(1) The Principal Act is amended -

(a) by inserting the following after section 31:

"Resting in contract.

31A.

(1) Where -

(a) the holder of an estate or interest in land in the State enters into a contract or agreement with another person for the sale of the estate or interest to that other person or to a nominee of that other person, and

(b) a payment which amounts to, or as the case may be payments which together amount to, 25 per cent or more of the consideration for the sale has been paid to, or at the direction of, the holder of the estate or interest at any time pursuant to the contract or agreement,

then the contract or agreement shall be chargeable with the same stamp duty, to be paid by the other person, as if it were a conveyance or transfer of the estate or interest in the land.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where, within 30 days of the date on which a payment which amounts to, or as the case may be payments which together amount to, 25 per cent or more of the consideration for the sale referred to in subsection (1) has been paid -

(a) an electronic return or paper return has been delivered to the Commissioners in relation to a conveyance or transfer made in conformity with the contract or agreement referred to in subsection (1), and