SDLT questions and answers

In this the first of a bi-monthly series of articles the writer comments on the presentation to the STPG's 2009 Conference on behalf of HMRC Stamp Taxes which this year was by Nick John Deputy Director (Customer Relations & Technical) Stamp Taxes based in the Birmingham Stamp Office.

During a brief introduction Nick mentioned a number of projects in which he and his colleagues were involved including the rewriting of the Stamp Taxes on Shares Manual the SDLT Working Together Steering Group the meetings of which are attended by STPG representatives and the non-statutory clearance procedure which for business transactions has replaced COP 10 rulings. Nick clearly understood the need for taxpayers to obtain certainty on the tax treatment of transactions and commented that there was a very small team in the Birmingham Stamp Office dealing with clearance applications of...