
For those who are unfamiliar, stamp duty is a tax on documents levied on a sale, purchase or lease of property in Singapore so that your documents are legally recognised. This tax is payable to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
Each type of property transaction has different amounts payable. Instead of scouring multiple sites for the necessary information and manually calculating how much stamp duty you have to pay on your next property purchase, use the PropertyGuru Stamp Duty Calculator.
If you have any questions on property tax, contact a PropertyGuru Mortgage Expert for professional advice.
Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) is a tax levied on property buyers when they purchase any property in Singapore. The amount of BSD payable is based on the purchase price or market value of the property, whichever is higher. The purchase price is stated in the signed sales and purchase agreements; the market value of the property is derived from valuation reports.
From 15 February 2023, BSD tax was increased up to 6% for residential properties, and 5% for non-residential properties, since the last BSD rate revision on 20 February 2018.
The BSD rates 2023 are:
Purchase price/ Market Value | Rate in percentage for residential properties | Rate in percentage for non-residential properties |
---|---|---|
First S$180,000 | 1% | 1% |
Next S$180,000 | 2% | 2% |
Next S$640,000 | 3% | 3% |
Next S$500,000 | 4% | 4% |
Next S$1,500,000 | 5% | 5% |
Amount exceeding S$3,000,000 | 6% | 5% |
BSD tax is rounded down to the nearest dollar. For instance, a Singapore Citizen (SC) buying a condominium valued at $5 million would incur BSD tax of the following amount:
However, BSD in Singapore may not be applicable if your property purchase falls under the following categories:
Buyers whose purchase falls under the aforementioned categories can write in to IRAS within 14 days of acquiring the property. Do include a copy of the acquisition, original letter of undertaking to comply with remission conditions, and other supporting documents.
Check out this guide to BSD in Singapore to get more information on BSD.
Whether you are a tenant or lessee renting a whole apartment or a single room, there is stamp duty to be paid for tenancy agreement documents.
Renting =< four years | Renting > four years (or an indefinite term) |
---|---|
0.4% of the total rent for the lease period | 0.04% of four times the average annual rent for the lease period |
Typically, tenants pay this tax before the landlord and tenant sign the tenancy agreement. However, landlords sometimes bear the cost. Ensure that your tenancy agreement has clarity on who is in charge of paying this fee.
If you're a soon-to-be tenant or landlord who needs more information, read up more on our complete guide on stamp duty for rental units in Singapore.
Seller's stamp duty (SSD) is a property tax levied on property sellers when they sell a property within the 3-year holding period. If you are an HDB homeowner who is selling their flat after the minimum occupation period of five years, you do not have to pay SSD.
Other instances of having to pay SSD is when a property is acquired through a transfer due to a divorce, within the family (for HDB flats), or in the case of inheritance. SSD is only applicable to those who bought a residential property on and after 20 February 2010.
For more details on SSD, check out this article we wrote on seller's stamp duty for property sellers in Singapore.
Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) is a tax levied on top of BSD for residential property purchases in Singapore. Introduced in December 2011 as a property cooling measure, its primary goal is to keep housing prices affordable for Singaporeans so that citizens can buy a primary residence and control demand for residential property.
Residential properties are spaces that are used as homes. Examples include HDB flats, as well as landed and non-landed private property such as condominiums, terrace houses and bungalows.
The amount of ABSD you have to pay depends on your residency status and the number of residential properties owned. Even if you only jointly or partially own an existing residential property in Singapore, you have to pay ABSD for your next residential property purchase. Singaporeans who are buying their first and only property do not need to pay ABSD.
The ABSD rates are:
Singapore citizen (SC) buying their second residential property | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 20% |
SC buying their third and subsequent residential property | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 30% |
Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) buying their first residential property | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 5% |
SPR buying their second residential property | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 30% |
SPR buying their third and subsequent residential property | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 35% |
Foreigner | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 60% |
Entity (companies or associations) | |
Percentage paid (of your property price or valuation, whichever is higher) | 65% |
The ABSD has to be paid within 14 days of signing the sale and purchase agreement (if it is signed in Singapore). Late payment will incur penalty fees and may result in legal action being taken against you.
All stamp duty is payable to the IRAS. You can pay for it online via the IRAS e-stamping portal. If you want to pay in-person, you can use the e-Terminals at IRAS Taxpayer and Business Service or go down to Service Bureaus at designated SingPosts offices.
If you're unsure of how to use the IRAS e-portal, refer to our step-by-step guide.
BSD is a tax levied on property purchases in Singapore.
ABSD is a tax levied on top of BSD when buying a property in Singapore. The amount you have to pay depends on your residency status and how many properties you own.
Pay within 14 days of the agreement being signed, or within 30 days after receiving the document (if the document is signed overseas). View all payment modes to pay stamp duty on the IRAS website.
Check who should pay stamp duty by referring to the IRAS website.
Yes, you can pay BSD and ABSD with your CPF savings. However, SSD has to be made in cash.
When renting a property, your tenancy agreement should state who pays. Usually, it is paid for by the tenant.
Yes, but only under certain conditions. To find out more, contact one of our PropertyGuru Mortgage Experts.
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