Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) for Residential Property

Whether SSD is payable and the rate will depend on:
A. The type of property sold or disposed
B. The date of purchase or acquisition 
C. The date of sale or disposal
D. Rates applicable

The type of property is a residential property.

1. If a residential property is purchased on or after 20 Feb 2010, SSD is payable if the residential property is sold within the holding period.
2. If a residential property owner sells/ disposes of the property which he/ she previously acquired via the following manner:
   
   

   Manner of Acquisition	Date of Acquisition
   Transfer pursuant to divorce	1. Marriage Date; or 2. Date of original purchase of property; whichever is later.
   Transfer pursuant to inheritance	Date of original purchase by the deceased
   Transfer of HDB Flat within Family	Earliest date of acquisition of the flat by any of the existing owners, and who continually holds an interest in the flat from the time of acquisition to disposal

3. For non-residential property that is re-zoned to residential or the permitted use is changed to residential, the date of acquisition of the property will be the date of rezoning or the change of use.

Date of Sale/ Disposal refers to:

1. Date of execution of Option to Purchase by the buyer to the seller’s offer to sell
2. Date of Sale & Purchase Agreement signed by the seller and buyer
3. Date of transfer where (1) and (2) are not applicable

The rates of SSD payable on residential property purchased on and after 20 Feb 2010 and sold within certain duration, are summarized in the table below:

Notes

1. Where land is sold with existing building, the liability for SSD will be based on the zoning of the land in the Master Plan.
2. SSD payable to be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
3. For shophouses with a portion permitted for residential use or HDB shop with living quarters, SSD is payable on the value of the residential component if the property is sold within the holding period.

SSD is computed by applying the requisite SSD rate on the higher of the selling price or the market value of the property as at the date of sale or disposal.

Where parts of the property was acquired by the vendor at different times, the holding period for each part acquired will be computed from the respective acquisition date.  

Where the sale or disposal comprises only a partial interest in the residential property, SSD payable will be based on the higher of the selling price or market value of the partial interest.

SSD for residential properties is exempt for sellers / transferors under the following scenarios. No application to Commissioner of Stamp Duties is required for the sellers / transferors.

1. Licensed housing developers who are governed under the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act need not pay SSD when selling residential properties developed by them.
2. Public authorities (e.g. HDB and JTC) in exercising their functions and duties need not pay SSD when selling residential properties.
3. Residential property owners need not pay SSD when their properties are acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisitions Act.
4. Individuals who own residential properties need not pay SSD if they have been adjudged a bankrupt and are required to dispose of their residential properties as a result of bankruptcy.
5. Companies that own residential properties need not pay SSD when disposing of their residential properties upon involuntary winding up.
6. Foreigners need not pay SSD when they have to sell their residential properties as required under the Residential Properties Act.
7. For HDB flat sellers or transferors who bought or acquired their flats on or after 30 Aug 2010 and their flats have been identified for Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) but sell their flats in the open market before HDB claims them.
8. HDB flat sellers or transferors who return their flats to HDB as a result of re-possession by HDB or under the SERS.
9. A person who owns an HDB flat, inherits an HDB flat, is required under the HDB’s regulations to dispose of either the inherited HDB flat or the existing HDB flat. This exemption applies to disposal of flats on or after 18 Dec 2015.
10. A person who owns a non-HDB flat, inherits an HDB flat, is required under the HDB’s regulations to dispose of the inherited HDB flat. This exemption applies to disposal of flats on or after 18 Dec 2015.
11. A person who owns an HDB flat marries a person who owns another HDB flat and the couple is required under the HDB regulations to dispose of either one of the HDB flats. This exemption applies to disposal of flats on or after 18 Dec 2015.
    
    

SSD for residential properties may be remitted for sellers / transferors under the following scenarios. Application for remission is required by sellers / transferors.

1. Non-licensed developers may be eligible for remission of SSD when selling residential properties developed by them only if they are registered companies or businesses, and are lawfully carrying on the business of housing development.
   

1. Payment of SSD can be done via the e-Stamping Portal.
2. For  details  on  payment  modes,  you  may  wish  to  refer to How to Pay Stamp Duty.
3. Law firms representing the sellers are required to fill in a Seller’s Stamp Duty for Residential Properties Declaration Form. The completion of this form is mandatory.
4. The completed form need not be submitted to IRAS. However, law firms are advised to retain the original declaration forms for at least 5 years from the date of sale/ disposal of the property as IRAS may request for it for audit purposes.