Buyers prop up the government

PROPERTY taxes in Scotland topped £80million last month, as experts slammed the SNP Government for “punishing the rich” with policies that aren’t “sustainable”.

- By Ben Borland

Analysis by DJ Alexander Ltd, the largest lettings and estate agency in Scotland, said property taxes raised a record £714.2million in the past 12 months. Revenues from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) increased by 18.2% from August 2024 to July 2025.

Residential taxes collected in July 2025 were the highest ever at £80.3m, with a record £52.3m from homebuyers and £28m from the additional dwelling supplement (ADS), paid by second homeowners and investors.

Nearly 80% of the LBTT total was generated from properties sold for more than £325,001 (£389m of the £493m total). This means that the average tax levied per transaction was an eye-watering £19,877.