HMRC has confirmed that filing Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) returns will fall within the scope of the new tax adviser registration rules, which is expected to increase the compliance burden on conveyancing teams already operating under pressure. The changes are due to take effect from May 2026.
In response, specialist SDLT advisers SCA Tax have launched Post Complete, a workflow-led SDLT calculation and review service aimed at helping firms handle complex SDLT positions while maintaining efficiency. Every transaction is reviewed by tax-qualified specialists, and firms receive clear, audit-ready documentation for client files, including a PDF Tax Calculation Certificate and supporting assessment breakdown. Each calculation is also supported by professional indemnity insurance underwritten by Allianz.
The launch follows HMRC’s confirmation that SDLT filings are treated as tax advice under the proposed tax adviser registration regime outlined in the Finance Bill 2025–26. Further guidance is expected later this month, but the direction is clear: increased accountability, tighter standards, and greater financial risk for firms where SDLT submissions are inaccurate or poorly documented.
Post Complete provides a structured process for all SDLT scenarios without slowing completions. Firms create an account, add a client record, and submit the transaction for review. SCA Tax’s team then gathers the necessary information to complete the assessment, including cases involving reliefs, exemptions, mixed-use claims, multiple dwellings, or surcharges, ensuring compliance with HMRC’s Standards for Agents and Agent Conduct requirements.
Matthew Gannon, who joined SCA Tax from PwC last year to lead the Post Complete team, said: “We know these changes are coming, and there’s no benefit in waiting for the final guidance before firms start putting stronger processes in place. SDLT already creates pressure points in transactions – the last thing the market needs is completions being delayed because teams are forced to rebuild their approach overnight.
“Post Complete is designed to help property professionals stay ahead of the change, keep transactions moving, and make sure SDLT positions are properly assessed and documented.
“We launched earlier this month, and we’re already speaking to conveyancing firms and the wider property chain – including estate agents, auction houses, mortgage brokers and financial advisers – because this affects everyone involved in getting deals over the line.
“If we want the market to move, we need processes that reduce delays, not add to them.”