Christian Candy, the billionaire property developer, is set to receive a £2.3 million refund following a legal ruling that found he and his brother Nick Candy had been subject to double taxation on a Chelsea mansion purchase dating back to 2012. The dispute arose over stamp duty payments related to Providence House, a sprawling Grade II listed estate in central London noted for having one of the largest private gardens in the area, second only to Buckingham Palace.

Providence House was sold in April for £265 million by Nick Candy—who also serves as treasurer for Reform UK—to city trader Suneil Setiya, marking one of the most expensive property transactions in Britain. However, the current tax case centers on the earlier purchase of the property by the Candy brothers from the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

In 2012, Christian Candy finalized a contract to buy the mansion for £68 million, which included several leases. Following initial payments and commencement of extensive subterranean renovations, Christian paid £1.92 million in stamp duty. Two years later, in 2014, he transferred the property to his brother Nick, who covered the remaining purchase price and paid an additional £1.92 million in stamp duty before taking up residence.

Christian Candy sought a refund 18 months after the initial transaction, contending that the stamp duty had been paid twice on the same property. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rejected the claim, arguing it was submitted too late, stating claims must be made within 12 months. However, in 2025, a judge at the High Court’s first-tier tax tribunal ruled in Candy’s favor, interpreting the law to allow a four-year window for such claims. HMRC appealed the decision but was unsuccessful; the Upper Tribunal upheld the ruling, confirming that Candy’s claim was made within the allowable timeframe.

Legal experts criticized HMRC’s prolonged challenge as a costly effort for taxpayers, noting that in addition to refunding £1.92 million, HMRC will be liable to pay £345,639 in interest. One tax specialist described the tax authority’s persistence as an example of unnecessary bureaucracy and double taxation. This case follows a recent similar loss for HMRC, in which the agency was ordered to return £3.1 million in overpaid stamp duty to a Manchester property investor.

Providence House itself has undergone significant renovation under Nick Candy’s management, emerging as a grand estate modeled on a country house, featuring a 14,000-square-foot basement with amenities such as a 60-foot swimming pool and Europe’s first private IMAX cinema. The historic property, once home to Britain’s first prime minister Sir Robert Walpole and designed by baroque architect John Vanbrugh, includes a restored orangery and courtyard with a retractable ceiling.

Nick Candy’s decision to sell the mansion followed his separation from Australian actress and singer Holly Valance, with whom he had lived at the property.

Tax partner Joseph Adunse of Moore Kingston Smith remarked that the ruling underscores the importance of honoring statutory entitlements over procedural technicalities, suggesting that HMRC’s approach had unnecessarily complicated the refund process.

HMRC stated it "notes the decision and is carefully considering our next steps."