UK stamp taxes and groups in distress

The holidays from real estate transfer taxes (RETT) – being SDLT in England and Northern Ireland land and buildings transaction tax in Scotland and land transaction tax in Wales – on residential property have been the centre of media attention as far as UK stamp taxes and the covid-19 pandemic are concerned. But many other UK stamp tax considerations have come to the fore over the last year as a result of an increased number of corporate groups in distress. This article explores the key stamp duty SDRT and RETT considerations for restructures appointments and court procedures that some groups undertook in 2020. The article serves as a reminder of some familiar stamp tax issues (the differences between stamp duty and RETT group reliefs the impact of arrangements...