Experts said this had dragged more people into higher stamp duty brackets. Stamp duty is charged at 1 per cent on all properties changing hands for more than £125,000. At £250,001 and above, the levy is 3 per cent, making the tax £7,500 for a home sold at this price. The charge rises to 4 per cent above £500,000. Between £1million and £2million it is 5 per cent and above this the levy is 7 per cent. Research by the estate agent Haart has suggested the average house price will reach the 3 per cent threshold, £250,000, by 2016.