Readers’ forum: Does stamp duty or SDLT arise on transfer?

My client is considering the transfer of some of his assets to family and business associates but I am a little unsure of the stamp duty and stamp duty land tax issues.

The client owns two commercial properties. One is let out to an unrelated business and another to a business in which she is a majority shareholder. If the properties were both transferred to her son would SDLT have to be paid? I understand that there is no mortgage on one property but there is on the other. Does that make a difference and would there be any advantage in this being paid off before transfer?

She also has shares in a private limited company that she would like to pass to a long-standing employee. Again would there be stamp duty on such a transfer? Similarly she has a portfolio of shares in public...