Practitioners who submit stamp duty land tax (SDLT) returns electronically are benefiting from an enhancement to HM Revenue & Customs' online service.

They now get their SDLT certificates (SDLT5) electronically by return, without having to wait for paper copies to be sent by post.

Since Stamp Taxes Online was introduced in August 2005, over 370,500 SDLT returns have been submitted electronically across the UK. The system offers many benefits, cutting down on administrative and turnaround times and encouraging greater levels of accuracy, by validating data as it is entered on the form.

Jim Ferguson, Stamp Taxes' Business Director said: "We know that Stamp Taxes Online has been incredibly popular to date, and this enhancement will speed-up processes considerably.”

"Being able to receive SDLT certificates within a few moments of submitting returns, will be of enormous benefit to busy practitioners working in today's booming property market."

Stamp Taxes have been working closely with other software developers to enable online filers using commercial packages to receive electronic certificates. A list of suppliers whose products are recognised by HMRC can be found at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/efiling/sdltsoft-dev.htm

Further improvements for property practitioners in Scotland will come into force in spring 2007, when Automated Registration of Title to Land is introduced by the Registers of Scotland. This optional service can be used for whole registered titles (the most straightforward and common transactions). It will also allow online completion of SDLT returns and for the tax to be paid electronically.