HMRC Regulatory Update: From May 2026, conveyancers filing SDLT returns must register as tax advisers.
This Isn't Marketing. This Is a Legal Commitment.
Most SDLT calculators give you a number and a disclaimer: "For guidance only. No liability accepted."
SDLT Check gives you a number and a £5 million guarantee: "If we're wrong, we cover your firm's costs."
This page explains exactly what that means. What's covered. What's not. How it works. And why it's the only thing that makes "100% accuracy" claims actually believable.
Why Indemnity Matters
The Problem It Solves
The Hidden Cost of Being Wrong
When you calculate SDLT manually or use a free calculator, you carry 100% of the risk.
If the calculation is wrong, here's what happens to you:
| Cost Element | Your Exposure | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| PI Excess | £3,000-£10,000 | Immediate (often personal money) |
| Defense Costs | £15,000-£40,000 | 6-18 months |
| HMRC Penalties | Variable (interest + surcharges) | Ongoing |
| Premium Increase Year 1 | +20-50% (£5,000-£15,000) | Next renewal |
| Premium Increase Year 2 | +15-30% (£4,000-£10,000) | Year 2 |
| Premium Increase Year 3 | +10-20% (£3,000-£7,000) | Year 3 |
| Internal Time | 40-80 hours (£8,000-£16,000) | 6-18 months |
| Career Impact | Permanent PI notification record | Forever |
| Reputation Damage | Cannot be quantified | Long-lasting |
Total 3-year financial impact
£43,000-£106,000
And that's for ONE error.
With SDLT Check's indemnity, your exposure is:
£0
We carry the risk. We cover your firm's costs. Your PI record stays clean.
What's Covered: The Complete Breakdown
Your PI Excess (100% Coverage)
We pay your entire excess. Whether it's £3,000 or £10,000, you don't write that cheque. We do.
Your Firm's Costs (Full Coverage)
If our calculation led to an SDLT underpayment claim against your firm, we cover your firm's professional costs associated with the claim up to policy limits.
Legal Defense Costs (Full Coverage)
We fund your complete legal defense. This is separate from your PI insurance—we pay your solicitors directly.
Professional Liability Coverage
Our indemnity covers your firm's liability for calculation errors. Your client makes their payment to HMRC, and our policy covers your firm's professional liability for any error.
Premium Increase Contribution (3-Year)
If our error led to a claim that increased your PI premium, we contribute to those increased costs over three years.
Regulatory Defense Costs (SRA/CLC)
If regulatory proceedings arise from our calculation error, we fund your regulatory defense in full.
What's NOT Covered
(Complete Transparency)
1. User Input Errors
You enter incorrect data into SDLT Check. The calculation is mathematically correct based on your inputs, but your inputs were wrong.
Example: You enter purchase price as £500,000 when actual price was £550,000
2. Ignoring Flagged Warnings
Our system identifies ambiguity and flags: '⚠️ Professional judgment required.' You proceed without seeking that review.
Example: System flags apportionment uncertainty. You proceed with your estimate anyway.
3. Deliberate Misuse or Fraud
You deliberately enter false information to achieve a particular SDLT outcome.
Example: Deliberately understating price to reduce SDLT
4. Advice Beyond SDLT Calculation
The SDLT calculation was correct, but your wider tax advice was wrong.
Example: You advise client on IHT implications. Your IHT advice was wrong.
5. Pre-Existing Errors
We can't retroactively indemnify calculations you did manually before using SDLT Check.
Example: Historical work done before you started using us
How the Indemnity Works
Step-by-Step Claims Process
You Calculate (Day 0)
Enter transaction details, receive calculation with unique indemnity certificate reference confirming £5M coverage.
Return Filed (Day 1-7)
We can populate the SDLT1 and submit on behalf of your client with our tax code (from May 2026), or you use the figure and submit as normal. File the audit trail in your client file. Payment of tax to HMRC may still be required from you or your client per current guidance.
Issue Discovered (Months 3-24)
Client's accountant, HMRC enquiry, or advisor spots potential error.
You're Notified (Day of Discovery)
Client, accountant, or HMRC contacts you about alleged incorrect calculation.
You Notify Us (Within 48 Hours)
Email hello@sdltcheck.co.uk with certificate reference, nature of error, amount, documentation.
We Investigate (Within 5 Business Days)
Our tax specialists review calculation, methodology, legislative position.
We Respond (Within 7 Business Days)
If our error confirmed, we accept liability. If not, we explain why with detailed analysis.
We Cover Your Liability (Within 14 Business Days)
We cover your firm's liability for the calculation error up to policy limits. Your PI excess is covered.
We Handle Ongoing Costs
Defense costs paid directly to your solicitors. Premium increases covered at renewal.
Your Record Stays Clean
No claim on your insurance record. Your PI premium unaffected by this incident.
The Financial Math: Why This Makes Sense
Annual Cost of SDLT Check
Example firm: 20 transactions/month
20 transactions × 12 months = 240 calculations
240 × £12.50 +VAT = £3,000 +VAT/year
Cost of ONE SDLT Claim
Break-Even Analysis
SDLT Check pays for itself if it prevents one claim every 14 years.
Given:
- • 40% industry error rate
- • SDLT = #1 source of conveyancing PI claims
- • Your firm does 240 transactions/year
- • Statistical likelihood: You'll make an SDLT error within 2-3 years without robust verification
The question isn't "Is £3,000/year worth it?"
The question is: "Can you afford the £43,000 cost of a single claim every few years?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What if SDLT Check goes out of business after I've used it?
Our PI insurance includes run-off coverage. If SDLT Check ceased trading, the indemnity coverage would continue for calculations made during the policy period (typically 6 years from last calculation).
Does your indemnity replace my PI insurance?
No. It works alongside your PI insurance. For SDLT calculation errors specifically, our indemnity is primary—meaning we cover your firm's costs and your insurance isn't involved. For everything else (missed deadline, undertaking breach, etc.), your PI insurance operates normally.
How long does your claims process take?
Initial response (acceptance/rejection of liability): 5-7 business days. Payment (if liability accepted): 14 business days from acceptance. Total: 3-4 weeks from notification to resolution. Compare to typical PI claim: 6-18 months.
This sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?
There is no catch. The 'catch' is that we've invested heavily in building a methodology so accurate that we're confident offering this coverage. We're not a tech startup hoping for the best—we're a professional services firm built by tax specialists who understand SDLT intimately.
Has anyone actually claimed on your indemnity?
No. In 50,000+ calculations over 4 years, we've had: Zero claims paid, Zero HMRC disputes, Zero instances where our calculation was challenged and proven incorrect. The indemnity exists because we're confident, not because we expect to use it.
Ready to Transfer Your SDLT Risk?
See the indemnity in action with your most complex transaction
Questions About Coverage?
Our team includes tax specialists and insurance specialists who can answer detailed questions about coverage, claims processes, and how our indemnity works with your existing PI insurance.
£5,000,000 professional indemnity backing every calculation. Not marketing. A legal commitment.