Tax experts have appealed to the Government to stop tinkering with property taxes, saying that it has fiddled with Stamp Duty Land Tax virtually every year since its introduction in 2003.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation said the spate of changes is confusing both the public and property professionals.

The Institute set out its concerns in a response to a consultation on the planned 1% SDLT surcharge on non-UK residents buying homes in England and Northern Ireland.

A final date for the surcharge to be implemented has yet to be set, but the Government has made clear its belief that non-UK resident buyers are pushing up house prices for UK residents.

Brian Slater, of the Institute’s property taxes sub-committee, said: “We are concerned at the increasing complexity of tax rules that touch on residential property.

“SDLThas been the subject of technical change in virtually every year since its introduction.

“We urge the Government to refrain from making further changes before the impact of recent changes is assessed.”