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

The type of property is a residential property.

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.

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. For non-residential property that is re-zoned 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.
3. SSD payable to be rounded down to the nearest dollar.

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

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 selling price or market value of the partial interest, whichever is higher. 

SSD for residential properties is exempted for sellers / transferors under the following scenarios:

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 in exercising their functions and duties need not pay SSD when selling residential properties, e.g. Housing & Development Board (HDB), Jurong Town Corporation (JTC).
3. Residential property owners need not pay SSD when their properties are acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisitions Act.
4. Residential property owners need not pay SSD when selling their residential properties due to bankruptcy or involuntary winding up.
5. Foreigners need not pay SSD when they have to sell their residential properties as required under the Residential Properties Act.
6. 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.
7. HDB flat sellers or transferors who return their flats to HDB as a result of re-possession by HDB or under the SERS.

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.
2. If a beneficiary sells his inherited property, he can apply for SSD remission to treat the date that the deceased acquired the property as the acquisition date.
   
   

   Scenarios:

   • If the deceased had acquired the property before 20 Feb 2010 , SSD will not apply to the beneficiary when he sells the property. 
   • If the deceased had acquired the property on or after 20 Feb 2010, SSD will be payable by the beneficiary if he sells the property within one year from the date of acquisition by the deceased.
   • If the deceased had acquired the property between 30 Aug 2010 and 13 Jan 2011, the beneficiary must pay two-thirds of duty (SSD) if he sells the property within the second year of acquisition by the deceased. If the beneficiary sells the property within the third year of acquisition by the deceased, one-third of duty (SSD) will apply.
   • If the deceased had acquired the property on or after 14 Jan 2011, the beneficiary must pay SSD when he sells the property within four years of acquisition by the deceased. For example, if the property is sold in the first year of acquisition by the deceased, the beneficiary must pay SSD based on a rate of 16%.
3. If a buyer or transferee qualifies for remission or relief of buyer's stamp duty for a residential property under the following remission rules, the seller or transferor of the same transaction will enjoy the remission of SSD:
   
   • Matrimonial Proceedings Remission Rules
   • Conveyance Directions Remission Rules
   • Relief from Stamp Duty Upon Reconstruction or Amalgamation of Companies
   • Relief from Stamp Duty Upon Transfer of Assets Between Associated Permitted Entities

1. Where SSD is payable, stamping or payment can be done via the e-Stamping website under the e-stamping form 'Sale and Purchase of Immovable Property (Seller's Stamp Duty)'.
2. To access this form, you can click on the e-Stamping link and locate the form under the header 'Sale & Purchase of Immovable Property'.
3. You do not need to submit your documents to IRAS for stamping and payment of SSD.
4. You can click on How to Pay Stamp Duty for details of the payment modes.
5. Law firms representing the sellers of residential properties need to ensure that the sellers complete the Seller's Stamp Duty for Residential Properties Declaration Form (90 KB) and forward a copy of the completed form to IRAS when the sellers need to pay SSD.