The Revenue certificate is a one page, A4 sized document, issued by the Inland Revenue. The certificate will contain the name of the purchaser, the name of the vendor, a description of the transaction, the property address (including title number if there is one) and details of the solicitor acting for the purchaser. The certificate will also contain a declaration from the Inland Revenue explaining that the certificate is issued under section 79 of the Finance Act and evidences that SDLT has been accounted for in respect of the transaction. A copy of the current style used by the Inland Revenue is contained in Appendix 4.

Most land transactions, including all transactions where a payment of SDLT is required, must be notified to the Inland Revenue. The requirement to notify extends to many transactions, which under the stamp duty regime, would not require a deed to be sent to the Stamp Office. For instance all acquisitions of land for money or money’s worth require notification even if the consideration is £60,000 or less. Following notification the Revenue will issue to the purchaser or his/her agent a Revenue certificate.

Because all transfers for value will induce first registration in the Land Register it will be rare for a deed that is presented for recording in the Register of Sasines to require a Revenue certificate. The note to Appendix 2 explain the rare occasions in which they may be required.