Pictured above: Robert King, partner at BTG Tax in Birmingham

There are still plenty of ways of mitigating Stamp Duty Land Tax, an expert has claimed.

Robert King, a partner with Birmingham-based BTG Tax, said planning solutions remained "alive and kicking".

His comments came despite efforts by the Chancellor to clamp down in the Budget.

Of the Government's move, Mr King noted: "It has been well known for some time that many high value property transactions were being structured to avoid SDLT and it is, perhaps, surprising that action has not been taken before now.

"Clearly it has got to the stage where the loss of tax is too significant to be ignored. Also, tolerance of this sort of avoidance on high value transactions sends out the wrong message in the effort to persuade us that we are 'all in this together'."

 The fact that HM Revenue and Customs had decided to legislate would "strongly suggest" they considered the tax planning to be effective.

"Therefore, those people who have undertaken such planning can perhaps sleep more easily in recognition of the fact that it is likely to succeed," he said.

"It is also important to stress that this measure has only closed down one particular route using alternative financing structures and involving a combination of sub-sale relief and exchange of properties.

"There is other SDLT planning which BTG Tax use which  is unaffected and should still be effective. SDLT planning, therefore, remains alive and kicking."

Mr King urged people to take professional advice on what remained a very complex area of tax.

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