27.03.2013
The Finance Committee has registered its support for the general principles of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Bill in a report published today.
The Bill, which introduces Scotland’s replacement on stamp duty tax, will provide the rules and structure which will impose a tax on anyone buying, leasing or taking other rights (such as options to buy) over land and property in Scotland.
The Committee highlighted its support, and that of witnesses, towards the introduction of a new “progressive” tax system as part of the Bill. This structure will mean that only the proportion of the price above the threshold will be liable to pay the higher rate of tax. The move away from the “slab” structure to one that will include a nil rate band and at least two other bands has been cited as more equitable.
The Committee further supports the Bill’s approach towards clamping down on tax avoidance on transactions involving land and buildings in Scotland. It will also monitor the implementation and delivery of the Bill and has requested regular updates from the two key organisations, Revenue Scotland and the Registers of Scotland.
Finance Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“This Bill is the first of three Bills which the Finance Committee will consider in relation to the devolution of significant new financial powers to the Scottish Parliament following the Scotland Act 2012.
“We are pleased to support the general principles of the Bill that introduces a fairer, more progressive approach to ‘stamp duty’ as well as addressing the issue of tax avoidance on the buying and selling of land and property in Scotland.”
Background
This is the first of three Bills being introduced by the Scottish Government as a consequence of the Scotland Act 2012. A Landfill Tax Bill is due to be introduced in April, and a Tax Management Bill is due to be introduced in Autumn 2013.
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