller or estate agent. Why HMRC cares: third-party listing of what was included in the sale — useful where the chattels list was agreed informally between buyer and seller.
What to do if you can't find your SDLT5
Your solicitor holds a copy. Contact them and ask for the SDLT5 and the UTRN. If your solicitor's firm has closed, the successor firm or the SRA's closed firm service may hold the file.
As a last resort, HMRC can confirm the UTRN if you write to them with the property address and completion date — allow 4–6 weeks for a response.
How to strengthen your claim from the start
Strong claims share a few common features. Build these in from the start:
- •Document everything at completion — keep copies of the sale contract, completion statement, TA10 form, and any correspondence about the purchase.
- •Photograph the property at completion — for uninhabitable-property claims, photographic evidence of the condition at the point of completion is critical.
- •Ensure chattel values are supported — if claiming a chattel apportionment, make sure the values are reasonable and supported by comparable retail prices. The Chattel Checker assesses individual items.
- •Keep all correspondence — any emails, letters, or messages between you, your solicitor, and the seller that relate to the purchase terms may be relevant.
Frequently asked questions
Does HMRC need original documents, or are scans and copies enough?
HMRC accepts PDF scans and photocopies for almost all supporting documents in a refund claim. Originals are rarely requested. Keep the originals safe in case HMRC opens an enquiry — they have 9 months from the date of the amendment to do so.
How should the chattels list be itemised?
A schedule should list each item separately with a short description, condition, and the value attributed to it. Items can be grouped where it makes sense ("lounge curtains and rails") but lump-sum values without itemisation are far more likely to be challenged. The DIY Claim Pack includes a chattel schedule template.
How do I get a copy of the Land Registry title register?
The official record is available from the government’s Search for land and property information service at gov.uk for £7 per title. The download arrives immediately as a PDF, which is the form HMRC accept.
What if the seller is uncooperative about chattels paperwork?
A chattels claim does not require the seller’s signature or co-operation. The evidence base is your own records — estate agent particulars, the TA10 fittings and contents form, photographs, and comparable sale prices for the items. The TA10 in particular is signed by the seller’s solicitor before completion, so should already be on file with your own conveyancer.
How long should I keep claim documents after the refund is paid?
Keep all supporting documents for at least 6 years after the date of the amended return. HMRC can open an enquiry within 9 months of the amendment, but in cases of suspected error or carelessness they retain wider discovery powers. Six years is the safe minimum.
Last reviewed: 21 May 2026 by the StampDutyBack team. Land Registry fee, refund-documents list, and statutory references (Schedule 4ZA and Schedule 10, Finance Act 2003) verified against legislation.gov.uk and gov.uk.
Documents Ready? Start Your Claim
Use the DIY Claim Pack to submit it yourself, or have a specialist take it from here.